Cortical activation during cooperative joint actions and competition in children with and without an autism spectrum condition (ASC): an fNIRS study

Abstract

Children with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) have social communication and perceptuomotor difficulties that affect their ability to engage in dyadic play. In this study, we compared spatio-temporal errors and fNIRS-related cortical activation between children with and without an ASC during a Lincoln Log dyadic game requiring them to play leader or follower roles, move in synchrony or while taking turns, and move cooperatively or competitively with an adult partner. Children with an ASC had greater motor, planning, and spatial errors and took longer to complete the building tasks compared to typically developing (TD) children. Children with an ASC had lower superior temporal sulcus (STS) activation during Turn-take and Compete, and greater Inferior Parietal Lobe (IPL) activation during Lead and Turn-take compared to TD children. As dyadic play demands increased, TD children showed greater STS activation during Turn-take (vs. Synchrony) and Compete (vs. Cooperate) whereas children with an ASC showed greater IPL activation during Lead and Compete (vs. Cooperate). Our findings suggest that children with an ASC rely on self-generated action plans (i.e., increased IPL activation) more than relying on their partner’s action cues (i.e., reduced STS activation) when engaging in dyadic play including joint actions and competition.

Neural processing of social reciprocity in autism

“…These functions are in line with the nature of the present paradigm, where participants communicated with the virtual partner at a relatively rhythmic response rate. Moreover, the IFG has also been linked to joint action execution, action observation, internally representing actions for action inference (Bolt & Loehr, 2021; Georgescu et al, 2014; Hartwright et al, 2016; Liakakis et al, 2011; Newman-Norlund et al, 2007; Ocampo et al, 2011; Su et al, 2022), as well as interpersonal awareness (Decety & Sommerville, 2003). Similarly, the IPL has been implicated in action observation, cognitive control, imitation, and self-other discrimination (Cacioppo et al, 2014; Decety & Sommerville, 2003; Gatti et al, 2017; Georgescu et al, 2014; Jackson & Decety, 2004).…”

Neural Effects of Physical Activity and Movement Interventions in Individuals With Developmental Disabilities–A Systematic Review

“…Using fNIRS, our research group has reported differences in cortical activation in infants at-risk for and children with ASD during socially embedded actions (i.e., actions performed with adults and caregivers), solo movements, and action observation compared to healthy children and adults during social interaction as well as interpersonal synchrony tasks involving reaching and whole-body movements ( 67 – 72 ). We have consistently found lower fNIRS activation in the superior temporal sulcus and middle/inferior frontal gyri in infants at-risk for and children with ASD compared to controls ( 67 – 72 ). In certain tasks involving synchronous reaching and body sway, fNIRS activation was associated with ASD severity and communication performance ( 69 , 71 ).…”

“…EEG abnormalities associated with arousal/motivation, inhibitory control, and mental flexibility tasks have also been reported in individuals with ASD, ADHD, and/or LD ( 64 – 66 ). Using fNIRS, atypical fronto-parieto-temporal activation has been reported in infants at risk for and children with ASD during naturalistic, socially embedded actions compared to age-matched controls ( 67 – 72 ). It would be reasonable to expect that physical activity/movement interventions that are known to have cascading effects on psychosocial and cognitive performance may also lead to associated changes in neural activity in the aforementioned neural correlates/biomarkers.…”

Autistic preschoolers display reduced attention orientation for competition but intact facilitation from a parallel competitor: Eye-tracking and behavioral data

“…Apart from eliciting social orientation, parallel competition may also offer unique advantages for scaffolding learning and performance in autistic children. To the best of our knowledge, only one autism study has incorporated a parallel competition task ( Su et al, 2022 ). This study examined cortical activation patterns in autistic children aged 6–17 years old engaging in a Lincoln Log game 1 under cooperative (i.e., involving lead, follow, or turn-taking behaviors with an adult) and parallel competition conditions.…”