Facial affect recognition training in autism: Can we animate the fusiform gyrus?

Abstract

One of the most consistent findings in the neuroscience of autism is hypoactivation of the fusiform gyrus (FG) during face processing. In this study the authors examined whether successful facial affect recognition training is associated with an increased activation of the FG in autism. The effect of a computer-based program to teach facial affect identification was examined in 10 individuals with high-functioning autism. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes in the FG and other regions of interest, as well as behavioral facial affect recognition measures, were assessed pre- and posttraining. No significant activation changes in the FG were observed. Trained participants showed behavioral improvements, which were accompanied by higher BOLD fMRI signals in the superior parietal lobule and maintained activation in the right medial occipital gyrus.

Using neuroscience as an outcome measure for behavioral interventions in Autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A review

“…Particularly, the lack of an alternative intervention or control condition in Voos et al (2013) and Bolte et al (2006) make it difficult to interpret the reported findings. Similarly, of the studies that included a TD group, none of them measured brain activity of the TD group at both pre-and post-test.…”

“…Three studies have directly explored the neural effect of facial recognition training in ASD (Bolte et al, 2006;Bolte et al, 2015;Faja et al, 2012). Although these investigations were not designed to address the core symptoms of ASD, they are of interest since both have pre-and post-training measures of brain activity associated with facial recognition and expertise.…”

“…These results provide preliminary behavioral evidence that individuals with ASD may benefit from affect recognition training, but did not find corresponding changes in the areas of the brain responsible for face processing. Bolte et al (2015) conducted an expanded version of the study described above (Bolte et al, 2006). Using the same facial affect recognition training program, 16 adults with ASD were randomly assigned to the recognition training, and 16 adults with ASD served as a control group and did not receive training.…”

“…We review each of them below (see Table 1). Bolte et al (2006) had participants undergo 5 weeks of a facial affect training program (Frankfurt Test and Training of Facial Affect Recognition; FEFA, Bolte et al, 2002). Five adults with ASD were randomly assigned to the FEFA group, and five others served as controls.…”

Teaching Emotion Recognition Skills to Children with Autism

“…A number of attempts have been made to teach emotion recognition skills to children and adults with autism (Bölte, et al, 2006;Attwood, 2000;Golan & Baron-Cohen, 2006). …”