Reciprocal Social Interaction Research Articles

Multiple Exposures to Sevoflurane General Anesthesia During Pregnancy Inhibit CaMKII/CREB Axis by Downregulating HCN2 to Induce an Autism-Like Phenotype in Offspring Mice.

The objective of this investigation was to examine the impact of multiple exposures to general anesthesia (GA) with sevoflurane on the offspring of pregnant mice, as well as to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Neurodevelopmental assessments, including various reflexes and behavioral tests, were conducted on the offspring in the GA group to evaluate neuronal cell development. Furthermore, neonatal mouse neuronal cells were isolated and transfected with a high-expression CREB vector (pcDNA3.1-CREB), followed by treatment with sevoflurane (0.72mol/L), ZD7288 (50μmol/L), and KN-62 (10μmol/L), or a combination of these compounds. The expression of relevant genes was then analyzed using qRT-PCR and western blot techniques. In comparison to the sham group, neonatal mice in the GA group exhibited significantly prolonged latencies in surface righting reflex, geotaxis test, and air righting reflex. Furthermore, there was a notable deceleration in the development of body weight and tail in the GA group. These mice also displayed impairments in social ability, reduced reciprocal social interaction behaviors, diminished learning capacity, and heightened levels of anxious behaviors. Additionally, synaptic trigger malfunction was observed, along with decreased production of c-Fos and neurotrophic factors. Sevoflurane was found to notably decrease cellular c-Fos and neurotrophic factor production, as well as the expression of HCN2 and CaMKII/CREB-related proteins. The inhibitory effects of sevoflurane on HCN2 or CaMKII channels were similar to those observed with ZD7288 or KN-62 inhibition. However, overexpression of CREB mitigated the impact of sevoflurane on neuronal cells. Repetitive exposure to sevoflurane general anesthesia while pregnant suppresses the CaMKII/CREB pathway, leading to the development of autism-like characteristics in offspring mice through the reduction of HCN2 expression.

Slitrk4 is required for the development of inhibitory neurons in the fear memory circuit of the lateral amygdala.

The Slitrk family consists of six synaptic adhesion molecules, some of which are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the physiological role of Slitrk4 by analyzing Slitrk4 knockout (KO) mice. The Slitrk4 protein was widely detected in the brain and was abundant in the olfactory bulb and amygdala. In a systematic behavioral analysis, male Slitrk4 KO mice exhibited an enhanced fear memory acquisition in a cued test for classical fear conditioning, and social behavior deficits in reciprocal social interaction tests. In an electrophysiological analysis using amygdala slices, Slitrk4 KO mice showed enhanced long-term potentiation in the thalamo-amygdala afferents and reduced feedback inhibition. In the molecular marker analysis of Slitrk4 KO brains, the number of calretinin (CR)-positive interneurons was decreased in the anterior part of the lateral amygdala nuclei at the adult stage. In in vitro experiments for neuronal differentiation, Slitrk4-deficient embryonic stem cells were defective in inducing GABAergic interneurons with an altered response to sonic hedgehog signaling activation that was involved in the generation of GABAergic interneuron subsets. These results indicate that Slitrk4 function is related to the development of inhibitory neurons in the fear memory circuit and would contribute to a better understanding of osttraumatic stress disorder, in which an altered expression of Slitrk4 has been reported.

Pregestational fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in Wistar rats causes sexually dimorphic behavioral changes in their offspring.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), marked by enduring metabolic inflammation, has detrimental effects on cognitive performance and brain structure, influencing behavior. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal MetS could negatively impact the neurodevelopment and metabolism of offspring. To test this hypothesis, 2 months old female Wistar rats were subjected to a 10-week regimen of tap water alone or supplemented with 20% fructose to induce MetS. Dams were mated with healthy males to generate litters: OC (offspring from control dams) and OMetS (offspring from dams with MetS). To isolate prenatal effects, all pups were breastfed by control nurse dams, maintaining a standard diet and water ad libitum until weaning. Behavioral assessments were conducted between postnatal days (PN) 22 and 95, and metabolic parameters were analyzed post-sacrifice on PN100. Results from the elevated plus maze, the open field, and the marble burying tests revealed a heightened anxiety-like phenotype in OMetS females. The novel object recognition test showed that exclusively OMetS males had long-term memory impairment. In the reciprocal social interaction test, OMetS displayed a lower number of social interactions, with a notable increase in "socially inactive" behavior observed exclusively in females. Additionally, in the three-chamber test, social preference and social novelty indexes were found to be lower solely among OMetS females. An increase in visceral fat concomitantly with hypertriglyceridemia was the relevant postmortem metabolic finding in OMetS females. In summary, maternal MetS leads to enduring damage and adverse effects on offspring neurobehavior and metabolism, with notable sexual dimorphism.

Increasing Reciprocal Social Interactions Between Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Peers Using a Collaborative Learning Framework.

Children with complex communication needs who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies to express themselves face significant difficulties interaction with peers. This study sought to design, implement, and evaluate a collaborative photography intervention designed to increase reciprocal social interaction between children who use AAC and their same-age peers. A single-subject, withdrawal design (ABAB) was used to explore the functional relationship between engagement in a collaborative photography intervention and the frequency of reciprocal social interactions between children who use AAC and their same-age peers. Partial-interval time sampling was used to code the number of reciprocal social interactions across four dyads. Increased frequencies of reciprocal social interactions were observed in intervention phases across all four dyads. Very large levels of effect and 100% nonoverlapping data were noted for Dyads 1 and 4. Moderate levels of effect and 70% of nonoverlapping data were noted for Dyads 2 and 3. Collaborative learning frameworks may be used to increase reciprocal social interactions between children who use AAC and their peers. Speech-language pathologists should consider utilizing collaborative learning elements in activities with children who use AAC. Future research is needed to further explore collaborative learning frameworks for interventions for children who use AAC. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25464064.

Examining the Impact of Group-Based Social Skills Intervention in Autistic Children Aged Eight to 15 Years.

Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder, which poses challenges to social communication and behavior, particularly affecting social functioning. Individuals with ASD face significant social challenges, including difficulty understanding social cues and body language, limited ability to engage in reciprocal social interactions, and challenges with establishing empathy. A preference for routines and repetitive behaviors limits their ability to adapt to new or unexpected social situations. These problems tend to escalate during adolescence. These often cause distress to the individual as well as the caregivers. Group-based social skills interventions (GSSIs) are a widely used and effective modality for addressing core social impairments in children with autism. This study aims to assess the impact of GSSI on the broad age group of eight to 15 years, involving parents to enhance the transferability of children's social skills. Methods This was a single-arm interventional studywhere 30 verbal autistic children, aged eight to 15 years, withintelligence quotient (IQ) > 70 were enrolled after utilizing theBinet Kamat Test of Intelligence (BKT) to assess IQand the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) tograde severity of autism. The children received GSSI frominterdisciplinary therapists for 12 sessions, on a weekly basis, lasting 90 minutes each for a period of three months. After each therapy session, parents received summaries of each session and were delegated reinforcing homework assignments to enable generalization and maintenance of the skills taught. Outcome measures were taken at three points in time by utilizing the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (p-SRS-2):T1: pre-therapy at the time of enrolment; T2: immediately post-therapy at the end of three months of training; and T3: long-term follow-up, three months after the end of training. Results Mean SCQ scores were as follows: T1 = 21.87, T2 = 18.57, and T3 = 18.57 (p = 0.000). This progressive decline at T1, T2, and T3indicated a decreasing trend in the severity of difficulties in the social communication domain. Mean p-SRS-2 scores were as follows: T1 = 73.00, T2 = 64.57, and T3 =64.30 (p < 0.0001). This declining trend at T1, T2, and T3suggested a statistically significant decrease in the severity of difficulties faced in various social aspects tested by the p-SRS-2, i.e., social awareness, social cognition, social communication, and social motivation, along with a reduction in restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). Very strong correlation coefficients were obtained for SCQ scores (T1-T2 = 0.921, T1-T3 = 0.921, and T2-T3 = 1.000), as well as for p-SRS-2 scores (T1-T2 = 0.743, T1-T3 = 0.746, and T2-T3 = 0.989), which reinforced the statistical significance of the data. Conclusion GSSI is an effective parent-assisted intervention foradolescents with ASD, with effects lasting up to three months post-intervention.

A narrative review of acupuncture treatment for Autism Spectrum disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by impaired reciprocal social communication and interaction, as well as restrictive behaviours, interests, and activities. Researchers estimate that approximately 2% of the South African population is affected by ASD. The prevalence of ASD in South Africa remains unknown, and minimal research has been conducted within the schooling systems to accurately inform the rates, distribution, and profile of needs for children with this disorder. The aim of this study was to conduct a narrative review of acupuncture treatment for ASD. A literature search targeted sources with the highest level of evidence and relevance to the topic. Searches were conducted on credible databases, focusing on high-quality publications with the most up-to-date information. A small number of studies (n=6) met the criteria for this narrative review. The studies reported statistically significant improvements in areas such as cognition, comprehension, social interaction, behaviours, speech and language, as well as food and noise sensitivity. Treatment was well tolerated, with minimal adverse effects. It may be concluded that there is evidence supporting the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for ASD; however, the quality of the studies has been relatively poor, and the sample sizes were insufficient. Research on this topic is still in its early stages, and these findings need confirmation through further high-quality research.

Behavioral and Molecular Characterization of Prenatal Stress Effects on the C57BL/6J Genetic Background for the Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Stress-inducing events during pregnancy are associated with aberrant neurodevelopment resulting in adverse psychiatric outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While numerous preclinical models for the study of ASD are frequently generated using C57BL/6J mice, few studies have investigated the effects of prenatal stress on this genetic background. In the current manuscript, we stressed C57BL/6 dams during gestation and examined numerous behavioral and molecular endophenotypes in the adult male and female offspring to characterize the resultant phenotype as compared with offspring born from nonstressed (NS) dams. Adult mice born from prenatal restraint stressed (PRS) dams demonstrated reduced sociability and reciprocal social interaction along with increased marble burying behaviors relative to mice born from nonstressed control dams. Differential expression of genes related to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission was evaluated in the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and caudate putamen via qRT-PCR. The male PRS mouse behavioral phenotype coincided with aberrant expression of glutamate and GABA marker genes (e.g., Grin1, Grin2b, Gls, Gat1, Reln) in neural substrates of social behavior. Rescue of the male PRS sociability deficit by a known antipsychotic with epigenetic properties (i.e., clozapine (5 mg/kg) + 18 hr washout) indicated possible epigenetic regulation of genes that govern sociability. Clozapine treatment increased the expression levels of genes involved in DNA methylation, histone methylation, and histone acetylation in the nucleus accumbens. Identification of etiology-specific mechanisms underlying clinically relevant behavioral phenotypes may ultimately provide novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of psychiatric disorders including ASD.

Effectiveness of Robotic Intervention on Improving Social Development and Participation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Evidence-based robotic intervention programmes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been limited. As yet, there is insufficient evidence to inform therapists, teachers, and service providers on effectiveness of robotic intervention to enhance social development and participation of children with ASD in a real context. This study used a randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of robotic intervention programmes in enhancing the social development and participation of children with ASD. 60 children with ASD were included. The participants were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) robotic intervention programme (n = 20), (2) human-instructed programme (n = 20), and (3) control group (n = 20). Both the performance-based behavioural change in social communication and parent-reported change in social responsiveness were evaluated. The participants in the robotic intervention group demonstrated statistically significant changes in both the performance-based assessment and parent-reported change in social participation. Significant differences were found in the communication and reciprocal social interactions scores between the experimental group and the control and comparison groups in the performance-based assessment (p < 0.01). The effectiveness of robotic intervention programme to enhance the social communication and participation was confirmed. Future studies may also consider adding a maintenance phase to document how the effects of the intervention carry over to the participants over a longer period. (Clinical trial number: NCT04879303; Date of registration: 10 May 2021).

Effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sex of adult rats exposed prenatally to valproic acid

AbstractBackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in reciprocal social interactions, deficits in communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests. In previous studies, music has been identified as an intervention therapy for children with ASD.ObjectivesThe present study evaluated the effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sexes of adult rats exposed prenatally to Valproic acid.MethodsFor induction of autism, pregnant female rats were pretreated with either saline or VPA (600 mg/kg.i.p.) at gestational day (GD) 12.5. Male and female offspring were divided into Saline.Non‐Music, VPA.Non‐Music, Saline.Music, and VPA.Music groups. The adult rats in the music groups were exposed to Mozart's piano sonata K.448 for 30 days (4 h/day), from postnatal day (PND) 60 to 90. Social interaction and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks were tested at PND 90.ResultsOur results revealed that prenatal exposure to VPA decreased sociability and social memory performance in both sexes of adult rats. Moreover, prenatal exposure to VPA created learning and memory impairments in both sexes of adult rats in the MWM task. Music intervention improved sociability in both sexes of VPA‐exposed rats and social memory in both sexes of VPA‐exposed rats, especially in females. Furthermore, our results revealed that music ameliorated learning impairments in VPA‐exposed female rats in the MWM task. In addition, music improved spatial memory impairments in VPA‐exposed rats of both sexes, especially in females, which needs more investigation in molecular and histological fields in future studies.ConclusionMusic intervention improved sociability and social memory in adult VPA‐exposed rats, especially in female animals. Furthermore, music improved memory impairments in VPA‐exposed rats of both sexes. It seems that music had a better influence on female rats. However, future studies need more investigations in molecular and histological fields.

Aflatoxin B1 Exposure Aggravates Neurobehavioral Deficits and Immune Dysfunctions of Th1, Th9, Th17, Th22, and T Regulatory Cell-Related Transcription Factor Signaling in the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by impaired communication, reciprocal social interactions, restricted sociability deficits, and stereotyped behavioral patterns. Environmental factors and genetic susceptibility have been implicated in an increased risk of ASD. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a typical contaminant of food and feed that causes severe immune dysfunction in humans and animals. Nevertheless, the impact of ASD on behavioral and immunological responses has not been thoroughly examined. To investigate this phenomenon, we subjected BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice to AFB1 and evaluated their marble-burying and self-grooming behaviors and their sociability. The exposure to AFB1 resulted in a notable escalation in marble-burying and self-grooming activities while concurrently leading to a decline in social contacts. In addition, we investigated the potential molecular mechanisms that underlie the impact of AFB1 on the production of Th1 (IFN-γ, STAT1, and T-bet), Th9 (IL-9 and IRF4), Th17 (IL-17A, IL-21, RORγT, and STAT3), Th22 (IL-22, AhR, and TNF-α), and T regulatory (Treg) (IL-10, TGF-β1, and FoxP3) cells in the spleen. This was achieved using RT-PCR and Western blot analyses to assess mRNA and protein expression in brain tissue. The exposure to AFB1 resulted in a significant upregulation of various immune-related factors, including IFN-γ, STAT1, T-bet, IL-9, IRF4, IL-17A, IL-21, RORγ, STAT3, IL-22, AhR, and TNF-α in BTBR mice. Conversely, the production of IL-10, TGF-β1, and FoxP3 by CD4+ T cells was observed to be downregulated. Exposure to AFB1 demonstrated a notable rise in Th1/Th9/Th22/Th17 levels and a decrease in mRNA and protein expression of Treg. The results above underscore the significance of AFB1 exposure in intensifying neurobehavioral and immunological abnormalities in BTBR mice, hence indicating the necessity for a more comprehensive investigation into the contribution of AFB1 to the development of ASD.

H - 55 Socially Responsible Neuropsychology (SRN) in Action: the Role of Neuropsychology in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Care, a Case Study of a Bilingual Latino Patient.

Latinx children with ASD are diagnosed 1-3years later than their White counterparts and typically present with more severe symptoms at the time of assessment. Systemic barriers include language barriers, limited literacy about ASD, mental health stigma, mistrust in healthcare. Latinx children are at greater risk of misdiagnosis, delayed access to special education, limiting early intervention. Within neuropsychology, there are limited bicultural/bilingual neuropsychologists trained in autism evaluations, few Spanish ASD diagnostic tools, no bilingual norms, and little understanding regarding neuropsychologists' role in providing autism evaluations to culturally/linguistically diverse children. This social injustice results in unmet needs and inequities in ASD care for Latinx children. We aim to illustrate how the SRN model increases equitable ASD care amongst Latinx children. SRN model was utilized in 11-year-old bilingual Latinx male by applying culturally responsive interview to identify systemic barriers and language use, and a model of language proficiency testing. Testing was primarily in English after verbal fluency measures established language dominance. Clinical decision making identified the need for autism evaluation using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). His cognitive profile showed word reading and motor inefficiencies. ADOS-2 identified deficits in communication, reciprocal social interaction, restricted and repetitive behavior. Neuropsychological assessment confirmed ASD and Developmental Coordination Disorder diagnosis. His unremarkable neurocognitive profile suggested compensatory strategies may have masked symptoms. This case highlights need for bicultural/bilingual neuropsychologists with experience providing comprehensive ASD evaluations to practice from equitable framework, using the SRN model to enhance early detection, treatment recommendations, and advocacy for access to culturally/linguistically appropriate resources.

Caught on the surface: Tustin on autistic experience.

According to Frances Tustin, the core of autism is found in sensory modifications-and tactile modifications in particular. Tustin argues that sensory experiences may become self-absorbed to such an extent that the sensory environment experientially flattens into a two-dimensional "feel," which complicates the individual's relations with the external environment and other people. Focusing on these fundamental modifications and their experiential consequences, the article introduces Tustin's main insight in terms of collapse of intentional depth, suggesting that this collapse concerns not only concrete spatial depth, but symbolic and intersubjective depth as well. By so doing, the article illustrates how Tustin's ideas render intelligible certain commonly recognized features of autism, such as "deficits in the ability to initiate and to sustain reciprocal social interaction and social communication" and "restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behavior, interests or activities" (ICD-11).

Short Sensory Profile Assessment System for Autism Children

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are life-long neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairment in reciprocal social interactions, impairment in verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. Children with ASD normally shows the sensory impairment and struggles to process sensory data. Short Sensory Profile (SSP) is an assessment tool which is widely used to identify whether the autism children have exhibited the sensory disorder. There are seven parts of the questionnaire which are tactile sensitivity, taste/ smell sensitivity, movement sensitivity, under responsive/ seeks sensation, auditory filtering, low energy/ weak and visual auditory sensitivity. The problem with the current system is that the assessment is being done manually whereby it requires the therapist to spend more time and effort to get the results. Therefore, by providing a web-based SSP assessment system, it will ease the therapist to automate the manual process and receive the output easily. In addition, the profile of the patient can be stored digitally and can be referred for future reference of developing and revisit the therapy plan.

Effects of heterozygous deletion of autism-related gene Cullin-3 in mice.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder in which children display repetitive behavior, restricted range of interests, and atypical social interaction and communication. CUL3, coding for a Cullin family scaffold protein mediating assembly of ubiquitin ligase complexes through BTB domain substrate-recruiting adaptors, has been identified as a high-risk gene for autism. Although complete knockout of Cul3 results in embryonic lethality, Cul3 heterozygous mice have reduced CUL3 protein, demonstrate comparable body weight, and display minimal behavioral differences including decreased spatial object recognition memory. In measures of reciprocal social interaction, Cul3 heterozygous mice behaved similarly to their wild-type littermates. In area CA1 of hippocampus, reduction of Cul3 significantly increased mEPSC frequency but not amplitude nor baseline evoked synaptic transmission or paired-pulse ratio. Sholl and spine analysis data suggest there is a small yet significant difference in CA1 pyramidal neuron dendritic branching and stubby spine density. Unbiased proteomic analysis of Cul3 heterozygous brain tissue revealed dysregulation of various cytoskeletal organization proteins, among others. Overall, our results suggest that Cul3 heterozygous deletion impairs spatial object recognition memory, alters cytoskeletal organization proteins, but does not cause major hippocampal neuronal morphology, functional, or behavioral abnormalities in adult global Cul3 heterozygous mice.

Differences in self-other control as cognitive mechanism to characterize theory of mind reasoning in autistic and non-autistic adults.

In cognitive science, altered Theory of Mind is a central pillar of etiological models of autism. Yet, recent evidence, showing comparable Theory of Mind abilities in autistic and non-autistic people, draws a more complex picture and renders previous descriptions of Theory of Mind abilities in autism and their role in autistic symptomatology insufficient. Here, we addressed self-other control as a potential candidate cognitive mechanism to explain subtle Theory of Mind reasoning differences between autistic and non-autistic adults. We investigated flexible shifting between another's and one's own congruent or incongruent points of view, an ability that is important for reciprocal social interaction. Measuring response accuracy and reaction time in a multiple-trial unexpected location false belief task, we found evidence for altered self-other control in Theory of Mind reasoning in autistic adults, with a relative difficulty in flexibly considering the other's perspective and less interference of the other's incongruent viewpoint when their own perspective is considered. Our results add to previous findings that social cognitive differences are there but subtle and constitute one step further in characterizing Theory of Mind reasoning in autism and explaining communication and interaction difficulties with non-autistic people in everyday life.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: general aspects and concerns about Brazilian politics

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses a highly variable set of neurodevelopmental disorders with early onset and non-degenerative pattern. According to the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (11th Revision), ICD-11, ASD is characterized as “persistent deficits in the ability to initiate and to sustain reciprocal social interaction and social communication, and by a range of restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behaviour, interests or activities that are clearly atypical or excessive for the individual's age and sociocultural context.”

Validation of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 for autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundThe Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2) is a benchmark in the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has been validated in different language settings, including German, Greek, and Korean. However, the diagnostic validity of the Taiwanese Mandarin Chinese version of the ADOS-2 is unknown. MethodsThe validity of the ADOS-2 was assessed in this study. We enrolled 218 patients, including toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults, with ASD diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The study also enrolled 93 non-ASD controls. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of five modules were calculated. ResultsBased on the total scores of social affect and restricted and repetitive behaviors for the toddler module (MT) and Modules (M) 1–3 and the total score of communication and reciprocal social interaction for M4, we performed a receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, which revealed that the diagnostic specificity of the ADOS-2 ranged between 0.71 for M3 and 1.00 for MT, M1 with few to no words, and M2 with ≥ 5 years; the diagnostic sensitivity of the ADOS-2 ranged between 0.83 for MT with some words and 0.96 for M1 with few to no words. DiscussionThis study clinically established the diagnostic validity of the Taiwanese Mandarin Chinese version of the ADOS-2. The ADOS-2 may be used for the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in clinical settings in Taiwan.

0789 Sleep Spindle Density is Associated with Core Symptom Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Introduction Converging evidence suggests that dysregulation of thalamocortical interactions, mediated by the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), contributes to the expression of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Risk genes for ASD have been found to affect the TRN early in development. Two hallmarks of NREM sleep –slow oscillations (SO) and sleep spindles– reflect TRN function and distinct thalamic/thalamocortical circuits. While studies demonstrate disrupted sleep quality that correlates with symptoms in children with ASD, studies of spindles in ASD have produced inconsistent findings. It is yet unclear if and how spindle properties are associated with ASD symptoms. Herein, based on studies implicating TRN-mediated thalamocortical dysregulation in ASD, we hypothesized that 1) sleep spindles are reduced in ASD; 2) spindle abnormalities correlate with worse clinical symptoms and cognition. Methods Forty participants with ASD (32 males, age: 11.8 ± 3.2; range 6-15) and 46 typically developing (TD) controls (32 males, age: 11.2 ± 2.3; range 6-15) participated in the study. All participants underwent ambulatory overnight polysomnography (PSG) for sleep assessment after systematic desensitization. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) were used to assess core behavioral symptoms. Results Spindle density was significantly lower in ASD compared to TD participants (ASD: 2.5 ± 2.0; TD: 3.0 ± 2.1; d= 0.45, p=0.01). In the ASD group, less spindle density was associated with more severe behavioral symptoms, as measured by the total ADOS score (R2=0.15, p=0.01) and the three main subscales of the ADI-R (reciprocal social interaction: R2=0.22, p=0.002; communication and language: R2=0.19, p=0.003; and restricted and repetitive, stereotyped interests and behaviors: R2=0.14, p=0.01). Conclusion Alterations in the maturational trajectory of spindles are related to the core symptoms of ASD individuals. The results have the potential to identify novel biomarkers that index distinct aspects of ASD pathophysiology and point to multiple neural mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity. The study may contribute to producing novel evidence to elucidate the bidirectional relationship between sleep and ASD. Support (if any) Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative grant (177986).

Analysis of the Irreplaceability of Offline Relationship

During covid 19, traditional offline social interaction becomes difficult. Benefiting from the availability of social media, people are increasingly relying on social media to socialize. Can social media interaction replace real-life interaction? Is a social media-based relationship a sufficient substitution for a real relationship? This article divides social media interaction into reciprocal and non-reciprocal and compares two different social media interactions with real-life interactions. For the reciprocal social media interaction, The first research question distinguishes computer-mediated communication (CMC) from face-to-face (FtF) and discusses the possibility of CMC replacing FtF. Because the absence of social cues cannot be made up, CMC is not a sufficient substitute for FtF. For the non-reciprocal social media interaction, the second research question focuses on parasocial interaction-induced parasocial relationships. Because of non-reciprocality and lack of authenticity, the parasocial relationship is not a good substitute for a real relationship. In conclusion, social media relationship is not a sufficient substitute for a real relationship, but they can be used as a good supplement to a real relationship. The difference between reciprocal social media relationships and non-reciprocal social media relationships is also discussed. Reciprocal social media relationships and real relationships are interchangeable, while non-reciprocal social media relationships cannot transform into real relationships.

Examine sex differences in autism spectrum disorder in school-aged children and adolescents with fluent language.

There are noteworthy sex disparities in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), while findings regarding the sex differences in core symptoms are inconsistent. There are few relevant studies on sex differences in mainland China. This study was dedicated to a deeper understanding of the impact of sex differences on the clinical presentation of ASD with fluent language. We retrospectively studied 301 children with ASD (58 females) and utilized raw scores from the ADI-R and ADOS and the intelligence quotient (IQ) to measure symptomatology. Based on the Full-Scale IQ (FS-IQ), a binary split of average, above-average IQ (high-IQ), and below-average IQ (low IQ) occurs at 85. Across the entire sample, males and females are comparable in the FS-IQ, while males scored higher in the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) (F = 7.812, p = 0.006). ADI-R did not find any statistically significant sex differences in the diagnostic cutoff score satisfaction or the raw domain scores. While a significant effect of sex on ADOS social affect domain scores was found in the total sample [λ = 0.970, partial η2 = 0.030, F (3,295) = 3.019, p = 0.030]. Tests of between-subjects effects revealed that males scored higher than females mainly in the ADOS reciprocal social interaction subcategory (partial η2 = 0.022, F = 6.563, p = 0.011). Stratified analysis revealed that the effect of sex on ADOS reciprocal social interaction subcategory scores only significant in the low-IQ children with ASD (partial η2 = 0.092, F = 10.088, p = 0.002). In general, overall cognitive functioning is similar across males and females with ASD, while males have a higher perceptual reasoning ability. Females with ASD are more likely to have comorbid intellectual impairment than males, and they could require additional intervention support. Autistic children with low IQs are more likely to exhibit sex differences in their core symptoms than children with high IQs. Intelligence plays a key role in sex-based differences in the core symptoms of ASD.