Brain Activation in Children With and Without Autism During a Tapping Test
Date
2015-05
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University of Delaware
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, affecting 1 in 68 children. Common deficits seen in children with ASD include social and speech impairments, as well as repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. Children with ASD have other deficits that are not explicitly stated in the diagnostic criteria. Studies have shown children with ASD display abnormalities in visual and auditory processing. These abnormalities can hinder their performance on tasks requiring the processing of certain stimuli. Motor deficits are also prevalent in children with ASD. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an area of the brain involved with motor planning, decision-making, and top-down processing. Studies have shown abnormal activation levels of the PFC and irregular connectivity to other areas of the brain in people with ASD. This study was conducted to test the motor performance of children with ASD, in comparison to typically developing (TD) children, in response to auditory and visual stimuli, as well as measure the hemodynamic changes in the PFC during the motor performance. This study included 10 total participants, split into 3 groups: an ASD group (N=3), a TD group (N=3), and an adults group (N=4). Participants were required to perform a tapping task, in which they were instructed to respond, and attempt to match a stimulus by tapping a sensor. The stimulus was either a visual stimulus in the form of a blinking light, or an auditory stimulus in the form of a low-level tone. The stimulus was presented at 4 different frequencies: 60bpm, 85bpm, 120bpm, and 150bpm. Under each frequency, participants had 3 trials, for a total of 12 trials under each condition, respectively. A MOART Reaction and Movement Time Panel was used to record the tapping task, while a Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) device measured oxygenation levels of the PFC during the task. We compared the relative inter-tap intervals between groups for each stimulus condition and frequency. A three-way repeated ANOVA found a significant interaction (p=0.18) between stimulus type and group, as well as a significant interaction (p=0.20). These findings support previous findings of visual and auditory processing deficits in children with ASD, as well as motor deficits. Future studies could further explore the effect frequencies of stimuli have on children with ASD, and why they may show greater or worse performance levels in regards to these different frequencies.
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Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Morphology, cell biology, pathology::Cell biology::Neuroscience, Exercise Science