Social Communication Research Articles

Building a tribe on Instagram: User-generated and Firm-created Content can drive brand evangelism and fidelity

ABSTRACT The social media revolution has significantly transformed marketing plans and practices in the business world. Firm-Created Content (FCC) and User-Generated Content (UGC) serve as critical social media communication tools for brands to connect and build relationships with customers. This study investigates the influence of FCC and UGC on affective commitment, brand evangelism, and fidelity. Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, this study aims to explore the impact of FCC and UGC on affective commitment, which, in turn, mediates the relationships between these social media communication tools (FCC and UGC), brand evangelism and fidelity. The research, focusing on a coffee-shop chain’s FCC and UGC on Instagram, utilizing structural equation modeling to analyze data from a sample of 341 Instagram users in the USA who are Starbucks customers. The findings reveal that FCC and UGC are positively and significantly related to brand evangelism and fidelity. Furthermore, the results suggest that affective commitment mediates the relationship between FCC, UGC, brand evangelism and fidelity, supporting the hypotheses concerning the indirect relationships between social media communication tools, brand evangelism and fidelity.

Actualization of Social Media Communication Ethics in Democracy in the Digital Age

Internet social media communication ethics are needed by citizens / netizens (internet users), because internet social media users are diverse. Diversity of backgrounds can lead to debate, conflict and even hostility. In a community, for example, when a user creates an account in the facilities provided, such as accounts on social media, email accounts, and blog accounts. Before users can use the account facility, it is necessary to know about communication ethics where there are provisions that should be understood by users regarding what is allowed, what is not, to legal provisions if violated. With the weak quality of communication ethics of the Indonesian people in democracy, it is likely to be a serious threat to national resilience and to threaten the disintegration of the nation, therefore the problem of communication ethics in sausage media in democracy in the digital era is a very important topic of discussion faced with potential problems in the future that have an impact on the nation and state. This research will analyze the condition of Indonesia's socio-political democracy in the Digital Era, of course, a comprehensive study is needed obtained from the results of research, observations and writings of other scientific papers including from figures or writers who discuss democracy, social media communication ethics, the internet, and identity politics. The writing material is combined and analyzed to form a clear presentation and picture. The research method used is descriptive research, which focuses attention on the problems that arise in research, the problem is actual and describes the facts in the field as they are and accompanied by rational interpretation.

Conduction velocity, G-ratio, and extracellular water as microstructural characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.

The neuronal differences contributing to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are still not well defined. Previous studies have suggested that myelin and axons are disrupted during development in ASD. By combining structural and diffusion MRI techniques, myelin and axons can be assessed using extracellular water, aggregate g-ratio, and a new approach to calculating axonal conduction velocity termed aggregate conduction velocity, which is related to the capacity of the axon to carry information. In this study, several innovative cellular microstructural methods, as measured from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are combined to characterize differences between ASD and typically developing adolescent participants in a large cohort. We first examine the relationship between each metric, including microstructural measurements of axonal and intracellular diffusion and the T1w/T2w ratio. We then demonstrate the sensitivity of these metrics by characterizing differences between ASD and neurotypical participants, finding widespread increases in extracellular water in the cortex and decreases in aggregate g-ratio and aggregate conduction velocity throughout the cortex, subcortex, and white matter skeleton. We finally provide evidence that these microstructural differences are associated with higher scores on the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) a commonly used diagnostic tool to assess ASD. This study is the first to reveal that ASD involves MRI-measurable in vivo differences of myelin and axonal development with implications for neuronal and behavioral function. We also introduce a novel formulation for calculating aggregate conduction velocity, that is highly sensitive to these changes. We conclude that ASD may be characterized by otherwise intact structural connectivity but that functional connectivity may be attenuated by network properties affecting neural transmission speed. This effect may explain the putative reliance on local connectivity in contrast to more distal connectivity observed in ASD.

Speech and language therapy services for autistic children in Munster: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of parental experiences and expectations

BACKGROUND: From a medical perspective, autism is characterised by a dyad of impairments in social communication and interaction, and restricted, repetitive behaviours. However, the neurodiversity movement sees autism as a difference and not as a disability. Autistic individuals account for 1–2% of the population and many autistic children and their families access Speech & Language Therapy (SLT). In Ireland, SLT is provided across primary care, childrens’ disability network teams, as part of the progressing disability services for children and young people, and private providers. However, little is known about parents’ experiences accessing SLT services for autistic children. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the parental experiences of SLT services for autistic children in the province of Munster, Ireland. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as a methodological framework. Semi-structured online interviews were carried out with six participants to identify their experiences of receiving SLT services for their autistic children. Data analysis followed a structured process, starting with in-depth explorations of individual datasets before cross-case analysis of the whole sample. FINDINGS: Participants expressed a variety of experiences and expectations of SLT provision, which centred on three thematic journeys: 1) Parenting an autistic child, 2) Experiencing and navigating SLT services for autistic children and 3) Evolving expectations of SLT service changes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide insight into parents’ individual and shared experiences of SLT services for autistic children, which may enrich service providers’ understanding of parents’ perceptions of SLT services. Future research should focus on exploring the experiences of autistic individuals and Speech and Language Therapists providing services for autistic children.2

Self-Rated Confidence in Vocal Emotion Recognition Ability: The Role of Gender.

We studied the role of gender in metacognition of voice emotion recognition ability (ERA), reflected by self-rated confidence (SRC). To this end, we guided our study in two approaches: first, by examining the role of gender in voice ERA and SRC independently and second, by looking for gender effects on the ERA association with SRC. We asked 100 participants (50 men, 50 women) to interpret a set of vocal expressions portrayed by 30 actors (16 men, 14 women) as defined by their emotional meaning. Targets were 180 repetitive lexical sentences articulated in congruent emotional voices (anger, sadness, surprise, happiness, fear) and neutral expressions. Trial by trial, the participants were assigned retrospective SRC based on their emotional recognition performance. A binomial generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) estimating ERA accuracy revealed a significant gender effect, with women encoders (speakers) yielding higher accuracy levels than men. There was no significant effect of the decoder's (listener's) gender. A second GLMM estimating SRC found a significant effect of encoder and decoder genders, with women outperforming men. Gamma correlations were significantly greater than zero for women and men decoders. In spite of varying interpretations of gender in each independent rating (ERA and SRC), our results suggest that both men and women decoders were accurate in their metacognition regarding voice emotion recognition. Further research is needed to study how individuals of both genders use metacognitive knowledge in their emotional recognition and whether and how such knowledge contributes to effective social communication.

Topography and ensemble activity in auditory cortex of a mouse model of Fragile-X-Syndrome

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with social communication impairments and specific sound processing deficits, for example problems in following speech in noisy environments. To investigate underlying neuronal processing defects located in the auditory neocortex (AC), we performed two-photon Ca2+imaging inFMR1(Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein1) knockout (KO) mice, a model for Fragile-X-Syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of hereditary ASD in humans. For primary AC (A1) and the anterior auditory field (AAF), topographic frequency representation was less ordered compared to control animals. We additionally analyzed ensemble AC activity in response to various sounds and found subfield-specific differences. In A1, ensemble correlations were lower in general, while in secondary AC (A2), correlations were higher in response to complex sounds, yet not to pure tones (PT). Furthermore, sound specificity of ensemble activity was decreased in AAF. Repeating these experiments one week later revealed no major differences regarding representational drift. Nevertheless, we found subfield- and genotype-specific changes in ensemble correlation values between the two times points, hinting at alterations in network stability inFMR1KO mice. These detailed insights into AC networks activity and topography inFMR1KO mice add to the understanding of auditory processing defects in FXS.Significance statementCommunicative challenges often observed in people with autism spectrum disorder might be due to defects in cortical brain circuits responsible for sound analysis. To investigate these in detail, we used a mouse model of Fragile-X-Syndrome, which often is associated with autism spectrum disorder in humans. We found several alterations compared to control animals, including a less well-ordered topography of frequency analysis in auditory cortex. Furthermore, neuronal population activity patterns in response to various sounds were altered. This was also highly dependent on whether pure tones or complex sounds were presented. These data help to understand the causes of sound processing defects in Fragile-X-Syndrome.

Appreciation for Agriculture in Public Communication. A Content Analysis of the Influence of the First Lockdown on Reporting About Agriculture in the Mass Media

The call for greater societal appreciation of agriculture has been a recurring theme in recent years, both within and outside the sector. The following article examines the extent to which social value communication can be found in media articles compared to other evaluative statements about agriculture and the effects that occurred at the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis. Using quantitative analysis and based on a theoretical concept of recognition, statements of social esteem and disrespect are collected and contrasted with acceptable and critical statements in issues of the mainstream, regional and farming press in 2019 and 2020 and evaluated in terms of their authorship and references to agricultural issues. In this context, it can be shown that even before the Coronavirus crisis, the level of social esteem accorded to agriculture in public communication was higher than the level of disrespect. It then increased during the first pandemic lockdown, combined with a significantly higher number of references to the issue of security of supply. At the same time, it is clear that the type of statement most often published in the media is not a direct expression of social esteem or disrespect, but rather a perception of disrespect for agriculture. The sources of these statements most often come from the agricultural sector itself.

Validity of the multidimensional assessment profile of disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers

AbstractObjectiveEarly measurement of atypical disruptive behavior within autistic children is critical for later referrals to behavioral screenings, diagnoses, and services. Disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers is often measured using a categorical approach and identifies the presence or absence of behavior. In contrast, dimensional approaches evaluate behavior on a spectrum of typical to atypical by measuring the clinical salience of disruptive behavior. We sought to assess the validity of the Infant/Toddler version of the multidimensional assessment profile of disruptive behavior (MAP‐DB‐IT), a dimensional approach measurement tool, in a sample of autistic toddlers.MethodsAutistic toddlers (n = 82, Mage = 33.2 months, SD = 6.28 months) and their mothers received 8 weeks of caregiver‐mediated social communication intervention. Mothers completed the MAP‐DB‐IT and the Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) across three timepoints: before intervention, immediately after intervention, and at 3 months post‐intervention follow‐up. The MAP‐DB‐IT provided scores for three subdomains: temper loss, noncompliance, and aggression (generically or specifically with siblings). Ratings on the MAP‐DB‐IT were compared to the ITSEA using several analytic strategies such as evaluating (a) the internal consistency of the MAP‐DB‐IT domain scores; (b) the convergent validity between the two measures; and (c) its convergent change due to intervention and if this varied by child characteristics.ResultsThe MAP‐DB‐IT demonstrated excellent internal consistency across all four subdomains. We evaluated convergent validity and found positive correlations between the (a) ITSEA externalizing and MAP‐DB‐IT aggression domain, (b) ITSEA externalizing and MAP‐DB‐IT aggression with siblings domain, and (c) ITSEA dysregulation and MAP‐DB‐IT temper loss domain.ConclusionThe MAP‐DB‐IT is a valid measurement tool for disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers. Clinicians should consider the use of the MAP‐DB‐IT for young autistic clients presenting with disruptive behavior to (a) discriminate between early developmentally appropriate tantrums from clinically salient dysregulation, and (b) refer to additional behavioral evaluations and services.

Images of protest in movement parties’ social media communication

This research investigates the strategic use of protest imagery on social media by movement parties, bridging the gap between protest and institutional politics. We apply a mixed-methods analysis of 9584 Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram image posts by seven movement parties between 2015 and 2021. We find that protest images frequently serve to amplify movement grievances. Yet, parties’ involvement with contentious protest forms undergoes temporal shifts, influenced mainly by their evolving positions within the polity. Moreover, parties’ engagement with protest images differs by country and ideological leaning. Movement parties on the Right express a conflictual position between supporting and delegitimizing different protests. Conversely, Left-leaning counterparts tend to support protest, yet veer toward deradicalization and emphasizing symbolism over disruptive tactics, once they become more institutionalized. This research highlights the intricate relationship between movement parties, protest, and visual narratives on social media, in light of the interplay between movements and institutional politics.

Online social interaction skill group for adolescents on the autism spectrum: Preliminary outcomes of the START Connections program

BackgroundPromising social skill interventions have emerged to target socialization vulnerabilities of autistic adolescents, but there remains a critical need for effective dissemination of these programs to improve service access. The Social Tools And Rules for Teens (START) Program is a group-based intervention program for increasing social motivation while enhancing social communication skill use. MethodThe current study aimed to evaluate START Connections, an online adaptation of the original START model. We (1) assessed the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of START Connections, and (2) compared its outcomes to a prior in-person START clinical trial. Participants were 41 autistic adolescents aged 11–16 and their parent. Each bi-weekly START Connections session consisted of a check-in, socialization time, group discussion and practice of social topics, group activity, and check-out. ResultsAttendance for the program was high and teens endorsed high levels of enjoyment and skill improvement. Analysis of treatment gains yielded evidence of increased emotion regulation, social skills, and social motivation. Improvements in behaviorally coded target skills were observed for many participants during naturalistic conversations. An analytical comparison revealed a comparable trend in outcomes between START Connections and in-person START groups for social challenges, self-reported social skill use, and social motivation and competence. ConclusionOverall, these pilot outcomes are extremely promising and suggest that the START Connections model is feasible and has the potential to improve social communication and emotion regulation in autistic teens. These results warrant a follow-up, RCT investigation evaluating the unique benefits of in-person versus online START Programs.

Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) is characterised by difficulties with (i) social communication, social interaction, and (ii) restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. Estimates of autism prevalence within the criminal justice system (CJS) vary considerably, but there is evidence to suggest that the condition can be missed or misidentified within this population. Autism has implications for an individual’s journey through the CJS, from police questioning and engagement in court proceedings through to risk assessment, formulation, therapeutic approaches, engagement with support services, and long-term social and legal outcomes.MethodsThis consensus based on professional opinion with input from lived experience aims to provide general principles for consideration by United Kingdom (UK) CJS personnel when working with autistic individuals, focusing on autistic offenders and those suspected of offences. Principles may be transferable to countries beyond the UK. Multidisciplinary professionals and two service users were approached for their input to address the effective identification and support strategies for autistic individuals within the CJS.ResultsThe authors provide a consensus statement including recommendations on the general principles of effective identification, and support strategies for autistic individuals across different levels of the CJS.ConclusionGreater attention needs to be given to this population as they navigate the CJS.

Social Networks and Communication Impairment: Racial Differences Among Stroke Survivors

Purpose: Recent evidence highlights the importance of social networks—the composition of social relationships—and their characteristics in stroke recovery. This study explores the relationship between social networks and poststroke communication outcomes. Method: A cohort of 30 non-Hispanic Black ( n = 12) and non-Hispanic White ( n = 18) adult stroke survivors completed the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) Communication subtest and the Stroke Social Network Scale (SSNS). The SSNS captures elements of social networks including satisfaction and contact with friends, relatives, children, and groups. The relationship between the SIS Communication subtest scores and SSNS scores was explored using ordinal Bayesian regression estimation models adjusting for sex, age, time postonset, marital status, and stroke type. Results: Average SIS Communication scores differed ( t = 2.07, p = .335) between White ( M = 81.75, SD = 22.90) and Black ( M = 95.71, SD = 4.95) participants, but SSNS Comprehensive scores were similar between the two groups ( t = −0.89, p = 1.00). SSNS children subtest scores were higher among the Black than the White ( t = −1.73, p = .0473) participants. Similarly, satisfaction subtest scores were comparatively higher among Black than White participants ( t = 1.85, p = .451). SSNS Satisfaction, Friends, and Groups subtest scores were positively associated with SIS Communication, indicating strong associations with lower impairment. SSNS Children subtest scores were negatively related to SIS, indicating higher impairment. Although most subtest associations were similar for both groups, the associations with SSNS Children and Friends subtests differed between racial groups. Conclusions: Levels of communication impairment were correlated with child, friendship, and group attachments among participants. However, strong social ties to children and friends had different associations among racial groups.

Android Quiz Application Development

Android bias and technology have become a fundamental part of our lives. Mobile biases are being used as a means of data exchange, converse, entertainment, texting and other social communication, making computers perform the most complex tasks. In the field of the moment today, it is seen that multitudinous people want to test their memory and general knowledge capability. We help them do this with our small Android app that allows them to check their overall command. This paper presents the main way in the development of a quiz operation for Android using Android Studio. This work deals with the development of an Android-predicated multiple-choice question examination system. This operation is developed for educational purposes, allowing stoner to produce multiple-choice questions for different tests.

Sensemaking Process of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Identification of Specific Clusters of “Sense of Grip”

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent atypicalities in social communication and social interactions across different domains of life, often with restricted, repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities. A large corpus of previous research shows that parental involvement in caregiving is perceived as stressful and challenging, in many cases resulting in poorer parental quality of life. The authors present a quali-quantitative mixed method research on sensemaking process of 34 parents (16 mothers and 18 fathers) of children with ASD. The interviews were collected and analyzed according to the “Sense of Grip” (SoG) methodology. SoG indeed refers to the sensemaking processes that a person realizes to manage the relationship with diseases or disorders by organizing several degrees of flexibility, differentiation, and adaptation to the variability of experiences and contexts of life. This construct of health psychology—semiotically and clinically oriented—is based on specific narrative functions (i.e., temporal, integrative, emotional, sharing, and agentive functions). The cluster analysis procedure allowed to identify three different SoG profiles: (a) enterprising (parents who are able to construct flexible and dynamic familiar routines), (b) opposing (parents who experience the ASD disorder as a deep unacceptable crisis, hindering the rest of familiar and professional activities), and (c) condescending (parents who organize family life completely on adherence to medical prescriptions and care protocols). These profiles show interesting implications for clinical practice and support as showing specific aspects of treating, managing, and sharing children conditions within family and relational contexts of life.

Social media content strategy for DMOs: examining linguistic style in times of crisis

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically impacted destination marketing organisations’ (DMOs) communication and consumer engagement on social media. The study examines consumer engagement during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-COVID, lockdown, post-lockdown) based on the language used by DMOs in their social media communications. An analysis of 21,677 tweets recording 3.63 million impressions on 23 official Indian DMOs’ Twitter handles was undertaken. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count dictionary examined the tweets’ linguistic characteristics. Negative binomial regression was employed to test the hypotheses. Results show that 1) consumer engagement on Twitter, measured as likes and retweets, increased during lockdown; 2) the use of linguistic text features by DMOs has changed with the pandemic stages; and 3) while cognition significantly explained the changes in consumer engagement, positive emotion partially explained, and confidence failed to account for the changes. The findings provide operational guidance for DMOs on how to design social media content.

A short history of the British Urology Researchers in Surgical Training (BURST): The power of collaborative research

The British Urology Researchers in Surgical Training (BURST) is a UK-based, trainee-led urology research collaborative. Since inception in 2014, BURST has led projects in several urological subspecialties with the aim of improving urological practice for patient benefit. Key innovations we have used include an emphasis on social media communications and developing innovative technology solutions to improve collaboration. In this review article, we summarise our recent studies and highlight important strategies for performing collaborative research. Level of evidence: Not applicable.

Are there distinct levels of language comprehension in autistic individuals – cluster analysis

AbstractAutism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication. We assessed 14-language comprehension abilities in 31,845 autistic individuals 4 to 21 years of age using parent-generated reports. Data-driven cluster analysis identified three distinct levels of language comprehension: (1) individuals in the command-language-phenotype were limited to comprehension of simple commands; (2) individuals in the modifier-language-phenotype showed additional comprehension of color, size, and number modifiers; 3) individuals in the most-advanced syntactic-language-phenotype added comprehension of spatial prepositions, verb tenses, flexible syntax, possessive pronouns, and complex narratives. The observation of three distinct language levels was consistent across different age groups. Autistic individuals’ communication level is currently commonly characterized as nonverbal, minimally-verbal, or verbal. This one-dimensional description is not ideal for characterizing an individual’s communication ability. In fact, a nonverbal individual with syntactic-language-phenotype may have normal ability to communicate albeit nonverbally, while a verbal person with command-language-phenotype does not have a normal ability to communicate by any means. Identification of the three distinct language-comprehension-phenotypes provides an opportunity to enhance characterization of individuals’ communication level. A composite description in terms of both, verbal abilities and a language-comprehension-level, will not only be more precise, but can improve language therapy by focusing it on both aspects of language development.

Innovating the Local Plan through Co-Creation and the Public Sociology Approach toward Urban Regeneration: An Italian Case Study

This paper examines the role of social research and communication methodologies in fostering substantive democratic participation and policy co-production within the context of urban regeneration initiatives anchored in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This research critically analyzes the “becoming public” of sociology and social research in participatory design processes related to traditional urban planning instruments at the local scale (Regulatory Plans) in the Italian context, specifically through the case study of the Municipality of Appignano. It questions the role of sociology in activating a competent public sphere and promoting deliberative democracy at urban and territorial design levels and whether we can identify the traits of public sociology in facilitating the different stages of these processes. This paper details a participatory process in Appignano that sought to innovate urban regeneration within complex legislative frameworks, emphasizing community engagement and interdisciplinary approaches. The findings reveal a community actively participating in the regeneration process, demonstrating a high level of agreement on various urban development strategies aimed at sustainability. This study underscores the capacity of public sociology to facilitate public debate and democratic dialogue and suggests that such participatory approaches can significantly contribute to sustainable and resilient urban development, highlighting the potential of sociology as a moral and political force in urban planning.

Disrupted cognitive and affective empathy network interactions in autistic children viewing social animation.

Empathy can be divided into two core components, cognitive empathy (CE) and affective empathy (AE), mediated by distinct neural networks. Deficient empathy is a central feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but it is unclear if this deficit results from disruption solely within empathy networks or from disrupted functional integration between cognitive and affective empathy networks. To address this issue, we measured functional connectivity (FC) patterns both within and between empathy networks in autistic children (4-8 years, n = 31) and matched typically developing (TD) children (n = 26) using near-infrared spectroscopy during presentation of an animated story evoking CE and AE. Empathy and social communication ability were also assessed using the Empathy Quotient/Systemizing Quotient (EQ/SQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), respectively. The results showed that the FC in the AE network of autistic children did not differ from the TD group across conditions; however, ASC group showed weaker FC in the CE network under the CE condition and weaker FC between networks when processing AE information, the latter of which was negatively correlated with EQ scores in ASC. The empathy defect in ASC may involve abnormal integration of CE and AE network activities under AE condition.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by mental and speech development delay: a prospective study

INTRODUCTION: Despite the development and introduction of new neuroimaging methods into clinical practice, the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy method has still not found wide application. This is hampered by various technical, methodological and organizational problems. On the other hand, there is no information about the clinical possibilities of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis of children with mental and speech retardation, assessment of their dynamics, and features of metabolic changes in the central nervous system. Due to the advent of new proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques that allow the use of multivoxel volumes of the studied tissues, it has become possible to assess the role and place of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with similar manifestations.OBJECTIVE: The study was to study the relationship between the complex of acetylaspartate and choline metabolism in the brain in children with neurological and mental disorders accompanied by a delay in mental and speech development.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 102 patients were examined, of which: 30 children (29.4%) were with atypical autism and mental retardation; 22 patients (21.5%) with focal temporal epilepsy and delayed speech development; 18 children (17.8%) with focal temporal epilepsy and without delayed speech development; 13 patients (12.7%) with cognitive epileptiform disintegration; 19 children (18.6%) without CNS pathology were included in the comparison group. The age of the examined varied from 2 to 10 years, the average age was 4.9±2.0 years.Statistics: The analysis included determining the numerical characteristics of the variables and checking the normality of the distribution of values. Methods of parametric and nonparametric statistics were used. For parametric statistics, a standard analysis using the Student’s t-test was used. From the methods of nonparametric statistics, methods of correlation analysis with calculation of the Mann-Whitney U-test coefficient were used. The results were considered reliable at p<0.05.RESULTS: In the brain of children with atypical autism and mental retardation, the following changes were revealed: in the prefrontal cortex, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations, an increase in Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA (p<0.05); in the postcentral gyrus area, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations (p<0.05); in the area of the inner capsule, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05); in the area of the temporal lobes, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05); in the area of the hippocampus, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05). In patients with temporal epilepsy and delayed speech development, the following changes were revealed: in the prefrontal cortex on both sides, an increase in the ratio of Cho/Cr concentrations (p<0.05); in the area of the postcentral gyrus, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations on the right and an increase in Cho/Cr on both sides (p<0.05); in the area of the inner capsule on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05); in the area of the temporal lobes, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations is observed on the right and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05); in the hippocampal region on both sides there is a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations, an increase in Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA (p<0.05). In children with focal temporal epilepsy without delayed speech development, the following changes were revealed: in the temporal lobe area on the right, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations (p<0.05); in the hippocampus area on the right, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations and an increase in Cho/Cr (p<0.05). In children with cognitive epileptiform disintegration, the following changes were revealed: in the prefrontal cortex, on both sides, an increase in the Cho/Cr concentration ratio (p<0.05); in the postcentral gyrus area, on both sides, an increase in the Cho/Cr concentration ratio (p<0.05); in the area of the inner capsule, on both sides, an increase in the ratio of Cho/Cr concentrations (p<0.05); in the area of the temporal lobes, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations, an increase in Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA (p<0.05); in the hippocampal region, on both sides, a decrease in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations (p<0.05).DUSCUSSION: In the examined children with some neurological and mental disorders accompanied by a delay in mental and speech development, we revealed a significant change in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations in areas of the brain associated with the limbic system and subcortical nuclei. It is believed that when the functional integrity of neurons is impaired, the concentration of N-acetylaspartate may change, which is reflected in a change in the ratio of NAA/Cr concentrations. These changes may be responsible for verbal and non-verbal disruptions in social communication and interactions. Also, in these areas of the brain, a significant change in the ratio of Cho/Cr concentrations was recorded, due to an increase in the concentration of choline. This may be due to disorders of higher mental functions, in particular in the construction of complex cognitive circuits responsible for regulating social behavior and interaction with the outside world.CONCLUSIONS: the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a promising additional diagnostic method that allows obtaining (in vivo) information about the state of neurometabolism in brain tissues in children with certain neurological and mental disorders accompanied by a delay in mental and speech development, which can be useful in neurological practice.