1. Balsters JH, Apps MA, Bolis D, Lehner R, Gallagher L, Wenderoth N. {{Disrupted prediction errors index social deficits in autism spectrum disorder}}. {Brain};2017 (Jan);140(Pt 1):235-246.
Social deficits are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder; however, the perturbed neural mechanisms underpinning these deficits remain unclear. It has been suggested that social prediction errors-coding discrepancies between the predicted and actual outcome of another’s decisions-might play a crucial role in processing social information. While the gyral surface of the anterior cingulate cortex signalled social prediction errors in typically developing individuals, this crucial social signal was altered in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Importantly, the degree to which social prediction error signalling was aberrant correlated with diagnostic measures of social deficits. Effective connectivity analyses further revealed that, in typically developing individuals but not in autism spectrum disorder, the magnitude of social prediction errors was driven by input from the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. These data provide a novel insight into the neural substrates underlying autism spectrum disorder social symptom severity, and further research into the gyral surface of the anterior cingulate cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex could provide more targeted therapies to help ameliorate social deficits in autism spectrum disorder.
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2. Barber C. {{Contributions for an autism support group welcomed}}. {Nurs Stand};2010 (Apr 06);24(31):33.
As a learning disability nurse diagnosed with high-functioning autism/ Asperger’s syndrome, I was interested to read Janet Martin’s letter (March 24) in response to Jill Aylott’s article on autism (learning zone March 10).
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3. Chahboun S, Vulchanov V, Saldana D, Eshuis H, Vulchanova M. {{Can You Play with Fire and Not Hurt Yourself? A Comparative Study in Figurative Language Comprehension between Individuals with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {PLoS One};2016;11(12):e0168571.
Individuals with High functioning autism (HFA) are distinguished by relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive skills. However, problems with pragmatic language skills have been consistently reported across the autistic spectrum, even when structural language is intact. Our main goal was to investigate how highly verbal individuals with autism process figurative language and whether manipulation of the stimuli presentation modality had an impact on the processing. We were interested in the extent to which visual context, e.g., an image corresponding either to the literal meaning or the figurative meaning of the expression may facilitate responses to such expressions. Participants with HFA and their typically developing peers (matched on intelligence and language level) completed a cross-modal sentence-picture matching task for figurative expressions and their target figurative meaning represented in images. We expected that the individuals with autism would have difficulties in appreciating the non-literal nature of idioms and metaphors, despite intact structural language skills. Analyses of accuracy and reaction times showed clearly that the participants with autism performed at a lower level than their typically developing peers. Moreover, the modality in which the stimuli were presented was an important variable in task performance for the more transparent expressions. The individuals with autism displayed higher error rates and greater reaction latencies in the auditory modality compared to the visual stimulus presentation modality, implying more difficulty. Performance differed depending on type of expression. Participants had more difficulty understanding the culturally-based expressions, but not expressions grounded in human experience (biological idioms). This research highlights the importance of stimulus presentation modality and that this can lead to differences in figurative language comprehension between typically and atypically developing individuals. The current study also contributes to current debates on the role of structural language in figurative language comprehension in autism.
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4. Dieleman LM, De Pauw SS, Soenens B, Beyers W, Prinzie P. {{Examining bidirectional relationships between parenting and child maladjustment in youth with autism spectrum disorder: A 9-year longitudinal study}}. {Dev Psychopathol};2016 (Dec 29):1-15.
Longitudinal bidirectional effects between parents and children are usually studied in samples of typically developing children, but remain understudied in families with a child with autism spectrum disorder. This three-wave longitudinal study examined how parents and children with autism spectrum disorder influence one another, relying on parent reports of parenting behaviors and children’s problem behaviors across 9 years, in a sample of 139 youngsters (M age Time 1 = 10.2 years, 83% boys). Cross-lagged analyses indicated that children’s externalizing problems at Time 1 predicted negative controlling parenting 6 years later (Time 2) that in turn predicted externalizing problems 3 years later (Time 3). Negative parental control at Time 1 also increased the risk for internalizing problems at Time 2. It was surprising that externalizing problems at Time 2 also predicted positive parental involvement at Time 3. Thus, although results indicate that externalizing problems generally elicit maladaptive reactions in parents, this study also suggests that parents adjust their way of reacting to externalizing child problems as their child reaches adolescence/emerging adulthood. Implications for future research on parenting dynamics in families with a child with autism spectrum disorder are discussed.
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5. Filice F, Schwaller B. {{Parvalbumin and autism: different causes, same effect?}}. {Oncotarget};2016 (Dec 27)
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6. Fluegge K. {{Propionic acid metabolism, ASD, and vitamin B12: is there a role for environmental nitrous oxide?}}. {Int J Dev Neurosci};2016 (Dec 30)
Foley et al. (2014) published their findings in this journal on the role of prenatal exposure to propionic acid (PPA) and behavioral outcomes in treated rat pups. The authors show that PPA treated pups displayed subtle differences in behavior including nest seeking, novel object recognition, and locomotor activity. Others have previously proposed that PPA infusion in rat could represent a valid animal model of ASD since many of the diagnostic criteria for the disorder spectrum manifest under such conditions. A pathogenic makeover of gut microbiome to facilitate the growth of microbes capable of producing PPA, like Clostridia species, has been proposed as an infectious contributing etiology to the PPA model of ASD, however the reason for this pathogenic microbial overgrowth is not clear. This discussion highlights a previously identified novel environmental factor (i.e., nitrous oxide, N2O) in the etiopathogenesis of ASD and related neuropathology and posits that altered PPA metabolism in ASD may represent a key manifestation of this particular exposure. Trace environmental exposure to N2O may induce release of endogenous opioid peptides that have been shown to confer a virulence advantage to certain microbes, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pathogenic overproduction of PPA in ASD may be a compensatory mechanism to curb this enhanced virulence potential. Therefore, future research on the PPA model of ASD should consider its role as a consequence of environmental exposure to N2O.
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7. Franchuk B. {{Book Review: Solve common teaching challenges in children with autism: 8 essential strategies for professionals and parents Delmoline Lara . (Ed.). ( 2015 ). Solve common teaching challenges in children with autism: 8 essential strategies for professionals and parents . Toronto, ON : Woodbine House . 165 pp . US$21.95 . ISBN: 978-1-60613-253-1}}. {Can J Occup Ther};2016 (Jan 01):8417416663229.
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8. Han YM, Chan AS. {{Disordered cortical connectivity underlies the executive function deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Res Dev Disabil};2016 (Dec 30);61:19-31.
The present study examined the executive function and cortical connectivity of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and investigated whether the executive function deficits exhibited by these children were differentially affected and associated with the cortical connectivity. The present study compared high-functioning (HFA) and low-functioning (LFA) children with typically developing children (TDC) on their executive functions as measured by the Hong Kong List Learning Test, D2 Test of Concentration, Five Point Test, Children’s Color Trail Test, Tower of California Test, and Go/No-Go task and neural connectivity as measured by theta coherence in the distributed fronto-parietal network. Thirty-eight children with ASD (19 HFA and 19 LFA) and 28 TDC children, aged 8-17 years, participated voluntarily in the study. The results on executive function showed that the LFA group demonstrated the poorest performance as exhibited by their Executive Composite and individual executive function scores, while the TDC group exhibited the highest. These results have extended the findings of previous studies in demonstrating that HFA and LFA children have significant differences in their degree of executive function deficits. The results on neural connectivity also showed that children with ASD demonstrated a different pattern of electroencephalography (EEG) coherence from TDC children, as demonstrated by the significantly elevated theta coherence in the fronto-parietal network, and that the severity of executive dysfunction between high- and low-functioning children with ASD was found to be associated with the disordered neural connectivity in these children.
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9. Lehmann K, Leavey G. {{Individuals with gender dysphoria and autism: barriers to good clinical practice}}. {J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs};2016 (Dec 28)
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10. Moussa HN, Srikrishnan A, Blackwell SC, Dash P, Sibai BM. {{Fetal origins of autism spectrum disorders: the non-associated maternal factors}}. {Future Sci OA};2016 (Jun);2(2):Fso114.
AIM: Several population-based studies have been conducted to determine whether maternal exposures are involved in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We review these studies and describe the factors not associated with increased risk for ASD development. METHODS: We identified studies describing associations between maternal exposures and ASD development. These studies include the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment, Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Swedish population registry. RESULTS: Factors not associated with ASD development include Type 2 and gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, fever treated with antipyretic medication, autoimmune disease and short interpregnancy intervals. CONCLUSION: There is increasing evidence that maternal exposures are involved in the pathophysiology of ASD in the developing fetus.
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11. Ratajczak HV, Sothern RB. {{Measurement in saliva from neurotypical adults of biomarkers pertinent to autism spectrum disorders}}. {Future Sci OA};2015 (Nov);1(4):Fso70.
AIM: Measure biomarkers pertinent to autism in saliva from humans. MATERIALS & METHODS: At 7:30 PM (reading instructions) and 8:30 PM (hearing instructions), neurotypical adults (6 M, 6 F) each spat into tubes containing protease inhibitors. Cells were counted, samples aliquoted, frozen and thawed. Rationale was given for choice of biomarkers. ELISA: CD26, IL-12, carnitine, C4B, GSH, GSSG, MT-2, testosterone, IFN-gamma. Mass spectrometry: cystine, glutamine, glutamic acid, GABA, serotonin. Electrochemiluminescentimmunoassay: cortisol. Radioimmunoassay: melatonin. RESULTS: Cells averaged 2.16 x 106/ml. M > F: CD-26, C4B, MT-2. Testosterone, cortisol. Glutamine, glutamic acid, IFN-gamma, melatonin and GSSG were measurable. Remaining biomarkers were measured in <50% of samples. Concentrations were equal at both times. CONCLUSION: Saliva can be collected by literate individuals without added instruction. Ten biomarkers were measurable. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
12. Wolford E, Pesonen AK, Heinonen K, Lahti M, Pyhala R, Lahti J, Hovi P, Strang-Karlsson S, Eriksson JG, Andersson S, Jarvenpaa AL, Kajantie E, Raikkonen K. {{Autism spectrum traits and visual processing in young adults with very low birth weight: the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight adults}}. {J Dev Orig Health Dis};2016 (Dec 29):1-7.
Visual processing problems may be one underlying factor for cognitive impairments related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We examined associations between ASD-traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient) and visual processing performance (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; Block Design task of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III) in young adults (mean age=25.0, s.d.=2.1 years) born preterm at very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) (n=101) or at term (n=104). A higher level of ASD-traits was associated with slower global visual processing speed among the preterm VLBW, but not among the term-born group (P<0.04 for interaction). Our findings suggest that the associations between ASD-traits and visual processing may be restricted to individuals born preterm, and related specifically to global, not local visual processing. Our findings point to cumulative social and neurocognitive problems in those born preterm at VLBW. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
13. Wu CL, Liu YR, Kuo CC, Chen HC, Chang YL. {{Effectiveness of humor training among adolescents with autism}}. {Psychiatry Res};2016 (Dec 30);246:25-31.
Humor training has been applied to educational and clinical cases and has been found to be effective, but humor training for individuals with autism is relatively rare. The present study proposed a humor-knowledge and humor-skill training workshop to enhance the humor comprehension and appreciation of individuals with autism and examined the effects of the training. Participants were 20 adolescents with autism and average intelligence (above 70 in WAIS-III). They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Both questionnaire of joke comprehension and appreciation and a humor style questionnaire were used as instruments. The results supported the effectiveness of the 15-h training. The comprehension and appreciation of nonsense humor were significantly increased in the experimental group in comparison with the control group, although the incongruity-resolution jokes remained difficult to comprehend. The tendency to use affiliative humor was greater among individuals with autism in the experimental group, suggesting that the appreciation of humor can be learned.
