Exploring the social cognition network in young adults with autism spectrum disorder using graph analysis

Abstract

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by an impairment in social cognition (SC). SC is a cognitive construct that refers to the capacity to process information about social situations. It is a complex network that includes distinct components. Exploring how SC components work together leads to a better understanding of how their interactions promote adequate social functioning. Our main goal was to use a novel statistical method, graph theory, to analyze SC relationships in ASD and Typically Developing (TD) individuals. Methods We applied graph theory to SC measures to verify how the SC components interact and to establish which of them are important within the interacting SC network for TD and ASD groups. Results The results showed that, in the TD group, the SC nodes are connected; their network showed increased betweenness among nodes, especially for the Theory of Mind. By contrast, in the SC network in the ASD group the nodes are highly disconnected, and the efficient connection among the components is absent. Conclusion ASD adults do not show SC competencies and functional communication among these skills. Under this regard, specific components are crucial, suggesting they could represent critical domains for ASD SC.

Central hubs prediction for bio networks by directed hypergraph - GA with validation to COVID-19 PPI

“…In recent times one of the computational concepts like the graph properties plays a significant role in analysing a network by exploring the accessibility of nodes [21] . Of which Multi-graph [3] , [17] can represent the complex relational data of a network and works well provided that the significant changes are made only to the existing graph analysis algorithms.…”

Exploring social emotion processing in autism: evaluating the reading the mind in the eyes test using network analysis

“…Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders, which present a substantial challenge to explore interrelations across several distinct components of the various severity of symptoms [ 1 , 2 ]. The core symptoms of ASD included deficits in social communication and social interactions, which are reflected by impairment of social cognition abilities.…”

“…According to Happe and Frith [ 3 ], social cognition can be represented as an elaborate network graph that contains several components, such as emotion processing, empathy, and theory of mind (ToM). Futhermore, Vagnetti et al [ 2 ] found that, compared to typically developing (TD) individuals, the ASD group showed less connection in their constructed network topology of social cognition and had inefficient connections among the components.…”

“…Two fundamental components that have often been examined in the social cognition field are cognitive ToM and emotion recognition, also defined as affective ToM [ 2 , 4 – 6 ]. Previous studies define cognitive ToM as the ability to infer intentions, dispositions, or beliefs of others and perspectives different from one's own [ 2 , 7 ]. Affective ToM refers to the individual's ability to identify and discriminate emotional states from the observed signs in the behaviors of others [ 8 – 10 ].…”

Comparison of Visual Fixation Trajectories in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typical Development: A Markov Chain Model

“…This is consistent with a study by Webb and collaborators [ 18 ]: they found that early signs of risk of subsequent ASD diagnosis include decreased use of facial information, including failure to look at the faces of social partners and failure to use eye gaze for joint attention. Individuals with ASD are characterized by altered and impaired processing of social information [ 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”