No abstract

The authors obtained behavioral observations and personality ratings for 27 free-ranging Hanuman langur males. Subjects were rated using a questionnaire based on the human Five-Factor Model (FFM). Behavioral observations were taken over 5 months using an ethogram that included 50 behaviors. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of ratings revealed Agreeableness_(R), Confidence_(R), and Extraversion_(R) components. Each personality dimension was associated with a unique set of observed behaviors. PCA of 36 behavioral indices revealed Dominance_(B), Involvement_(B), and Activity_(B) components. Bivariate correlations showed that Agreeableness_(R) was negatively correlated with Dominance_(B); Confidence_(R) was positively correlated with Dominance_(B) and Involvement_(B) but negatively correlated with Activity_(B); and Extraversion_(R) was positively correlated with Activity_(B). Dominance rank was positively correlated with Confidence_(R) and Dominance_(B) but negatively correlated with Agreeableness_(R) and Activity_(B). These results highlight the comparability of behavioral coding and personality ratings and suggest that some aspects of personality structure were present in the common ancestor of Old World monkeys.

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine odor detection thresholds and odor identification in autistic subjects. Methods:Thirty-five patients with Asperger"s syndrome and high functioning autism (mean age 10.8 ± 3.6 years; 31 boys) were compared with 35 healthy control subjects (mean age 10.4 ± 2.4 years; 28 boys). There were no significant differences between groups with regard to mean age (p = 0.598) and gender proportion (p = 0.324). Olfactory testing used the Sniffin" Sticks test (Threshold and Identification parts only).Results: Participants with Asperger"s syndrome and high functioning autism, in comparison with healthy controls, were significantly impaired relative to odor detection thresholds (6.3 ± 3.1 vs. 7.9 ± 2.0; p = 0.025). Autistic participants were significantly better in correctly identifying the odor of an orange (94% vs. 63%; p < 0.05) and significantly worse at correctly identifying the odor of cloves (40% vs. 74%; p < 0.05). With regard to identification of fourteen other substances, there were no significant differences. There was no significant difference between autistic and control subjects on the total score of olfactory identification (p = 0.799). Odor identification ability (as expressed by this total score) correlated significantly with age in the control group (p = 0.049) but not in the autism group (p = 0.103). Conclusions:We found impaired odor detection and almost normal odor identification in children with autism. Implications for further research are discussed.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association of epilepsy and EEG abnormalities with autistic regression and mental retardation. We examined a group of 77 autistic children (61 boys, 16 girls) with an average age of 9.1 +/- 5.3 years. Clinical interview, neurological examination focused on the evaluation of epilepsy, IQ testing, and 21-channel EEG (including night sleep EEG recording) were performed. Normal EEGs were observed in 44.4% of the patients, non-epileptiform abnormal EEGs in 17.5%, and abnormal EEGs with epileptiform discharges in 38.1% of the patients. Epilepsy was found in 22.1% of the subjects. A history of regression was reported in 25.8% of the patients, 54.8% of the sample had abnormal development during the first year of life, and 79.7% of the patients were mentally retarded. Autistic regression was significantly more frequent in patients with epilepsy than in non-epileptic patients (p = 0.003). Abnormal development during the first year of life was significantly associated with epileptiform EEG abnormalities (p = 0.014). Epilepsy correlated significantly with mental retardation (p = 0.001). Although the biological basis and possible causal relationships of these associations remain to be explained, they may point to different subgroups of patients with autistic spectrum disorders.