Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to social brain activity and facial affect recognition (FAR). Aims: To examine social brain plasticity in ASD. Method: Using FAR tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks for FAR, we compared 32 individuals with ASD and 25 controls. Su...

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Main Authors: Bölte, Sven, Ciaramidaro, A., Schlitt, S., Hainz, D., Kliemann, D., Poustka, F., Beyer, A., Freitag, C., Walter, H.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59541
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author Bölte, Sven
Ciaramidaro, A.
Schlitt, S.
Hainz, D.
Kliemann, D.
Poustka, F.
Beyer, A.
Freitag, C.
Walter, H.
author_facet Bölte, Sven
Ciaramidaro, A.
Schlitt, S.
Hainz, D.
Kliemann, D.
Poustka, F.
Beyer, A.
Freitag, C.
Walter, H.
author_sort Bölte, Sven
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to social brain activity and facial affect recognition (FAR). Aims: To examine social brain plasticity in ASD. Method: Using FAR tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks for FAR, we compared 32 individuals with ASD and 25 controls. Subsequently, the participants with ASD were assigned to FAR computer-aided cognitive training or a control group. Results: The ASD group performed more poorly than controls on explicit behavioural FAR tests. In the scanner, during implicit FAR, the amygdala, fusiform gyrus and other regions of the social brain were less activated bilaterally. The training group improved on behavioural FAR tests, and cerebral response to implicit affect processing tasks increased bilaterally post-training in the social brain. Conclusions: Individuals with ASD show FAR impairments associated with hypoactivation of the social brain. Computer-based training improves explicit FAR and neuronal responses during implicit FAR, indicating neuroplasticity in the social brain in ASD.
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format Journal Article
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2015
publisher Royal College of Psychiatrists
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-595412018-03-08T08:42:14Z Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder Bölte, Sven Ciaramidaro, A. Schlitt, S. Hainz, D. Kliemann, D. Poustka, F. Beyer, A. Freitag, C. Walter, H. Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to social brain activity and facial affect recognition (FAR). Aims: To examine social brain plasticity in ASD. Method: Using FAR tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks for FAR, we compared 32 individuals with ASD and 25 controls. Subsequently, the participants with ASD were assigned to FAR computer-aided cognitive training or a control group. Results: The ASD group performed more poorly than controls on explicit behavioural FAR tests. In the scanner, during implicit FAR, the amygdala, fusiform gyrus and other regions of the social brain were less activated bilaterally. The training group improved on behavioural FAR tests, and cerebral response to implicit affect processing tasks increased bilaterally post-training in the social brain. Conclusions: Individuals with ASD show FAR impairments associated with hypoactivation of the social brain. Computer-based training improves explicit FAR and neuronal responses during implicit FAR, indicating neuroplasticity in the social brain in ASD. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59541 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.143784 Royal College of Psychiatrists unknown
spellingShingle Bölte, Sven
Ciaramidaro, A.
Schlitt, S.
Hainz, D.
Kliemann, D.
Poustka, F.
Beyer, A.
Freitag, C.
Walter, H.
Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title_full Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title_fullStr Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title_full_unstemmed Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title_short Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
title_sort training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/59541