Perception of complex sounds in autism: abnormal auditory cortical processing in children.
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.
Boddaert
Nathalie
N
Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, 4 place du Général Leclerc, 91406 Orsay, France.
Chabane
Nadia
N
Belin
Pascal
P
Bourgeois
Marie
M
Royer
Vincent
V
Barthelemy
Catherine
C
Mouren-Simeoni
Marie-Christine
MC
Philippe
Anne
A
Brunelle
Francis
F
Samson
Yves
Y
Zilbovicius
Mônica
M
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
D010104:Oxygen Radioisotopes; D014867:Water