Network Coherence in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Network Coherence in Autism Spectrum Disorder PDF Author: John P. Hegarty (II)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
The underlying neuropathology and effects on neuronal activity in individuals with ASD are still being elucidated as well as their impact on intervention and treatment outcomes. Frontal, temporal, parietal and cerebellar pathways exhibit disrupted structural and functional connectivity in individuals with ASD and we sought to investigate the potential clinical utility of altered network coherence. Beta-adrenergic antagonism improved information processing in a subset of individuals with ASD and improved performance was related to pharmacologically-mediated alterations in functional connectivity in the fronto-parietal control network. These findings support the potential utility of beta-adrenergic antagonists for some patients with ASD and the clinical significance of alterations in network coherence. There are also additional considerations for functional connectivity investigations in ASD. The cerebellum is interconnected via feedback loops to the neocortex and thus has some modulatory influences on cortical and subcortical neuronal circuits. The cerebellum is consistently implicated in the neuropathology of ASD but has been largely ignored in investigations of functional network coherence. Functional connectivity between the cerebellum and neocortex was anticorrelated in a subset of individuals with ASD. These individuals exhibited reduced glutamate levels in the cerebellum and diminished interpretive linguistic abilities, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying altered cerebrocerebellar connectivity in some individuals with ASD as well a cognitive outcome of alterations in cerebrocerebellar network coherence.

Network Coherence in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Network Coherence in Autism Spectrum Disorder PDF Author: John P. Hegarty (II)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 152

Get Book Here

Book Description
The underlying neuropathology and effects on neuronal activity in individuals with ASD are still being elucidated as well as their impact on intervention and treatment outcomes. Frontal, temporal, parietal and cerebellar pathways exhibit disrupted structural and functional connectivity in individuals with ASD and we sought to investigate the potential clinical utility of altered network coherence. Beta-adrenergic antagonism improved information processing in a subset of individuals with ASD and improved performance was related to pharmacologically-mediated alterations in functional connectivity in the fronto-parietal control network. These findings support the potential utility of beta-adrenergic antagonists for some patients with ASD and the clinical significance of alterations in network coherence. There are also additional considerations for functional connectivity investigations in ASD. The cerebellum is interconnected via feedback loops to the neocortex and thus has some modulatory influences on cortical and subcortical neuronal circuits. The cerebellum is consistently implicated in the neuropathology of ASD but has been largely ignored in investigations of functional network coherence. Functional connectivity between the cerebellum and neocortex was anticorrelated in a subset of individuals with ASD. These individuals exhibited reduced glutamate levels in the cerebellum and diminished interpretive linguistic abilities, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying altered cerebrocerebellar connectivity in some individuals with ASD as well a cognitive outcome of alterations in cerebrocerebellar network coherence.

Brain Connectivity in Autism

Brain Connectivity in Autism PDF Author: Rajesh K. Kana
Publisher: Frontiers E-books
ISBN: 2889192822
Category : Autism
Languages : en
Pages : 265

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Book Description
The brain's ability to process information crucially relies on connectivity. Understanding how the brain processes complex information and how such abilities are disrupted in individuals with neuropsychological disorders will require an improved understanding of brain connectivity. Autism is an intriguingly complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multidimensional symptoms and cognitive characteristics. A biological origin for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) had been proposed even in the earliest published accounts (Kanner, 1943; Asperger, 1944). Despite decades of research, a focal neurobiological marker for autism has been elusive. Nevertheless, disruptions in interregional and functional and anatomical connectivity have been a hallmark of neural functioning in ASD. Theoretical accounts of connectivity perceive ASD as a cognitive and neurobiological disorder associated with altered functioning of integrative circuitry. Neuroimaging studies have reported disruptions in functional connectivity (synchronization of activated brain areas) during cognitive tasks and during task-free resting states. While these insights are valuable, they do not address the time-lagged causality and directionality of such correlations. Despite the general promise of the connectivity account of ASD, inconsistencies and methodological differences among studies call for more thorough investigations. A comprehensive neurological account of ASD should incorporate functional, effective, and anatomical connectivity measures and test the diagnostic utility of such measures. In addition, questions pertaining to how cognitive and behavioral intervention can target connection abnormalities in ASD should be addressed. This research topic of the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience addresses “Brain Connectivity in Autism” primarily from cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging perspectives.

Autism: A Very Short Introduction

Autism: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Uta Frith
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199207569
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
"What is autism and Asperger syndrome? What are the core symptoms, and what causes them? How early can autism be recognised and what can be done? Why does autism seem to be more and more common? Are we all a little bit autistic?" "This Very Short Introduction offers a clear statement on what is currently known about autism and Asperger syndrome. Looking at symptoms from the full spectrum of autistic disorders, and evaluating current evidence from neuroscience and genetics, this authoritative and accessible book explores the source and nature of social impairment and exceptional talent. Autism: A Very Short Introduction gives a glimpse of life seen through the eyes of autism."--BOOK JACKET.

Mindblindness

Mindblindness PDF Author: Simon Baron-Cohen
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262522250
Category : Design
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
In Mindblindness, Simon Baron-Cohen presents a model of the evolution and development of "mindreading." He argues that we mindread all the time, effortlessly, automatically, and mostly unconsciously. It is the natural way in which we interpret, predict, and participate in social behavior and communication. We ascribe mental states to people: states such as thoughts, desires, knowledge, and intentions. Building on many years of research, Baron-Cohen concludes that children with autism, suffer from "mindblindness" as a result of a selective impairment in mindreading. For these children, the world is essentially devoid of mental things. Baron-Cohen develops a theory that draws on data from comparative psychology, from developmental, and from neuropsychology. He argues that specific neurocognitive mechanisms have evolved that allow us to mindread, to make sense of actions, to interpret gazes as meaningful, and to decode "the language of the eyes." A Bradford Book

Imaging the Brain in Autism

Imaging the Brain in Autism PDF Author: Manuel F. Casanova
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461468434
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 399

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Book Description
Data compiled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates an alarming and continuing increase in the prevalence of autism. Despite intensive research during the last few decades, autism remains a behavioral defined syndrome wherein diagnostic criteria lack in construct validity. And, contrary to other conditions like diabetes and hypertension, there are no biomarkers for autism. However, new imaging methods are changing the way we think about autism, bringing us closer to a falsifiable definition for the condition, identifying affected individuals earlier in life, and recognizing different subtypes of autism. The imaging modalities discussed in this book emphasize the power of new technology to uncover important clues about the condition with the hope of developing effective interventions. Imaging the Brain in Autism was created to examine autism from a unique perspective that would emphasize results from different imaging technologies. These techniques show brain abnormalities in a significant percentage of patients, abnormalities that translate into aberrant functioning and significant clinical symptomatology. It is our hope that this newfound understanding will make the field work collaborative and provide a path that minimizes technical impediments.

Comprehensive Guide to Autism

Comprehensive Guide to Autism PDF Author: Vinood B. Patel
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9781461447870
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Autism is a complex multifaceted disorder affecting neurodevelopment during the early years of life and, for many, throughout the life span. Inherent features include difficulties or deficits in communication, social interaction, cognition, and interpersonal behavioral coordination, to name just a few. Autism profoundly impacts the affected individual, the family, and, in many cases, the localized communities. The increased prevalence of childhood autism has resulted in rapid developments in a wide range of disciplines in recent years. Nevertheless, despite intensive research, the cause(s) remain unresolved and no single treatment strategy is employed. To address these issues, Comprehensive Guide to Autism is an all-embracing reference that offers analyses and discussions of contemporary issues in the field of autism. The work brings together scientific material from leading experts in the field relating to a wide range of important current topics, such as the early identification and treatment of children with autism, pertinent social and behavioral studies, recent developments in genetics and immunology, the influence of diet, models of autism, and future treatment prospects. Comprehensive Guide to Autism contains essential readings for behavioral science researchers, psychologists, physicians, social workers, parents, and caregivers.

Neural Connectivity in Infants at Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neural Connectivity in Infants at Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder PDF Author: Xuan Amelia Tran
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed based on behavioral symptoms at 3 years of age, the infant sibling study design has enabled the detection and characterization of atypical neural development during the first year of life, prior to the emergence of behavioral symptoms. Infants who have older siblings with ASD are at increased risk for ASD, language delay, and other neurodevelopmental delays. As such, it is important to identify as early as possible if an infant is on a trajectory towards atypical development in order to help guide close monitoring and implement targeted behavioral interventions. The body of work in this dissertation contributes to the field of infant sibling research by showing that with robust methods, electroencephalography (EEG) can be used to detect altered functional connectivity during the first year of life, starting as early as 3 months of age. Chapter 1 introduces known deficits in behaviors and neural connectivity in infants at risk for ASD, highlights methodological gaps in the field of EEG infant research, and outlines the goals of this dissertation. Chapter 2 addresses methodological considerations in the development of an EEG pre-processing pipeline, designed to maximize data quality and data retention for infant EEG. Chapters 3 through 5 present different aspects of a comprehensive study of functional connectivity during language processing in infants at risk for ASD, with focus on theta (4-6 Hz) and alpha (6-12 Hz) spectral power and phase coherence within putative language networks. Chapter 3 describes differences in coherence at 3-months of age in infants who show ASD symptoms at 18-months of age. Chapter 4 highlights altered trajectories in coherence development over the first year of life in infants who later have ASD symptoms at 18-months. At the same left fronto-central network that differentiated risk groups at 3-months of age, reduced average coherence over the first year of life is maintained in infants who showed ASD symptoms at 18 months. Chapter 5 characterizes connectivity as an endophenotype of ASD in familial risk infants using both the 3-month cross-sectional study design and the 3-12-month longitudinal study design. Connectivity measures that differentiate risk groups in Chapters 3-5 also relate to language ability and ASD symptoms at 18-months of age. Taken together, the body of work in this dissertation support the hypothesis that early differences in neural connectivity lay a foundation for and precede behavioral signs of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants at risk for ASD.

The Cradle of Thought

The Cradle of Thought PDF Author: R. Peter Hobson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780195219548
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
Imaginative and creative thought is what distinguishes humans from animals. It is what defines us as Homo sapiens. What it means to have thoughts, and what gives us the remarkable capacity to think, have been subjects of debate for centuries. In The Cradle of Thought, Peter Hobson presents a new and provocative theory about the nature and origins of uniquely human thinking. A prevailing opinion on the acquisition of thought and language is that babies are born with pre-programmed modules in the brain. But this is too narrow and too simplistic an explanation. Professor Hobson's radical view is that what gives us the capacity to think is the quality of a baby's exchanges with other people over the first 18 months of life. As part and parcel of an intellectual revolution in the second year, the child achieves new insight into the minds of itself and others. Human thought, language, and self-awareness are developed in the cradle of emotional engagement between infant and caregiver; social contact has vital significance for mental development. Professor Hobson draws on 20 years of clinical experience and academic research as a developmental psychologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He follows the thread of mental development over the first 18 months of ababy's life to describe and to explain the emergence of thinking; he shares startling insights into mental development gained from his studies of autism; and he shows how, from infancy to adulthood, disturbances of thinking may be rooted in troubled early relationships. Finally, he pinpoints tiny but momentus changes in the social relations of pre-human primates from which human thought sprang. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Peter Hobson shows how very early engagement with others fosters the child's growth out of the cradle of infancy and into the realm of human thought and culture.

Autism - The Search for Coherence

Autism - The Search for Coherence PDF Author: John Richer
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 1846421640
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Autism - The Search for Coherence takes a multidisciplinary approach to autism, its causes and treatments, bringing together contributors from different fields - psychology, medicine, education, biology - from around the world. The very latest scientific and clinical research is presented and discussed by experts, and questions such as the structure of thought and the nature of autism are analysed. Parents and teachers describe practical strategies which have proved successful and give their views of the treatments currently available. Autism - The Search for Coherence shares the knowledge accumulated by all fields studying autism to provide a greater coherence to our understanding of it. It is a significant contribution to the literature, and will be welcomed by all those working with autistic people.

Network Neuroscience

Network Neuroscience PDF Author: Flavio Fröhlich
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128015861
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 484

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Book Description
Studying brain networks has become a truly interdisciplinary endeavor, attracting students and seasoned researchers alike from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. What has been lacking is an introductory textbook that brings together the different fields and provides a gentle introduction to the major concepts and findings in the emerging field of network neuroscience. Network Neuroscience is a one-stop-shop that is of equal use to the neurobiologist, who is interested in understanding the quantitative methods employed in network neuroscience, and to the physicist or engineer, who is interested in neuroscience applications of mathematical and engineering tools. The book spans 27 chapters that cover everything from individual cells all the way to complex network disorders such as depression and autism spectrum disorders. An additional 12 toolboxes provide the necessary background for making network neuroscience accessible independent of the reader’s background. Dr. Flavio Frohlich wrote this book based on his experience of mentoring dozens of trainees in the Frohlich Lab, from undergraduate students to senior researchers. The Frohlich lab pursues a unique and integrated vision that combines computer simulations, animal model studies, human studies, and clinical trials with the goal of developing novel brain stimulation treatments for psychiatric disorders. The book is based on a course he teaches at UNC that has attracted trainees from many different departments, including neuroscience, biomedical engineering, psychology, cell biology, physiology, neurology, and psychiatry. Dr. Frohlich has consistently received rave reviews for his teaching. With this book he hopes to make his integrated view of neuroscience available to trainees and researchers on a global scale. His goal is to make the book the training manual for the next generation of (network) neuroscientists, who will be fusing biology, engineering, and medicine to unravel the big questions about the brain and to revolutionize psychiatry and neurology. Easy-to-read, comprehensive introduction to the emerging field of network neuroscience Includes 27 chapters packed with information on topics from single neurons to complex network disorders such as depression and autism Features 12 toolboxes serve as primers to provide essential background knowledge in the fields of biology, mathematics, engineering, and physics