Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Social dysfunction is among the most prominent features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as many other developmental and neuropsychiatric conditions. What precise ...neuronal mechanisms are disrupted in ASD, however, are unknown. The goal of this study is to provide a basic cellular-level understanding and treatment model for ASD.
METHODS
We developed an alternating appetitive/aversive paradigm in which socially-paired mice experienced both acute stress and food reward while we simultaneously recorded neuronal activity from medial prefrontal cortex. We compared WT to SHANK3 -/+ mice as a model of ASD, to explore the neuronal correlates socially relevant information and its dysfunction.
RESULTS
>Individual medial prefrontal neurons in SHANK3 -/+ mice displayed markedly different response profiles compared to that of WT. Specifically, neurons in SHANK3 -/+ mice demonstrated little differential response when presented with another unfamiliar mouse or nonsocial totem undergoing the same condition. However, in trials where the recorded mouse and a familiar mouse both receive a negative (painful) stimulus, SHANK3 -/+ mice demonstrated a significantly attenuated firing rate in response to the conspecific mouse, while the WT mice did not show any such differences. This attenuation was not observed when the other mice received positive (rewarding) stimuli.
CONCLUSION
Our study reveals some of the basic neuronal coding mechanisms that are disrupted in ASD. In particular, they demonstrate that, at the cellular level, autistic mice lack the neuronal-equivalent of an “empathic” response compared to wild-type. This neuronal response may provide a foundational mechanism for egocentric behavioral often found in ASD and suggests a basic model for testing neurobiologically plausible treatments for individuals with autism.
Abstract
Date Presented 04/04/19
This study evaluated the relationship between sensory processing and social responsiveness in young adults with ASD and age-matched neurotypical controls. Compared to ...controls, young adults with ASD had significant differences on all four quadrants of the sensory profile. However, low registration and sensory gating (the ability to filter irrelevant information) appear to be key predictors of social responsiveness.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jewel Crasta
Additional Authors and Speakers: Patricia Davies
Contributing Authors: William Gavin
Abstract
Date Presented 04/06/19
This course highlights developments and findings in a neuroscience study as they relate to OT for children and adolescents with ASD. The presenters discuss findings ...from an ongoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that investigates the neural basis of how children with ASD imitate social and motor stimuli. Study results can be used to inform clinical approaches for research-informed client-centered OT interventions.
Primary Author and Speaker: Emily Kilroy
Additional Authors and Speakers: Christiana Butera
Contributing Authors: Cristin Zeisler, Laura Harrison, Sharon Cermak, Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
Autistic Intelligence: Interaction, Individuality, and the Challenges of Diagnosis by Maynard and Turowetz (2022) addresses the importance of exploring language used in interactions during the ...diagnostic process of autism spectrum disorder. The authors analyze interaction in order to clarify the ambiguity in understanding autism that exists across several fields of study. Drawing on their sociological backgrounds, the authors use an ethnomethodological conversation analytic approach to show that interaction has been overlooked in the autism diagnostic process. This research makes an important contribution to existing conversation analytic and psychological literature by reframing autism spectrum disorder as a difference rather than a deficit.
Autism is a widespread developmental disorder that has plagued human beings for a long time. It is complex and special, and mostly occurs in children. Regardless of the etiology, diagnosis and ...treatment intervention of autism, it is closely related to the family of autistic patients. Therefore, this article will focus on the perspective of the family. What’s more, it will analyze the close relationship between the family and autism from the etiology and other aspects. This article tries to maximize the positive role of the family in the process of autism from onset to treatment, and reduce the negative impact of the family in the whole process. The aim is to popularize autism related knowledge. More families can understand what autism is. And measures can be taken as soon as possible. The direction of cooperation treatment will be pointed out for the families of autistic patients. At the same time, it can provide a certain basis for the future research of autism, and promote the development of autism related theory and practice.
