The use of language in autism research

Monk, Ruth; Whitehouse, Andrew J. O.; Waddington, Hannah

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2022.08.009

Cited by 74 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Throughout this article, we have chosen to describe autism and autistic differences mainly using identity-first language (autistic person rather than person with autism) and non-pathologizing terminology, in line with current recommendations based on the preference of relevant stakeholders (Monk et al, 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of face processing, social anhedonia and mentalizing to the expression of social autistic-like traits

Pieslinger

Wiskerke²,

Igelström³

2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionQuantitative autistic-like traits (QATs) are a constellation of traits that mirror those of clinical autism and are thought to share the same mechanisms as the condition. There is great interest in identifying the genetic and neurobiological basis of QATs, but progress is hindered by the composite nature of these clinically based constructs. Social QATs are defined according to the diagnostic criteria for autism, comprising multiple potential neural mechanisms that may contribute to varying degrees. The objective of this study was to decompose social QATs into more specific constructs, in line with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). We chose constructs with trait-like properties and known or suggested significance for autistic social function: (1) social anhedonia, (2) prosopagnosia (face blindness), and (3) mentalizing (attributing mental states to images of eyes). We hypothesized that these constructs may all contribute to observed variance in social QATs.MethodsWe recruited 148 adults with a broad range of QATs (mean age 37.9 years, range 18–69; 50% female; 5.4% autistic) to an experimental behavioral study conducted online. We estimated social QATs using the social factor of the Comprehensive Autistic Traits Inventory. We used the Oxford Face Matching Task and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test to measure face matching ability and mentalizing, respectively. Social anhedonia traits were measured with the Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale, and prosopagnosic traits with the 20-item Prosopagnosia Index. A combination of frequentist and Bayesian statistics was used to test the social constructs as predictors of social QATs.ResultsWe found that social anhedonic traits, prosopagnosic traits, and face matching performance were likely predictors of social QATs, whereas mentalizing showed limited contribution.ConclusionThe findings support prosopagnosic and anhedonic traits, but not mentalizing deficits, as dimensional predictors of individual differences in social function across the autistic spectrum. Further, the study strongly suggests that social reward systems and face processing networks play significant and independent roles in autistic-like social function.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of face processing, social anhedonia and mentalizing to the expression of social autistic-like traits

Pieslinger

Wiskerke²,

Igelström³

2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Oxytocin administration has been found to influence the perception of social cues (Domes et al, 2013;Tillman et al, 2019), increase gaze to the eye region of faces (Guastella, Mitchell and Dadds, 2008), reduce aversion to fearful stimuli (Evans et al, 2010), and motivate cooperation (Daughters et al,2017;Lambert et al, 2017;Veldens, Daughters and Dreu, 2017). Due to these and other observed social effects, oxytocin has been increasingly investigated as a potential therapeutic target in psychiatric disorders and neurological differences (Monk et al, 2022) 1 characterized by social difficulties, including schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and autism (Guastella and Hickie, 2016;Neumann and Slattery, 2016;Shilling and Feifel, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of oxytocin administration on social and repetitive behaviors in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Audunsdottir¹,

Quintana²,

Westlye³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oxytocin administration has demonstrated considerable promise for providing additional support for people with autism who have a desire for such interventions. However, results from studies evaluating the effects of oxytocin administration on autistic characteristics have been mixed. Here we describe a protocol for a planned systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the effect of oxytocin administration on social and repetitive behaviors in autism, which adopts recently devel-oped methods to more precisely assess the potential impact of effect size dependency and publica-tion bias.

show abstract

“…Autism spectrum conditions (hereinafter autism, aligning with the preferred language of the autistic community [ 1 ]) encompass a range of persistent neurodevelopmental outcomes, primarily characterised by altered social communication and social interaction behaviours, along with the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviours or interests [ 2 , 3 ]. According to these diagnostic criteria outlined in both the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [ 3 ] and the International Classification of Diseases [ 2 ], these traits must also have a considerable impact on an individual’s ability to function in educational, family, occupational, personal, social and/or other important domains and contexts [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of the Overall Utility of Measures of Functioning Suitable for School-Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review

Hayden‐Evans

Milbourn

D’Arcy

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (autism) provides limited information regarding an individual’s level of functioning, information key in determining support and funding needs. Using the framework introduced by Arksey and O’Malley, this scoping review aimed to identify measures of functioning suitable for school-aged children on the autism spectrum and evaluate their overall utility, including content validity against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the ICF Core Sets for Autism. The overall utility of the 13 included tools was determined using the Outcome Measures Rating Form (OMRF), with the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3) receiving the highest overall utility rating. Content validity of the tools in relation to the ICF and ICF Core Sets for Autism varied, with few assessment tools including any items linking to Environmental Factors of the ICF. The ABAS-3 had the greatest total number of codes linking to the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Autism while the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3) had the greatest number of unique codes linking to both the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Autism and the Brief ICF Core Set for Autism (6–16 years). Measuring functioning of school-aged children on the spectrum can be challenging, however, it is important to accurately capture their abilities to ensure equitable and individualised access to funding and supports.

show abstract

The use of language in autism research

Cited by 74 publications

References 13 publications

Contributions of face processing, social anhedonia and mentalizing to the expression of social autistic-like traits

Contributions of face processing, social anhedonia and mentalizing to the expression of social autistic-like traits

The effects of oxytocin administration on social and repetitive behaviors in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

An Evaluation of the Overall Utility of Measures of Functioning Suitable for School-Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About