Stereotypies in the Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can We Rely on an Ethological Model?

Abstract

Background: Stereotypic behaviour can be defined as a clear behavioural pattern where a specific function or target cannot be identified, although it delays on time. Nonetheless, repetitive and stereotypical behaviours play a key role in both animal and human behaviour. Similar behaviours are observed across species, in typical human developmental phases, and in some neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability. This evidence led to the spread of animal models of repetitive behaviours to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these dysfunctional behaviours and to gain better insight into their role and origin within ASD and other disorders. This, in turn, could lead to new treatments of those disorders in humans. Method: This paper maps the literature on repetitive behaviours in animal models of ASD, in order to improve understanding of stereotypies in persons with ASD in terms of characterization, pathophysiology, genomic and anatomical factors. Results: Literature mapping confirmed that phylogenic approach and animal models may help to improve understanding and differentiation of stereotypies in ASD. Some repetitive behaviours appear to be interconnected and mediated by common genomic and anatomical factors across species, mainly by alterations of basal ganglia circuitry. A new distinction between stereotypies and autotypies should be considered. Conclusions: Phylogenic approach and studies on animal models may support clinical issues related to stereotypies in persons with ASD and provide new insights in classification, pathogenesis, and management.

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Previous studies have found that several neurotransmitters of ASD, such as serotonin and dopamine, are associated with repetitive and stereotypical behaviors (Kondaurova et al, 2023; Pavăl, 2017). In animal experiments, striatal dopamine can inhibit the occurrence of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors by affecting the pathway balance of basal ganglia (Gandhi & Lee, 2021; Keller et al, 2021). With the emergence and continuous development of fMRI technology, scholars have found that the generation of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors is closely related to executive dysfunction (Fatima, 2019).…”

Cognitive dysfunction and psychopathology: a cohort study of adults with intellectual developmental disorder

“…Aetiologically, the two syndromes are considered as resulting from the overlapping of genetic and environmental factors that have important effects on brain development; this is proven to cause subsequent impairments in cognitive functioning. Autism is thought to be underpinned by abnormalities in brain circuitry related to social cognition and communication, while in IDD cognitive impairments are related to logical-deductive skills (Totsika et al 2010;Bertelli et al 2015aBertelli et al , 2015bKeller et al 2021).…”

Repeating patterns: Predictive processing suggests an aesthetic learning role of the basal ganglia in repetitive stereotyped behaviors

“…Therefore, potential common underlying brain network abnormalities are more difficult to detect ( Langen et al, 2011 ). Nonetheless, associations with underlying structural and functional brain abnormalities have been described ( Lewis and Kim, 2009 ; Muehlmann and Lewis, 2012 ; Gao and Singer, 2013 ; Francis et al, 2014 ; Péter et al, 2017 ; Martino and Hedderly, 2019 ; Keller et al, 2021 ; Ganos et al, 2022 ), most consistently an involvement of basal ganglia structures and sensitivity to changes in dopaminergic tone. For example, motor stereotypies can be induced pharmacologically in animal models by dopamine receptor agonists or drugs that increase synaptic dopamine ( Péter et al, 2017 ), and vascular lesions in different basal ganglia structures can provoke repetitive phenomena ( Benke et al, 2000 ; Langen et al, 2011 ; Péter et al, 2017 ; Ganos et al, 2022 ).…”