Differences in cortical activation patterns during action observation, action execution, and interpersonal synchrony between children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD): An fNIRS pilot study

Abstract

Engaging in socially embedded actions such as imitation and interpersonal synchrony facilitates relationships with peers and caregivers. Imitation and interpersonal synchrony impairments of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) might contribute to their difficulties in connecting and learning from others. Previous fMRI studies investigated cortical activation in children with ASD during finger/hand movement imitation; however, we do not know whether these findings generalize to naturalistic face-to-face imitation/interpersonal synchrony tasks. Using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the current study assessed the cortical activation of children with and without ASD during a face-to-face interpersonal synchrony task. Fourteen children with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) children completed three conditions: a) Watch —observed an adult clean up blocks; b) Do —cleaned up the blocks on their own; and c) Together —synchronized their block clean up actions to that of an adult. Children with ASD showed lower spatial and temporal synchrony accuracies but intact motor accuracy during the Together/interpersonal synchrony condition. In terms of cortical activation, children with ASD had hypoactivation in the middle and inferior frontal gyri (MIFG) as well as middle and superior temporal gyri (MSTG) while showing hyperactivation in the inferior parietal cortices/lobule (IPL) compared to the TD children. During the Together condition, the TD children showed bilaterally symmetrical activation whereas children with ASD showed more left-lateralized activation over MIFG and right-lateralized activation over MSTG. Additionally, using ADOS scores, in children with ASD greater social affect impairment was associated with lower activation in the left MIFG and more repetitive behavior impairment was associated with greater activation over bilateral MSTG. In children with ASD better communication performance on the VABS was associated with greater MIFG and/or MSTG activation. We identified objective neural biomarkers that could be utilized as outcome predictors or treatment response indicators in future intervention studies.

Movement Kinematics and Cortical Activation in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder During Sway Synchrony Tasks: An fNIRS Study

“…6 Previous fMRI and fNIRS studies have reported atypical cortical activation associated with imitation and IPS difficulties in adults and children with ASD. 13,14 However, the studies were limited to finger movements or seated reaching tasks without involving whole-body movements.…”

“…Similar findings of hyperactivation over the IPL region in children with ASD have been reported in previous fMRI and fNIRS studies involving simple finger and hand movement imitation/IPS. 13,14 The IPL region is part of the default mode network (DMN) 57 , a network that is more active during internally directed processing (i.e., mind wandering and selfreferencing), but is deactivated during externally directed processing (i.e., performing cognitively demanding tasks and goal-directed movements such as IPS). 58 DMN is important in a wide range of emotions and social functions and share similar cortical substrates including regions important for imitation.…”

“…Using fNIRS, our research group has reported atypical cortical activation, i.e., reduced IFG and STS activation, and increased IPL activation in children with ASD during a face to face reaching synchrony task. 13…”

“…5,12 The neuroimaging studies also suggested atypical activation over the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes when children with ASD performed imitation and IPS tasks. 13,14 However, the neuroimaging studies were limited to finger motions or seated reaching tasks that did not involve whole-body movements or use of objective kinematic measures using motion tracking. Moreover, changing levels of social information (e.g., social-visual or social-tactile) could variably influence IPS behaviors and corresponding cortical activation.…”

Clustering Analysis Supports the Detection of Biological Processes Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Interestingly, when filtering genes by ExAC scores, the analysis performed on the intersection between the clusters identified significant processes connected to observational, imitative, and vocal learning. Actually, imitation impairments in patients with ASD are typically related to their deficits in connecting and learning from others [ 61 ], and the comprehension of their interpersonal synchrony skills is now fundamental to trace the adaptive functioning and, consequently, the ASD severity, in children [ 62 ].…”