High-functioning Individuals Research Articles

Gait variability predicts real-life falls in high-functioning stroke survivors

BackgroundWhile over 60 % of adults with stroke fall each year, the risk is greatest in high-functioning individuals with mild motor impairments and greater physical mobility. We lack sensitive predictors of falls in this population. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the relative contribution of gait variability and widely used tests of balance and mobility in predicting real-life falls in high-functioning adults with stroke. MethodsTwenty-four adults with stroke who had the ability to walk independently, Fugl-Meyer lower-extremity score of ≥19/34, and Frenchay Activities Index ≥16/45 performed overground walking, Timed-up and go, and Berg balance scale. We quantified the gait speed, and gait variability for stride length and stride time. We recorded the history of falls in the past one year. FindingsThe incidence rate of past falls was 50 %. Stride length variability and Berg balance scale score were associated with previous falls in univariate analyses and were subsequently included in the multivariate model. Multivariate analyses showed that only stride length variability significantly predicted past falls (OR = 2.73, 95 % CI 1.05–7.08, p = 0.03). A cut-off of 3.98 % for stride length variability had 75 % sensitivity and 91.7 % specificity in predicting previous falls (AUC = 0.83, 95 % CI 0.64–1.00, p < 0.001). InterpretationIn high-functioning adults with stroke, stride length variability during overground walking is a strong predictor of the past incidence of falls compared with traditional balance and mobility tests. Our findings highlight the importance of gait variability in accurately determining fall risk among high-functioning post-stroke individuals.

The Profiles of Health Aging in Older Ethiopian Adults within the WHO Healthy Aging Framework

AbstractThe World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Healthy Aging framework describes healthy aging as the maintenance of functional capacity in older adults. However, aging is a heterogeneous process influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, leading to variations in experiences of functional capacity among adults. In this study, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) classified groups of individuals based on their health and functional capacities. Adults from Northwest Ethiopia (n = 845) aged ≥ 60 years old, were interviewed about their cognition, mental health, social support, independence, and sensory functioning. LCA identified three groups, reflecting “high-“ (47.5%); "moderate-" (37.3%); and "low-functioning" (15.2%) participants. Compared to low-functioning individuals, high-functioning individuals were less likely to be aged 80+ (RR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.80), lonely (RR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.72, 3.18), but more likely to report normal nutritional status (RR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.47, 2.86), no multimorbidity (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.32), living in an urban area (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.22), and financially independent (RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.49). Notably, almost half of the sample was classified as high functioning, comparable to findings from other developing countries. Those individuals in the high-functioning group who did not meet the WHO criteria for functional capacity across all domains did not differ from those individuals who did meet all the WHO criteria. This positively demonstrates that older adults do not need to be functional across all dimensions to experience healthy aging.

A functional parcellation of the whole brain in high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder reveals atypical patterns of network organization.

Researchers studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) lack a comprehensive map of the functional network topography in the ASD brain. We used high-quality resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) connectivity data and a robust parcellation routine to provide a whole-brain map of functional networks in a group of seventy high-functioning individuals with ASD and a group of seventy typically developing (TD) individuals. The rs-fMRI data were collected using an imaging sequence optimized to achieve high temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) across the whole-brain. We identified functional networks using a parcellation routine that intrinsically incorporates internal consistency and repeatability of the networks by keeping only network distinctions that agree across halves of the data over multiple random iterations in each group. The groups were tightly matched on tSNR, in-scanner motion, age, and IQ. We compared the maps from each group and found that functional networks in the ASD group are atypical in three seemingly related ways: (1) whole-brain connectivity patterns are less stable across voxels within multiple functional networks, (2) the cerebellum, subcortex, and hippocampus show weaker differentiation of functional subnetworks, and (3) subcortical structures and the hippocampus are atypically integrated with the neocortex. These results were statistically robust and suggest that patterns of network connectivity between the neocortex and the cerebellum, subcortical structures, and hippocampus are atypical in ASD individuals.

Neural Hyperresponsivity During the Anticipation of Tangible Social and Nonsocial Rewards in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Concurrent Neuroimaging and Facial Electromyography Study

BackgroundAtypical anticipation of social reward has been shown to lie at the core of the social challenges faced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous research has yielded inconsistent results and has often overlooked crucial characteristics of stimuli. Here, we investigated ASD reward processing using social and nonsocial tangible stimuli, carefully matched on several key dimensions. MethodsWe examined the anticipation and consumption of social (interpersonal touch) and nonsocial (flavored milk) rewards in 25 high-functioning individuals with ASD and 25 neurotypical adult individuals. In addition to subjective ratings of wanting and liking, we measured physical energetic expenditure to obtain the rewards, brain activity with neuroimaging, and facial reactions through electromyography on a trial-by-trial basis. ResultsParticipants with ASD did not exhibit reduced motivation for social or nonsocial rewards; their subjective ratings, motivated efforts, and facial reactions were comparable to those of neurotypical participants. However, anticipation of higher-value rewards increased neural activation in lateral parietal cortices, sensorimotor regions, and the orbitofrontal cortex. Moreover, participants with ASD exhibited hyperconnectivity between frontal medial regions and occipital regions and the thalamus. ConclusionsIndividuals with ASD who experienced rewards with tangible characteristics, whether social or nonsocial, displayed typical subjective and objective motivational and hedonic responses. Notably, the observed hyperactivations in sensory and attentional nodes during anticipation suggest atypical sensory overprocessing of forthcoming rewards rather than decreased reward value. While these atypicalities may not have manifested in observable behavior here, they could impact real-life social interactions that require nuanced predictions, potentially leading to the misperception of reduced interest in rewarding social stimuli in ASD.

High-Functioning Autism and Virtual Reality Applications: A Scoping Review

In recent years, the number of applications of virtual reality (VR) for the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population has increased and has become one of the most suitable tools to address the psychological needs of these individuals. The present scoping review aims to provide a literature mapping of experimental studies that have used immersive and semi-immersive VR for assessments or interventions specifically addressing high-functioning autism. A total of 23 papers were included and analyzed following PRISMA guidelines. The identified studies concerned social skills (11 papers), eye gaze and joint attention (3 papers), motor learning (3 papers), job training (2 papers), and other aims or rationales (4 papers). The evidence shows that, despite the intellectual potential of high-functioning ASD individuals, little research has been conducted to provide interventions that offer concrete training to improve their adaptive functioning. In addition, the percentage of individuals below 18 years of age is representative of half of the included studies, so aiming future studies at the early stages of development might be an asset in preparing the next generation of young adults to cope with age-related challenges, as early assessments and interventions are more likely to produce major long-term effects.

Virtual Reality Utilized for Safety Skills Training for Autistic Individuals: A Review.

In recent years, virtual reality technology, which is able to simulate real-life environments, has been widely used in the field of intervention for individuals with autism and has demonstrated distinct advantages. This review aimed to evaluate the impact of virtual reality technology on safety skills intervention for individuals with autism. After searching and screening three databases, a total of 20 pertinent articles were included. There were six articles dedicated to the VR training of street-crossing skills for individuals with autism, nine articles focusing on the training of driving skills for individuals with ASD, and three studies examining the training of bus riding for individuals with ASD. Furthermore, there were two studies on the training of air travel skills for individuals with ASD. First, we found that training in some complex skills (e.g., driving skills) should be selected for older, high-functioning individuals with ASD, to determine their capacity to participate in the training using scales or questionnaires before the intervention; VR devices with higher levels of immersion are not suitable for younger individuals with ASD. Second, VR is effective in training safety skills for ASD, but there is not enough evidence to determine the relationship between the level of VR immersion and intervention effects. Although the degree of virtual reality involvement has an impact on the ability of ASD to be generalized to the real world, it is important to ensure that future virtual reality settings are realistic and lifelike. Again, adaptive models that provide personalized training to individuals with ASD in VR environments are very promising, and future research should continue in this direction. This paper also discusses the limitations of these studies, as well as potential future research directions.

Neurophysiological mechanisms of exploration and exploitation in high-functioning autism: Magnetoencephalographic study

Intolerance of uncertainty and high sensitivity to the threat of failure are believed to contribute to chronic anxiety in individuals with high-functioning autism. This study examines the influence of these personality traits on the brain processes involved in decision-making in a probabilistic setting among autism patients. Furthermore, we explore the causal relationship between these personality traits and chronic anxiety in individuals with high-functioning autism. Twenty-one high-functioning autistic individuals who are intolerant to uncertainty, aged 19 to 46, and 21 neurotypical volunteers of the same age, carried out a probabilistic choice experiment with two alternatives. One option yielded a monetary profit of 70% of the time, while the other brought only a 30% gain. Following each selection, the subjects received feedback on their decision and gradually learned, through trial and error, to prefer the more advantageous option. From this point forward, we consider frequent selections of a beneficial stimulus to align with the internal utility model, specifically the exploitation strategy. On the other hand, sporadic choices of a detrimental stimulus correspond to an exploration strategy, which may prove disadvantageous in a stable environment but enables adaptation to unforeseen changes in the surroundings. We hypothesized that there are characteristic differences in brain activity reflecting exploration and exploitation strategies between groups, which would emerge during the decision-making period and after internal feedback evaluation regarding advantageous and disadvantageous choices [1]. Beta oscillations (16–30 Hz) were analyzed in the magnetoencephalographic recordings. The decrease in beta oscillation power below baseline during the period between stimulus presentation and subjects’ response indicates activation in brain regions related to decision-making strategy. Conversely, an increase in beta oscillation power following feedback signaling a disadvantageous choice reflects a mechanism that reinforces internal value models in current task conditions [1]. The cortical sources of beta oscillations in 448 cortical areas were estimated using the sLoreta technique at the single-trial level. Mixed linear models (LMM) were used for statistical analysis with correction for multiple comparisons via the FDR method for the number of cortical areas analyzed. The study concentrated on the time interval for decision-making (–900 to –300 ms prior to the motor action of choice) and the post-feedback period (500 to 900 ms after the commencement of the feedback presentation) [1]. Based on questionnaire results, individuals with high-functioning autism exhibited a significantly lower tolerance for uncertainty and a greater intolerance for uncertainty when compared to neurotypical participants. The study generated two primary findings. Initially, the extent of brain activity during decision-making differed in control subjects and subjects with autism based on the type of choice, with exact opposition. Opting for an advantageous vs. disadvantageous choice was linked with reduced activation of the inferior temporal, parietal, and medial frontal cortex regions in control subjects and elevated activation in these regions for subjects with autism spectrum disorder. These findings suggest that neurotypical individuals utilize fewer neural resources and exhibit decreased emotional response while deciding in favor of a known profitable outcome compared to opting for an uncertain choice — one that is more likely to result in a negative outcome based on previous experiences. Individuals with autism allocate disproportionate amounts of attention and emotional resources towards planning actions that are deemed safe and offer only a probable (though not definite) advantage. Conversely, the prospect of failure due to risky behavior induces a comparatively muted response in their brains. Second, our internal evaluation of feedback focused on variations in functional activity within the orbitofrontal and lateral prefrontal cortical areas during exploratory (disadvantageous) choices between individuals with autism and control subjects. As previously reported, neurotypical subjects demonstrated significant beta synchronization following negative feedback after disadvantageous choices [1]. Contrary to control participants, individuals with autism spectrum disorder exhibited a lack of synchronization in frontal beta oscillations following losses incurred from unfavorable selections. This observation may indicate insufficient reinforcement of the internal utility model, which typically strengthens in response to negative outcomes that align with predicted results [1]. Overall, our study found that individuals on the autism spectrum with a high intolerance for uncertainty exhibit significantly increased activation of brain decision-making systems in situations that are perceived to be low-risk and with a high probability of a successful outcome. These findings clarify the reasons behind the puzzling rise in anxiety and autonomic reactivity among individuals in situations where they anticipate rewards, which are not inherently aversive unlike fear of punishment [2].

2 Musical perception skills in Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Objective:Agenesis of the corpus callosum(AgCC) is a disorder in which the connection between the two brain hemispheres is congenitally absent. Previous research has suggested that the auditory system can be affected in individuals with AgCC (Demopoulos et al., 2015). However, the nature of AgCC’s effect on musical perception skills is unclear. This study investigated the impact of AgCC on the music perception skills in high-functioining adults using a brief version of the Profile of Music Perception Skills (PROMS; Zentner, M. &amp; Strauß, H. 2017). It was hypothesized that individuals with AgCC would have diminished music perception abilities when compared to a neurotypical control group.Participants and Methods:Participants included 10 high-functioning adults with AgCC that had an intelligence quotation within the normal range (FSIQ&gt;80) and 63 neurotypical controls who were recruited via Cloud Research. During the PROMS the participants were asked to listen to two different sound excerpts after which they were asked whether the second sound was the same or different from the first (correct answers= 2 points, uncertain answers= 1 point, and remaining answers not coded). The participants answered questions in four different areas of musical perception: Melody, Tuning, Accent, and Tempo.Results:Results indicated that there was not a significant difference between the control group and the AgCC participants on music perception skills on the overall PROMS scores F(1,72)= .365, P-value= .548. Tested individually, none of the 4 individual domains showed a significant difference: Melody F(1,72)=2.67, P-value= .107; Tuning F(1,72)= .271, P-value= .606; Accent F(1,72)= .017, P-value= .897; or Tempo F(1,72)=.106, P-value= .746.Conclusions:Contrary to the hypothesis of this study, the results showed that the participants with AgCC did not perform significantly differently in the PROMS total score when compared to neurotypical controls, nor were there significant differences in any of the four of the subtests (Melody, Tuning, Accent, and Tempo). Thus these high-functioning individuals with AgCC did not have deficient music perception abilities. These findings demonstrate that although the auditory system may be affected in some individuals with AgCC, we do not see differences in musical perception skills in high-functioning individuals with AgCC.

Students’ Attitudes to the Employment Options of College Graduates on the Autistic Spectrum and their Integration in the Labor Market

The challenge of becoming integrated in the workforce is relevant for all graduates of the system of higher education, but it is particularly meaningful for those with ASD. Integration in the labor market has a wide impact, beyond the financial aspect, and the impact may be social, psychological, physiological, or other. The research literature found that the employer’s attitudes and perceptions of people with disabilities and their manner of employment are significant factors for successful integration of people with disabilities in the workforce. The current study explored the attitudes of students who may in the future be employers of high-functioning individuals with ASD or who may work with them. The premise was that current-day young people have more tolerance for diversity and containment of different populations in society and hence more social responsibility. The research findings indicate that students’ level of education has an impact on their positive attitudes to the employment of high-functioning individuals with ASD. In addition, two major fundamental causes underlying the success of students with ASD were found: the social importance of integrating people with autism and how they are treated by their employer. In addition, the students noted that lacking strong desire by people with ASD to becoming integrated in the labor market and willingness to suffer many difficulties when starting work and less at later stages, the desire of society and of the workplaces will not suffice. The research findings illuminate the potential employment options of college graduates on the autistic spectrum and their integration in the labor market as a function of the attitudes of employers who graduated from these institutions. The current research findings indicate a low association between the level of familiarity with people with ASD and attitudes toward the integration of people on the spectrum in the workforce, in contrast to previous findings. The question is: How can leaders of academic institutions act to arouse awareness of importance of integration in work market for the weaker in society among their graduates in a world where containment and equal opportunities are high values in society in general and in academic institutions in particular? Another direction that arose is that together with the meaningful development of technology use in workplaces, academic institutions must direct students with ASD to various studies of technology on different levels so that they will be able to occupy suitable jobs.

Cortical activity in patients with high-functioning ischemic stroke during the Purdue Pegboard Test: insights into bimanual coordinated fine motor skills with functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

After stroke, even high-functioning individuals may experience compromised bimanual coordination and fine motor dexterity, leading to reduced functional independence. Bilateral arm training has been proposed as a promising intervention to address these deficits. However, the neural basis of the impairment of functional fine motor skills and their relationship to bimanual coordination performance in stroke patients remains unclear, limiting the development of more targeted interventions. To address this gap, our study employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate cortical responses in patients after stroke as they perform functional tasks that engage fine motor control and coordination. Twenty-four high-functioning patients with ischemic stroke (7 women, 17 men; mean age 64.75 ± 10.84 years) participated in this cross-sectional observational study and completed four subtasks from the Purdue Pegboard Test, which measures unimanual and bimanual finger and hand dexterity. We found significant bilateral activation of the sensorimotor cortices during all Purdue Pegboard Test subtasks, with bimanual tasks inducing higher cortical activation than the assembly subtask. Importantly, patients with better bimanual coordination exhibited lower cortical activation during the other three Purdue Pegboard Test subtasks. Notably, the observed neural response patterns varied depending on the specific subtask. In the unaffected hand task, the differences were primarily observed in the ipsilesional hemisphere. In contrast, the bilateral sensorimotor cortices and the contralesional hemisphere played a more prominent role in the bimanual task and assembly task, respectively. While significant correlations were found between cortical activation and unimanual tasks, no significant correlations were observed with bimanual tasks. This study provides insights into the neural basis of bimanual coordination and fine motor skills in high-functioning patients after stroke, highlighting task-dependent neural responses. The findings also suggest that patients who exhibit better bimanual performance demonstrate more efficient cortical activation. Therefore, incorporating bilateral arm training in post-stroke rehabilitation is important for better outcomes. The combination of functional near-infrared spectroscopy with functional motor paradigms is valuable for assessing skills and developing targeted interventions in stroke rehabilitation.

Social cognition and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Theory of mind as a key to understand schizophrenia dysfunction

Functional impairment is a common symptom in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). Pharmacological treatments have limited functional recovery in both disorders. Social cognition, a cognitive process, has been associated with functioning in mental disorders. Theory of mind (ToM) is considered a key factor in understanding the social cognitive deficits in SZ and BD. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between ToM and functioning in SZ, BD, and healthy controls (HC) and compare ToM and functioning impairments between groups. A total of 208 participants (HC n = 69; BD n = 89; SZ n = 50) were evaluated with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence (WASI) and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (HVLT-R). Comparisons of RMET between low- and high-functioning individuals and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for each group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the association between ToM and psychosocial functioning was observed only in SZ (β = –1.352, p = 0.008). Low-functioning SZ participants showed a lower ToM performance compared to participants with high-functioning SZ (t = 1.80, p = 0.039, Cohen's d = 0.938). No significant associations were found in the other groups. ToM is essential to understand the functional impairment in SZ, more than in BD. Furthermore, ToM may be a primary target for intervention strategies in improving functioning in SZ.

A how-to guide for a precision medicine approach to the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The clinical approach to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is challenging, particularly in high-functioning individuals. Accurate diagnosis is crucial, especially given the significant side effects, including brain hemorrhage, of newer monoclonal antibodies approved for treating earlier stages of Alzheimer's. Although early treatment is more effective, early diagnosis is also more difficult. Several clinical mimickers of AD exist either separately, or in conjunction with AD pathology, adding to the diagnostic complexity. To illustrate the clinical decision-making process, this study includes de-identified cases and reviews of the underlying etiology and pathology of Alzheimer's and available therapies to exemplify diagnostic and treatment subtleties. The clinical presentation of Alzheimer's is complex and varied. Multiple other primary brain pathologies present with clinical phenotypes that can be difficult to distinguish from AD. Furthermore, Alzheimer's rarely exists in isolation, as almost all patients also show evidence of other primary brain pathologies, including Lewy body disease and argyrophilic grain disease. The phenotype and progression of AD can vary based on the brain regions affected by pathology, the coexistence and severity of other brain pathologies, the presence and severity of systemic comorbidities such as cardiac disease, the common co-occurrence with psychiatric diagnoses, and genetic risk factors. Additionally, symptoms and progression are influenced by an individual's brain reserve and cognitive reserve, as well as the timing of the diagnosis, which depends on the demographics of both the patient and the diagnosing physician, as well as the availability of biomarkers. The optimal clinical and biomarker strategy for accurately diagnosing AD, common neuropathologic co-morbidities and mimickers, and available medication and non-medication-based treatments are discussed. Real-life examples of cognitive loss illustrate the diagnostic and treatment decision-making process as well as illustrative treatment responses. AD is best considered a syndromic disorder, influenced by a multitude of patient and environmental characteristics. Additionally, AD existing alone is a unicorn, as there are nearly always coexisting other brain pathologies. Accurate diagnosis with biomarkers is essential. Treatment response is affected by the variables involved, and the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease, as well as its prevention, requires an individualized, precision medicine strategy.

Association of Sit-to-Stand Capacity and Free-Living Performance Using Thigh-Worn Accelerometers among 60- to 90-Yr-Old Adults.

Five times sit-to-stand (STS) test is commonly used as a clinical assessment of lower-extremity functional ability, but its association with free-living performance has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the association between laboratory-based STS capacity and free-living STS performance using accelerometry. The results were stratified according to age and functional ability groups. This cross-sectional study included 497 participants (63% women) 60-90 yr old from three independent studies. A thigh-worn triaxial accelerometer was used to estimate angular velocity in maximal laboratory-based STS capacity and in free-living STS transitions over 3-7 d of continuous monitoring. Functional ability was assessed with short physical performance battery. Laboratory-based STS capacity was moderately associated with the free-living mean and maximal STS performance ( r = 0.52-0.65, P < 0.01). Angular velocity was lower in older compared with younger and in low- versus high-functioning groups, in both capacity and free-living STS variables (all P < 0.05). Overall, angular velocity was higher in capacity compared with free-living STS performance. The STS reserve (test capacity - free-living maximal performance) was larger in younger and in high-functioning groups compared with older and low-functioning groups (all P < 0.05). Laboratory-based STS capacity and free-living performance were found to be associated. However, capacity and performance are not interchangeable but rather provide complementary information. Older and low-functioning individuals seemed to perform free-living STS movements at a higher percentage of their maximal capacity compared with younger and high-functioning individuals. Therefore, we postulate that low capacity may limit free-living performance.

Measuring Social Camouflaging in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Literature Review.

In the recent years, growing attention has been paid to the use of camouflaging strategies by adult populations suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with milder manifestations and without intellectual impairment, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis or even a misdiagnosis. In fact, high-functioning ASD individuals were reported to be more aware of their communication difficulties and were more likely make considerable efforts to adjust their behavior to conventional rules of non-autistic individuals, learning to imitate other non-ASD individuals. Moreover, females reported a higher frequency of camouflaging strategies, suggesting a role of camouflaging in the gender gap of the ASD diagnosis. Although camouflaging strategies can sometimes grant a better level of adjustment, even resulting in a hyper-adaptive behavior, they are also often correlated with negative mental health consequences due to the long-term stress associated with continuous attempts to adapt in day-to-day life. In this framework, the aim of the present work was to review the available studies that assessed the presence and correlates of camouflaging strategies in individuals with ASD. Although the literature available on the topic is still scarce, some interesting correlations between camouflaging and anxious and depressive symptoms, as well as suicidality, were highlighted. In particular, the controversial and sometime opposite thoughts and results about camouflaging may be clarified and integrated in light of a dimensional approach to psychopathology.

Common fall-risk indicators are not associated with fall prevalence in a high-functioning military population with lower limb trauma.

Persons with lower limb trauma are at high risk for falls. Although there is a wide range of measures used to assess stability and fall-risk that include performance measures, temporal-spatial gait parameters, and nonlinear dynamic stability calculations, these measures are typically derived from fall-prone populations, such as older adults. Thus, it is unclear if these commonly used fall-risk indicators are effective at evaluating fall-risk in a younger, higher-functioning population of Service members with lower limb trauma. Twenty-one Service members with lower limb trauma completed a battery of fall-risk assessments that included performance measures (e.g., four-square-step-test), and gait parameters (e.g., step width, step length, step time) and dynamic stability measures (e.g., local divergence exponents) during 10min of treadmill walking. Participants also reported the number of stumbles and falls over the previous 4weeks. Negative Binomial and Quasibinomial Regressions were used to evaluate the strength of associations between fall-risk indicators and self-reported falls. Participants reported on average stumbling 6(4) times and falling 2(3) times in the previous 4weeks. At least one fall was reported by 62% of the participants. None of the fall-risk indicators were significantly associated with fall prevalence in this population of Service members with lower limb trauma (p>0.1). Despite the high number of reported falls in this young active population, none of the fall-risk indicators investigated effectively captured and quantified the fall-risk. Further research is needed to identify appropriate fall-risk assessments for young, high-functioning individuals with lower limb trauma.

Morphometric analysis of Corpus Callosum in autistic and typically developing Indian children

Corpus callosum (CC) is the largest commissural white matter bundle in the brain, responsible for the integration of information between hemispheres. Reduction in the size of the CC structure has been predominantly reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing children (TD). However, most of these studies are based on high-functioning individuals with ASD but not on an inclusive sample of individuals with ASD with varying abilities. Our current study aimed to examine the CC morphometry between children with ASD and TD in the Indian population. We also compared CC morphometry in autistic children with autism severity, verbal IQ (VIQ) and full-scale IQ (FSIQ). T1-weighted structural images were acquired using a 3T MRI scanner to examine the CC measures in 62 ASD and 17 TD children. The length and height of the CC and the width of genu were decreased in children with ASD compared to TD. There was no significant difference in CC measures based on autism severity, VIQ or FSIQ among children with ASD. To our knowledge, this is the first neuroimaging study to include a significant number (n = 56) of low-functioning ASD children. Our findings suggest the atypical interhemispheric connectivity of CC in ASD.

High-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders in Middle Eastern societies

High-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders in Middle Eastern societies

Identification of Young High-Functioning Autism Individuals Based on Functional Connectome Using Graph Isomorphism Network: A Pilot Study.

Accumulated studies have determined the changes in functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and spurred the application of machine learning for classifying ASD. Graph Neural Network provides a new method for network analysis in brain disorders to identify the underlying network features associated with functional deficits. Here, we proposed an improved model of Graph Isomorphism Network (GIN) that implements the Weisfeiler-Lehman (WL) graph isomorphism test to learn the graph features while taking into account the importance of each node in the classification to improve the interpretability of the algorithm. We applied the proposed method on multisite datasets of resting-state functional connectome from Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) after stringent quality control. The proposed method outperformed other commonly used classification methods on five different evaluation metrics. We also identified salient ROIs in visual and frontoparietal control networks, which could provide potential neuroimaging biomarkers for ASD identification.

Individuals with autism show non-adaptive relative weighting of perceptual prior and sensory reliability.

Unique perceptual skills and abnormalities in perception have been extensively demonstrated in those with autism for many perceptual domains, accounting, at least in part, for some of the main symptoms. Several new hypotheses suggest that perceptual representations in autism are unrefined, appear less constrained by exposure and regularities of the environment, and rely more on actual concrete input. Consistent with these emerging views, a bottom-up, data-driven fashion of processing has been suggested to account for the atypical perception in autism. It is yet unclear, however, whether reduced effects of prior knowledge and top-down information, or rather reduced noise in the sensory input, account for the often-reported bottom-up mode of processing in autism. We show that neither is sufficiently supported. Instead, we demonstrate clear differences between autistics and neurotypicals in how incoming input is weighted against prior knowledge and experience in determining the final percept. Importantly, the findings tap central differences in perception between those with and without autism that are consistent across identified sub-clusters within each group.

Atypicality and controllability of autistic brain state dynamics in humans

Cognitive and behavioural activities are underpinned by dynamic neural activities on large-scale brain network architectures. Thus, atypical cognitions and behaviours seen in neuropsychiatric conditions should be accounted for by characteristic brain network dynamics and controlled by modifying such brain state dynamics. Here, I will present empirical, numerical and causal evidence for such a notion by taking autism spectrum disorder as an example. First, I will talk about energy landscape analysis that enables us to elucidate global neural dynamics behind seemingly unstable and fluctuating cognitive and behavioural tendencies. Next, I will show that the data-driven analysis method identified overly stable brain state dynamics as a key mechanism of both the symptoms and unique intelligence of high-functioning autistic individuals. Finally, I will introduce a brain-state-driven non-invasive neural stimulation method and recent results based on the device. The observations indicate the causal roles of the brain state dynamics on human behaviours and the possibility that modifying the large-scale neural dynamics can mitigate atypical cognition and behaviours in some neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.