Atypical excitation–inhibition balance in autism captured by the gamma response to contextual modulation

Snijders, Tineke M.; Milivojevic, Branka; Kemner, Chantal

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2013.06.015

Cited by 76 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Additionally, it links well with the ASD symptom profile, as imbalance in localised excitatory-inhibitory processes can result in anomalous perception, such as the lack of context modulation characteristic of some forms of ASD symptom patterns (Coghlan et al, 2012;Rubenstein & Merzenich, 2003;Snijders, Milivojevic, & Kemner, 2013).…”

Section: Weak Central Coherence/enhanced Perceptual Processingmentioning

confidence: 90%

Brain oscillations and connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): new approaches to methodology, measurement and modelling

Kessler

Seymour

Rippon

2016

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Please cite this article as: Kessler, K., Seymour, R.A., Rippon, G., Brain oscillations and connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): new approaches to methodology, measurement and modelling.Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.002 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Abstract:Although atypical social behaviour remains a key characterisation of ASD, the presence of sensory and perceptual abnormalities has been given a more central role in recent classification changes. An understanding of the origins of such aberrations could thus prove a fruitful focus for ASD research. Early neurocognitive models of ASD suggested that the study of high frequency activity in the brain as a measure of cortical connectivity might provide the key to understanding the neural correlates of sensory and perceptual deviations in ASD. As our review shows, the findings from subsequent research have been inconsistent, with a lack of agreement about the nature of any high frequency disturbances in ASD brains.Based on the application of new techniques using more sophisticated measures of brain synchronisation, direction of information flow, and invoking the coupling between high and low frequency bands, we propose a framework which could reconcile apparently conflicting findings in this area and would be consistent both with emerging neurocognitive models of autism and with the heterogeneity of the condition.

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Section: Weak Central Coherence/enhanced Perceptual Processingmentioning

confidence: 90%

Brain oscillations and connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): new approaches to methodology, measurement and modelling

Kessler

Seymour

Rippon

2016

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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“…In addition, orientation discrimination thresholds are correlated with peak gamma frequency Dickinson, BruynsHaylett, Jones & Milne, 2015) providing further support for the link between neural inhibition, peak gamma frequency and orientation discrimination Although many studies 6 have measured gamma power in ASC (e.g. Snijders, Milivojevic & Kemner, 2013), to the best of our knowledge, peak gamma frequency in ASC has not yet been reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Superior orientation discrimination and increased peak gamma frequency in autism spectrum conditions.

Dickinson¹,

Bruyns‐Haylett²,

Smith³

et al. 2016

Journal of Abnormal Psychology

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While perception is recognised as being atypical in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), the underlying mechanisms for such atypicality are unclear. Here we test the hypothesis that individuals with ASC will show enhanced orientation discrimination compared to neurotypical observers. This prediction is based both on anecdotal report of superior discriminatory skills in ASC and also on evidence in the auditory domain that some individuals with ASC have superior pitch discrimination. In order to establish whether atypical perception might be mediated by an imbalance in the ratio of neural excitation and inhibition (E:I ratio) we also measured peak gamma frequency which provides an indication of neural inhibition levels. Using a rigorous thresholding method we found that orientation discrimination thresholds for obliquely oriented stimuli were significantly lower in participants with ASC. Using EEG to measure the visually induced gamma band response we also found that peak gamma frequency was higher in participants with ASC, relative to a well-matched control group. These novel results suggest that neural inhibition may be increased in the occipital cortex of individuals with ASC. Implications for existing theories of an imbalance in the E:I ratio of ASC are discussed.

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“…A number of authors have therefore suggested that gamma activity recorded through either EEG or MEG provides insight into the dynamics of E/I balance at a network level (e.g. Snijders et al, 2013). The vast majority of studies investigating gamma activity in ASD have measured gamma power, i.e.…”

Section: High Frequency Neural Oscillations (Gamma-band Activity)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring neural excitation and inhibition in autism: Different approaches, different findings and different interpretations

2016

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The balance of neural excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) is often hypothesised to be altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One widely held view is that excitation levels are elevated relative to inhibition in ASD. Understanding whether, and how, E/I balance may be altered in ASD is important given the recent interest in trialling pharmacological interventions for ASD which target inhibitory neurotransmitter function.Here we provide a critical review of evidence for E/I balance in ASD. We conclude that data from a number of domains provides support for alteration in excitation and inhibitory neurotransmission in ASD, but when considered collectively, the available literature provide little evidence to support claims for either a net increase in excitation or a net increase in inhibition. Strengths and limitations of available techniques are considered, and directions for future research discussed.3

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Atypical excitation–inhibition balance in autism captured by the gamma response to contextual modulation

Cited by 76 publications

References 63 publications

Brain oscillations and connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): new approaches to methodology, measurement and modelling

Brain oscillations and connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD): new approaches to methodology, measurement and modelling

Superior orientation discrimination and increased peak gamma frequency in autism spectrum conditions.

Measuring neural excitation and inhibition in autism: Different approaches, different findings and different interpretations

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