1. Cuppini C, Ursino M, Magosso E, Ross LA, Foxe JJ, Molholm S. {{A Computational Analysis of Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Maturation of Multisensory Speech Integration in Neurotypical Children and Those on the Autism Spectrum}}. {Front Hum Neurosci}. 2017; 11: 518.
Failure to appropriately develop multisensory integration (MSI) of audiovisual speech may affect a child’s ability to attain optimal communication. Studies have shown protracted development of MSI into late-childhood and identified deficits in MSI in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, the neural basis of acquisition of this ability is not well understood. Here, we developed a computational model informed by neurophysiology to analyze possible mechanisms underlying MSI maturation, and its delayed development in ASD. The model posits that strengthening of feedforward and cross-sensory connections, responsible for the alignment of auditory and visual speech sound representations in posterior superior temporal gyrus/sulcus, can explain behavioral data on the acquisition of MSI. This was simulated by a training phase during which the network was exposed to unisensory and multisensory stimuli, and projections were crafted by Hebbian rules of potentiation and depression. In its mature architecture, the network also reproduced the well-known multisensory McGurk speech effect. Deficits in audiovisual speech perception in ASD were well accounted for by fewer multisensory exposures, compatible with a lack of attention, but not by reduced synaptic connectivity or synaptic plasticity.
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2. Hoem G, Koht J. {{Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome}}. {Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen}. 2017; 137(20).
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3. Kumazaki H, Warren Z, Swanson A, Yoshikawa Y, Matsumoto Y, Ishiguro H, Sarkar N, Minabe Y, Kikuchi M. {{Impressions of Humanness for Android Robot may Represent an Endophenotype for Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Identification of meaningful endophenotypes may be critical to unraveling the etiology and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We investigated whether impressions of « humanness » for android robot might represent a candidate characteristic of an ASD endophenotype. We used a female type of android robot with an appearance similar to that of a real person. Significant differences in overall impressions of ‘humanness’ for android robot were found between adolescents with ASD and typical development (TD) controls, as well as parents of children with ASD and parents of TD controls. Our current work does suggest robotic systems could potentially play an intelligent role in dissecting ASD heterogeneity.
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4. Lacivita E, Perrone R, Margari L, Leopoldo M. {{Targets for Drug Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and Future Directions}}. {J Med Chem}. 2017; 60(22): 9114-41.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Various factors are involved in the etiopathogenesis of ASD, including genetic factors, environmental toxins and stressors, impaired immune responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. The heterogeneity in the phenotype among ASD patients and the complex etiology of the condition have long impeded the advancement of the development of pharmacological therapies. In the recent years, the integration of findings from mouse models to human genetics resulted in considerable progress toward the understanding of ASD pathophysiology. Currently, strategies to treat core symptoms of ASD are directed to correct synaptic dysfunctions, abnormalities in central oxytocin, vasopressin, and serotonin neurotransmission, and neuroinflammation. Here, we present a survey of the studies that have suggested molecular targets for drug development for ASD and the state-of-the-art of medicinal chemistry efforts in related areas.
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5. Larrain-Valenzuela J, Zamorano F, Soto-Icaza P, Carrasco X, Herrera C, Daiber F, Aboitiz F, Billeke P. {{Theta and Alpha Oscillation Impairments in Autistic Spectrum Disorder Reflect Working Memory Deficit}}. {Sci Rep}. 2017; 7(1): 14328.
A dysfunction in the excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) coordination in neuronal assembly has been proposed as a possible neurobiological mechanism of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the potential impact of this mechanism in cognitive performance is not fully explored. Since the main consequence of E/I dysfunction is an impairment in oscillatory activity and its underlying cognitive computations, we assessed the electroencephalographic activity of ASD and typically developing (TD) subjects during a working-memory task. We found that ASD subjects committed more errors than TD subjects. Moreover, TD subjects demonstrated a parametric modulation in the power of alpha and theta band while ASD subjects did not demonstrate significant modulations. The preceding leads to significant differences between the groups in both the alpha power placed on the occipital cortex and the theta power placed on the left premotor and the right prefrontal cortex. The impaired theta modulation correlated with autistic symptoms. The results indicated that ASD may present an alteration in the recruitment of the oscillatory activity during working-memory, and this alteration could be related to the physiopathology of the disorder.
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6. Larsen K, Aasland A, Diseth TH. {{Brief Report: Agreement Between Parents and Day-Care Professionals on Early Symptoms Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
Early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has the potential to elicit effective early intervention, improving children’s level of functioning and developmental trajectories as well as reducing parental stress. Multiple sources of information, including several informants may facilitate early identification. This study examined the agreement between parents and day-care professionals on how they retrospectively recall early symptoms associated with ASD. In this study, we found fair to excellent agreement on early symptoms between parents and day-care professionals. The finding indicates that day-care centres may be a supplementary area for early identification of ASD. More research is needed to explore day-care centers possible role in this early identification.
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7. Postorino V, Kerns CM, Vivanti G, Bradshaw J, Siracusano M, Mazzone L. {{Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Curr Psychiatry Rep}. 2017; 19(12): 92.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to synthesize the most recent research on anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and discuss the relationship between these conditions and challenges for assessment. Furthermore, implications for treatment and future directions are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Research suggests that anxiety disorders and OCD are highly prevalent in individuals with ASD. However, the significant overlap of ASD features with anxiety and OCD symptomology makes differential diagnosis of these disorders particularly challenging. Though several treatments for anxiety have been adapted for youth with ASD (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy), pharmacological treatments and treatments for adults are still marked undeveloped. Despite the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and OCD in ASD and some recent advances in assessment and treatment, research is needed to clarify the multifaceted relationship of these conditions and develop tailored assessment and treatment approaches appropriate for a full range of individuals with ASD.
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8. Rudolph CES, Lundin A, Ahs JW, Dalman C, Kosidou K. {{Brief Report: Sexual Orientation in Individuals with Autistic Traits: Population Based Study of 47,000 Adults in Stockholm County}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
We examined the association between autistic traits and sexual orientation in a general adult population (N = 47,356). Autistic traits were measured with the ten items Autistic Quotient questionnaire using a cut-off score of >/= 6. Sexual orientation was assessed by self-report. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sexual orientation categories. Participants with autistic traits were more likely to identify as bisexual (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.01-2.9) and to feel that their sexual orientation could neither be described as hetero-, homo- nor bisexual (OR 3.05; 95% CI 2.56-3.63), compared to individuals without autistic traits. Autistic traits are associated with minority sexual orientation, and perhaps with uncertain self-identification and/or a defiance of traditional ways of categorizing sexual identity.
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9. Sannar EM, Palka T, Beresford C, Peura C, Kaplan D, Verdi M, Siegel M, Kaplan S, Grados M. {{Sleep Problems and Their Relationship to Maladaptive Behavior Severity in Psychiatrically Hospitalized Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2017.
We examined the relationship between sleep duration and awakenings to Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) scores in hospitalized youth with ASD and behavioral disturbance. Participants included 106 patients with a stay of at least 10 nights. Sleep in the hospital was recorded by staff observation. Higher scores on the ABC-C (irritability, stereotypy, and hyperactivity subscales) at admission were significantly associated with fewer minutes slept during the last five nights of hospitalization. There was no association between total awakenings and ABC-C scores or ADOS-2 comparison scores. Improved understanding of the relationship between sleep quality and maladaptive behavior in this challenging cohort of patients with ASD is vital to the definition and design of future effective interventions.
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10. Stevenson RA, Toulmin JK, Youm A, Besney RMA, Schulz SE, Barense MD, Ferber S. {{Increases in the autistic trait of attention to detail are associated with decreased multisensory temporal adaptation}}. {Sci Rep}. 2017; 7(1): 14354.
Recent empirical evidence suggests that autistic individuals perceive the world differently than their typically-developed peers. One theoretical account, the predictive coding hypothesis, posits that autistic individuals show a decreased reliance on previous perceptual experiences, which may relate to autism symptomatology. We tested this through a well-characterized, audiovisual statistical-learning paradigm in which typically-developed participants were first adapted to consistent temporal relationships between audiovisual stimulus pairs (audio-leading, synchronous, visual-leading) and then performed a simultaneity judgement task with audiovisual stimulus pairs varying in temporal offset from auditory-leading to visual-leading. Following exposure to the visual-leading adaptation phase, participants’ perception of synchrony was biased towards visual-leading presentations, reflecting the statistical regularities of their previously experienced environment. Importantly, the strength of adaptation was significantly related to the level of autistic traits that the participant exhibited, measured by the Autism Quotient (AQ). This was specific to the Attention to Detail subscale of the AQ that assesses the perceptual propensity to focus on fine-grain aspects of sensory input at the expense of more integrative perceptions. More severe Attention to Detail was related to weaker adaptation. These results support the predictive coding framework, and suggest that changes in sensory perception commonly reported in autism may contribute to autistic symptomatology.
