Frontal evoked γ activity modulates behavioural performance in Autism Spectrum Disorders in a perceptual simultaneity task. (5th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Menassa, David A.; Braeutigam, Sven; Bailey, Anthony; Falter-Wagner, Christine M.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 665(2018)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2018-02-05
• Subjects: ADI-R Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised -- ADOS-G Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Generic -- ANOVA analysis of variance -- ASD Autism Spectrum Disorders -- DSM-V diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders, fifth edition -- MEG magnetoencephalography -- PCA principal component analysis -- TD typicallydeveloping -- WASI Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; Evoked phase-locked γ-oscillations -- Magnetoencephalography -- Autism spectrum disorder -- Perceptual simultaneity; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) demonstrate superior performance in a perceptual simultaneity task. The properties of the neurophysiological γ-response (30–85 Hz) in this task are not known. In 16 ASD individuals, we identify a complex left antero-posterior γ-oscillatory network associated with the perception of simultaneity. Frontal γ oscillatory synchrony modulates simultaneity perception in ASD. Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are associated with anomalies in time perception. In a perceptual simultaneity task, individuals with ASD demonstrate superior performance compared to typically developing (TD) controls. γ-activity, a robust marker of visual processing, is reportedly altered in ASD in response to a wide variety of tasks and these differences may be related to superior performance in perceptual simultaneity. Using time-frequency analysis, we assessed evoked γ-band phase-locking in magnetoencephalographic recordings of 16 ASD individuals and 17 age-matched TD controls. Individuals judged whether presented visual stimuli were simultaneous or asynchronous. We identified left frontal γ-activity in ASD, which was associated with a reduced perception of simultaneity. Where feature binding was observed at a neurophysiological level in parieto-occipital cortices in ASD in apparent simultaneity (asynchronous stimuli with short delay between them), this did not predict the correct behavioural outcome. These findings suggest distinct γ profiles in ASD associated with the perception of simultaneity.