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Charlop-Christy, Marjorie H.; Haymes, Linda K.

doi:10.1023/a:1026061220171

Cited by 72 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Interestingly, however, enhanced activation in the vmPFC in response to high autism-interest objects suggests that the hedonic value of such objects is greater in individuals with ASD than in TDC. This idea is in line with literature showing that certain classes of objects and topics, which often constitute circumscribed interests, are perceived as pleasurable by many affected individuals [67], and the use of such items in behavior-analysis intervention programs has been found to be therapeutically effective [68,69]. However, on a day-to-day basis, these strongly ‘liked’ circumscribed interests are likely to interfere with social functioning.…”

Section: Reviewsupporting

confidence: 73%

Social ‘wanting’ dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications

Kohls

Chevallier

Troiani

et al. 2012

J Neurodevelop Disord

173

154

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Most behavioral training regimens in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) rely on reward-based reinforcement strategies. Although proven to significantly increase both cognitive and social outcomes and successfully reduce aberrant behaviors, this approach fails to benefit a substantial number of affected individuals. Given the enormous amount of clinical and financial resources devoted to behavioral interventions, there is a surprisingly large gap in our knowledge of the basic reward mechanisms of learning in ASD. Understanding the mechanisms for reward responsiveness and reinforcement-based learning is urgently needed to better inform modifications that might improve current treatments. The fundamental goal of this review is to present a fine-grained literature analysis of reward function in ASD with reference to a validated neurobiological model of reward: the ‘wanting’/’liking’ framework. Despite some inconsistencies within the available literature, the evaluation across three converging sets of neurobiological data (neuroimaging, electrophysiological recordings, and neurochemical measures) reveals good evidence for disrupted reward-seeking tendencies in ASD, particularly in social contexts. This is most likely caused by dysfunction of the dopaminergic–oxytocinergic ‘wanting’ circuitry, including the ventral striatum, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Such a conclusion is consistent with predictions derived from diagnostic criteria concerning the core social phenotype of ASD, which emphasize difficulties with spontaneous self-initiated seeking of social encounters (that is, social motivation). Existing studies suggest that social ‘wanting’ tendencies vary considerably between individuals with ASD, and that the degree of social motivation is both malleable and predictive of intervention response. Although the topic of reward responsiveness in ASD is very new, with much research still needed, the current data clearly point towards problems with incentive-based motivation and learning, with clear and important implications for treatment. Given the reliance of behavioral interventions on reinforcement-based learning principles, we believe that a systematic focus on the integrity of the reward system in ASD promises to yield many important clues, both to the underlying mechanisms causing ASD and to enhancing the efficacy of existing and new interventions.

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Section: Reviewsupporting

confidence: 73%

Social ‘wanting’ dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications

Kohls

Chevallier

Troiani

et al. 2012

J Neurodevelop Disord

173

154

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This, in turn, can facilitate studying how behavioral and neural responses to CIs in ASD may differ from the responses of TD individuals to their own hobbies and interests. Insights gained from studying CIs may help to improve therapies for individuals with ASD [ 9 , 49 ] and develop strategies to support the positive aspects [ 50 , 51 ] and mitigate the negative aspects of this symptom [ 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circumscribed interests in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A look beyond trains, planes, and clocks

et al. 2017

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Adolescence is a unique developmental period, characterized by physical and emotional growth and significant maturation of cognitive and social skills. For individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is also a vulnerable period as cognitive and social skills can deteriorate. Circumscribed interests (CIs), idiosyncratic areas of intense interest and focus, are a core symptom of ASD that may be associated with social development. Yet, relatively little is known about the expression of CIs in adolescents with ASD. Many studies investigating CIs have used images depicting items of special interest; however, it is not clear how images should be customized for adolescent studies. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the types of images that may be appropriate for studies of CIs in adolescents with ASD. To this end, we used a mixed methods design that included, 1) one-on-one interviews with 10 adolescents (4 with ASD and 6 TD), to identify categories of images that were High Autism Interest (‘HAI’) or High Typically Developing Interest (‘HTD’), and 2) an online survey taken by fifty-three adolescents with ASD (42 male) and 135 typically developing (TD) adolescents (55 male) who rated how much they liked 105 ‘HAI’ and ‘HTD’ images. Although we found a significant interaction between ‘HAI’ and ‘HTD’ categories and diagnosis, neither group significantly preferred one category over the other, and only one individual category ('Celebrities') showed a significant group effect, favored by TD adolescents. Males significantly preferred ‘HAI’ images relative to females, and TD adolescents significantly preferred images with social content relative to adolescents with ASD. Our findings suggest that studies investigating affective or neural responses to CI-related stimuli in adolescents should consider that stereotypical ASD interests (e.g. trains, gadgets) may not accurately represent individual adolescents with ASD, many of whom show interests that overlap with TD adolescents (e.g. video games).

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“…In contrast, the pursuit of RRBIs, particularly CIs, are reported to be a source of pleasure by affected people [ 12 ], and the use of RRBIs as reward contingencies in behavioral modification programs has been found to be therapeutically effective [ 13 ]. Given the sporadic behavioral studies addressing the rewarding value of RRBIs, it is not surprising that there has only been limited neurobiological research on the reward system’s potential role in RRBIs [ 1 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered reward system reactivity for personalized circumscribed interests in autism

et al. 2018

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BackgroundNeurobiological research in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has paid little attention on brain mechanisms that cause and maintain restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs). Evidence indicates an imbalance in the brain’s reward system responsiveness to social and non-social stimuli may contribute to both social deficits and RRBIs. Thus, this study’s central aim was to compare brain responsiveness to individual RRBI (i.e., circumscribed interests), with social rewards (i.e., social approval), in youth with ASD relative to typically developing controls (TDCs).MethodsWe conducted a 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent effect of personalized circumscribed interest rewards versus social rewards in 39 youth with ASD relative to 22 TDC. To probe the reward system, we employed short video clips as reinforcement in an instrumental incentive delay task. This optimization increased the task’s ecological validity compared to still pictures that are often used in this line of research.ResultsCompared to TDCs, youth with ASD had stronger reward system responses for CIs mostly within the non-social realm (e.g., video games) than social rewards (e.g., approval). Additionally, this imbalance within the caudate nucleus’ responsiveness was related to greater social impairment.ConclusionsThe current data support the idea of reward system dysfunction that may contribute to enhanced motivation for RRBIs in ASD, accompanied by diminished motivation for social engagement. If a dysregulated reward system indeed supports the emergence and maintenance of social and non-social symptoms of ASD, then strategically targeting the reward system in future treatment endeavors may allow for more efficacious treatment practices that help improve outcomes for individuals with ASD and their families.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-018-0195-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Cited by 72 publications

References 11 publications

Social ‘wanting’ dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications

Social ‘wanting’ dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications

Circumscribed interests in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A look beyond trains, planes, and clocks

Altered reward system reactivity for personalized circumscribed interests in autism

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