title: Perception of complex sounds in autism: abnormal auditory cortical processing in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors have previously described less activation of left speech-related temporal areas in adults with autism when listening to speech-like sounds than in normal adults. Here, they investigated whether this abnormal cortical processing was also present in children with primary autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with positron emission tomography after premedication in 11 autistic children and six nonautistic mentally retarded children during rest and while they were listening to speech-like sounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As with autistic adults, direct comparison between the two groups revealed significantly less activation in the autistic group localized in left speech-related areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time to their knowledge, an activation study was performed in children with autism and has confirmed previous results obtained in adults. The abnormal cortical auditory processing observed in both children and adults with autism could be involved in inadequate behavioral responses to sounds and in language impairments characteristic of autism.
authors.affiliation: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, 4 place du Général Leclerc, 91406 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boddaert
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chabane
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belin
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barthelemy
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mouren-Simeoni
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brunelle
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilbovicius
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000367:Age Factors; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D014867:Water