Anterior EEG Asymmetry and the Modifier Model of Autism

Abstract

Individual differences in the expression of autism complicate research on the nature and treatment of this disorder. In the Modifier Model of Autism (Mundy et al. 2007), we proposed that individual differences in autism may result not only from syndrome specific causal processes, but also from variability in generic, non-syndrome specific modifier processes that affect the social and emotional development of all people. One study supporting this model found that measures of resting anterior EEG asymmetry, a measure reflecting complex brain processes associated with generic individual differences in approach and avoidance motivation, may help explain differences in the expression of autism in children without intellectual disabilities (Sutton et al. 2005). In the current study, we partially replicated the observation that children with autism who exhibited a pattern of left frontal EEG asymmetry tended to display milder levels of social symptoms, although in the current sample this pattern applied only to HFA children with relatively lower verbal IQs. New observations indicated that left frontal EEG asymmetry was also associated with retrospective parent reports of significantly later age of onset of symptoms, but also higher levels of self-reported outward expressions of anger as well as symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder in school-age higher functioning children with ASD. Therefore, the results of this study provide a new and fully independent set of observations, which indicate that individual differences in anterior EEG asymmetry may significantly moderate the expression and developmental course of autism. This observation may have clinical implications for identifying meaningful diagnostic sub-groups among children with autism.

The Costs and Benefits of Self-monitoring for Higher Functioning Children and Adolescents with Autism

“…More generally, the findings demonstrate the importance of moving beyond thinking of electrophysiological measures solely as dependent measures used to describe diagnostic group differences in information processing. Rather, our results demonstrate that electrophysiological assessments can serve as an important source of information about moderators of phenotypic presentation that give rise to the wide spectrum of cognitive and emotional expression in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Burnette et al 2011; Mundy et al 2007). …”

Supporting the Spectrum Hypothesis: Self-Reported Temperament in Children and Adolescents with High Functioning Autism

“…This may be indicative of the great heterogeneity of anxiety levels in children and adolescents with HFA: some may be characterized as extremely withdrawn and fearful, while others are described as approach-oriented and unafraid (Burnette et al, 2011; Wing & Gould, 1979). A recent study found that levels of social anxiety related to social skills in an interaction with a novel peer in a sample of children and adolescents with HFA, indicating the ecological importance of understanding the relationships between these constructs (Usher, Burrows, Schwartz, & Henderson, 2015).…”

Measuring the Plasticity of Social Approach: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the PEERS Intervention on EEG Asymmetry in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…These differences have been noted more readily in areas of the brain where white matter mylenates later in development (Herbert et al 2004(Herbert et al , 2005, and have been linked to social skills and approach in ASD (Kylliäinen et al 2012;Sutton et al 2005), suggesting a potential important impact of experience/environment on this progression of atypicality. Lastly, parents' retrospective reports of first concerns about autism were earlier in children with ASD with more rightdominant asymmetry versus children with ASD with a more leftdominant profile (Burnette et al 2011).…”

“…Most theorists agree that a neurological disturbance in activity and connectivity contributes to the social deficits in ASD (see Dawson 2008;Minshew and Keller 2010;Mundy 2003, andNeuhaus, et al 2010, for reviews). In addition, high rates of depression and withdrawal in ASD (Lopata et al 2010;Stewart et al 2006;Whitehouse et al 2009) make it possible that increasingly severe manifestations of ASD are characterized by relatively greater right-frontal hemisphere neural activity and relatively less left-frontal hemisphere activity (Burnette et al 2011;Moncrieff 2010). However, it is still unknown whether these neural patterns can predictably be affected by experience or interventions for ASD in dynamic developmental periods.…”

“…Importantly, modifier processes, such as temperament/personality, cognitive style, and approach orientation, produce individual differences in well-being outcomes experienced by all people (Mundy et al 2007). These modifiers may also affect the phenotypic presentation and course of ASD, especially in highfunctioning individuals (Burnette et al 2011;Meyer et al 2006;Mundy et al 2007;Sutton et al 2005). Thus, it will be important to consider that treatments for ASD affecting these modifier processes may enhance well-being and adjustment via meeting psychological accessed by following the link in the citation at the bottom of the page.…”