Exceptions and anomalies: An ERP study on context sensitivity in autism

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated that people with ASD and intact language skills still have problems processing linguistic information in context. Given this evidence for reduced sensitivity to linguistic context, the question arises how contextual information is actually processed by people with ASD. In this study, we used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to examine context sensitivity in high-functioning adults with autistic disorder (HFA) and Asperger syndrome at two levels: at the level of sentence processing and at the level of solving reasoning problems. We found that sentence context as well as reasoning context had an immediate ERP effect in adults with Asperger syndrome, as in matched controls. Both groups showed a typical N400 effect and a late positive component for the sentence conditions, and a sustained negativity for the reasoning conditions. In contrast, the HFA group demonstrated neither an N400 effect nor a sustained negativity. However, the HFA group showed a late positive component which was larger for semantically anomalous sentences than congruent sentences. Because sentence context had a modulating effect in a later phase, semantic integration is perhaps less automatic in HFA, and presumably more elaborate processes are needed to arrive at a sentence interpretation.

Altered semantic integration in autism beyond language

“…Here, we show that this lack of sensitivity is not specific to linguistic targets, but is also observed when the target is a picture. As reported in Pijnacker et al [10] for a different task, we found larger LPP amplitude in the ASD group compared with controls for incongruent targets: our results generalize this effect to both verbal and musical priming. Participants identified the incongruent stimuli after verbal cues at a similar rate, despite the insensitivity of the N400 and abnormal modulation of the LPP.…”

“…There is general consensus that the N400 amplitude is reduced in ASD patients, suggesting disrupted neuronal responses to semantic mismatch, but considerable controversy remains over the presence and interpretation alterations in another, related but distinct potential, called the late positive potential (LPP) [4,9,10]. This component is typically taken as an index of late integrative and reanalysis processes, and memory formation [11]; however, recent work on semantic violations has led to the hypothesis that the LPP in this patient group may particularly reflect semantic processing [4,9,10].…”

“…This component is typically taken as an index of late integrative and reanalysis processes, and memory formation [11]; however, recent work on semantic violations has led to the hypothesis that the LPP in this patient group may particularly reflect semantic processing [4,9,10].…”

Prediction during language comprehension: Benefits, costs, and ERP components

“…Note that the enhanced late positivity for the incongruent words is larger parietally than frontally. Data fromPijnacker et al, 2010; we thank Dr. Judith Pijnacker for providing an adaptation of the figure appearing in the published work.…”

Who's Missing the Point? A Commentary on Claims that Autistic Persons Have a Specific Deficit in Figurative Language Comprehension

“…Other studies cited by the contributions as evidence that autistic persons have a specific deficit in figurative language rely precariously on Verbal or Performance IQ for their studies’ control (e.g., Eales 1993; Ghaziuddin et al 2000; Gold & Faust, 2010; Gold, Faust, & Goldstein, 2010; Just, Cherkassky, Keller, & Minshew, 2004; Jolliffe & Baron-Cohen, 1999a; 1999b; Kana, Keller, Cherkassky, Minshew, & Just, 2006; Kleinhans, Müller, Cohen, & Courchesne, 2008; Losh & Capps, 2003; Paul & Cohen, 1985; Pijnacker, Geurts, van Lambalgen, Buitelaar, & Hagoort, 2010; Tesink, Buitelaar, Petersson, van der Gaag, Kan, Tendolkar, & Hagoort, 2009; Wang, Lee, Sigman, & Dapretto, 2006; 2007). …”