Neurobiology of sensory processing in autism spectrum disorder

Cheung, Pui Pui Phoebe; Lau, Benson Wui-Man

doi:10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.04.020

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Since sensory symptoms can precede the development or presentation of what are considered to be the hallmark characteristics of ASD (i.e., deficits of social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors) [ 5 ], it has been suggested that the pathophysiology underlying these sensory abnormalities may actually drive the development of the other core symptoms of autism [ 6 ], though the evidence in support of this suggestion is still being developed and debated. Given the proposed importance of sensory processing to neurodevelopment and functioning in ASD, many studies conducted over the last two decades attempt to both characterize the nature of sensory symptoms of ASD [ 7 – 9 ] and to understand their underlying neurobiological causes [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders

Oeltzschner

Mikkelsen

et al. 2021

Transl Psychiatry

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Individuals on the autism spectrum are often reported as being hyper- and/or hyporeactive to sensory input. These sensory symptoms were one of the key observations that led to the development of the altered excitation-inhibition (E-I) model of autism, which posits that an increase ratio of excitatory to inhibitory signaling may explain certain phenotypical expressions of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While there has been strong support for the altered E-I model of autism, much of the evidence has come from animal models. With regard to in-vivo human studies, evidence for altered E-I balance in ASD come from studies adopting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Spectral-edited MRS can be used to provide measures of the levels of GABA + (GABA + macromolecules) and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) in specific brain regions as proxy markers of inhibition and excitation respectively. In the current study, we found region-specific elevations of Glx in the primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) in ASD. There were no group differences of GABA+ in either the SM1 or thalamus. Higher levels of Glx were associated with more parent reported difficulties of sensory hyper- and hyporeactivity, as well as reduced feed-forward inhibition during tactile perception in children with ASD. Critically, the finding of elevated Glx provides strong empirical support for increased excitation in ASD. Our results also provide a clear link between Glx and the sensory symptoms of ASD at both behavioral and perceptual levels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders

Oeltzschner

Mikkelsen

et al. 2021

Transl Psychiatry

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“…This can be associated with significant synchronization and temporal coherence dysfunction, decreasing large cortical networks between the two hemispheres from binding temporally and spatially. This can result in a functional disconnection syndrome ( 88 , 102 , 135 , 137 , 279 , 289 , 290 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retained Primitive Reflexes and Potential for Intervention in Autistic Spectrum Disorders

et al. 2022

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We provide evidence to support the contention that many aspects of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are related to interregional brain functional disconnectivity associated with maturational delays in the development of brain networks. We think a delay in brain maturation in some networks may result in an increase in cortical maturation and development in other networks, leading to a developmental asynchrony and an unevenness of functional skills and symptoms. The paper supports the close relationship between retained primitive reflexes and cognitive and motor function in general and in ASD in particular provided to indicate that the inhibition of RPRs can effect positive change in ASD.

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“…Therefore, changes in spindle dynamics can also point to the imbalance of core and matrix involvement in disorders such as schizophrenia and ASD, pinpointing specific TC loops, circuit nodes, cell types, and underlying mechanisms that are likely disrupted. These disruptions are manifested through distinct symptomatology, for example, distractibility and difficulty focusing attention is a hallmark of schizophrenia (Braff, 1993; Luck and Gold, 2008) whereas, difficulty switching attentional focus and sensory over-responsivity are often seen in ASD (Allen, 2001; Cheung and Lau, 2020; Fan et al, 2012; Green and Ben-Sasson, 2010; Keehn et al, 2013; Marco et al, 2011). Future studies can use the modeling framework we developed to further investigate how key circuit organization features in primates including thalamic inhibition, locally or through TRN, and extensive L5-TRN projections, can change spindle generation, and their spatiotemporal propagation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep spindles in primates: modelling the effects of distinct laminar thalamocortical connectivity in core, matrix, and reticular thalamic circuits

Yazdanbakhsh

Barbas

Zikopoulos

2022

Preprint

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Sleep spindles are associated with the beginning of deep sleep and memory consolidation and are disrupted in schizophrenia and autism. In primates, distinct core and matrix thalamocortical (TC) circuits regulate sleep-spindle activity, through communications that are filtered by the inhibitory thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) however, little is known about typical TC network interactions and the mechanisms that are disrupted in brain disorders. We developed a primate-specific, circuit-based TC computational model with distinct core and matrix loops that can simulate sleep spindles. We implemented novel multilevel cortical and thalamic mixing, and included local thalamic inhibitory interneurons, and direct layer 5 projections of variable density to TRN and thalamus to investigate the functional consequences of different ratios of core and matrix node connectivity contribution to spindle dynamics. Our simulations showed that spindle power in primates can be modulated based on the level of cortical feedback, thalamic inhibition, and engagement of model core vs. matrix, with the latter having a greater role in spindle dynamics. The study of the distinct spatial and temporal dynamics of core-, matrix-, and mix-generated sleep spindles establishes a framework to study disruption of TC circuit balance underlying deficits in sleep and attentional gating seen in autism and schizophrenia.

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Neurobiology of sensory processing in autism spectrum disorder

Cited by 12 publications

References 88 publications

Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders

Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders

Retained Primitive Reflexes and Potential for Intervention in Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Sleep spindles in primates: modelling the effects of distinct laminar thalamocortical connectivity in core, matrix, and reticular thalamic circuits

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