Identifying Neurobiological Markers of the Broader Autism Phenotype

Abstract

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel CommandFort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5012 SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S)12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTOur highly innovative project is designed to identify more precise, performance-based measures of the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). In particular, we are focusing on the social communication difficulties commonly experienced by people with the BAP using sophisticated techniques that we developed to capture the acoustic properties of speech important for emotional expression. We are investigating this issue in detail in individuals with and without the BAP using a range of tasks measuring skills important in emotional and social interactions. This project also maps the brain systems that underpin social communication in the BAP by using state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques that measure brain structure and function. We aim to link these behavioural and brain findings to gain a more complete understanding of the BAP.In terms of our progress to date, we have fully developed and piloted our research protocols and trained our Research Assistant in all skills relevant to the study (as described under our initial Statement of Work). We spent an additional 6-months in piloting our protocols and training our Research Assistant to ensure that all protocols were working optimally to provide the most robust and cutting-edge scientific techniques. This was particularly relevant for the development of our novel neuroimaging protocol and an interactive, web-based computer program designed for efficient collection of behavioural data. Using the behavioural and neuroimaging protocols (Experiments 1 and 2), we are now in the data collection phase of the study and plan to recruit the remaining participants over the next 6 months, in accordance with our Statement of Work. The increased time period required to develop our neuroimaging and behavioural protocols means that we require a 6-month extension for the final report of the study