Pre-attentive Processing as the Link Between Schizotypy and Autistic Tendencies

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Pre-attentive Processing as the Link Between Schizotypy and Autistic Tendencies Talitha Ford1* 1 Swinburne University of Technology, Australia With the divergence of the term “childhood schizophrenia” in the late 1970’s the autism spectrum has been defined as an exclusive disorder. However, correlational studies exploring schizotypal and autistic tendencies expose links in cognitive and social functioning with similar neural deficits also revealed in both clinical and non-clinical groups. This study compares pre-attentive functioning in high scores on the Autistic Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) using prepulse negativity (PPI) and mismatch field (MMF) with Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. Method: From 104 respondents a correlational analysis of typal subscales was conducted. PPI and MMF function was then assessed between six high AQ (HA), four high SPQ (HS), six high AQ/SPQ (HAS) and 8 controls. PPI consisted of 115dB startle stimuli preceded by 85dB prepulse over a 70dB white noise background. MMF consisted of duration (50ms and 200ms) and frequency (667hz and 1500hz) deviants among continuous standards (100ms, 1000hZ). Results: Strong significant typal correlations between the AQ and SPQ are revealed. Preliminary MMF analysis has revealed noticeable differences in mean global averages over temporal site for the standard and each deviant with HS greater than control, which in turn is greater than HA and HAS. Further analysis is underway to decipher these trends and obtain significance, in addition to PPI analysis. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that even at a typal level, abnormalities are identified in neural pre-attentive functioning which may manifest in cognitive and social function. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Acknowledgements David Crewther Peter Goodin Rachel Batty Keywords: schizotypal traits, autistic traits, MMN (Mismatch negativity), prepulse inhibition, Magnetoencephalography Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Sensation and Perception Citation: Ford T (2012). Pre-attentive Processing as the Link Between Schizotypy and Autistic Tendencies. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00036 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 14 Oct 2012; Published Online: 07 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Miss. Talitha Ford, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, talitha.ford@deakin.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract Supplemental Data The Authors in Frontiers Talitha Ford Google Talitha Ford Google Scholar Talitha Ford PubMed Talitha Ford Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.