Facial affect recognition training in autism: can we animate the fusiform gyrus?
One of the most consistent findings in the neuroscience of autism is hypoactivation of the fusiform gyrus (FG) during face processing. In this study the authors examined whether successful facial affect recognition training is associated with an increased activation of the FG in autism. The effect of a computer-based program to teach facial affect identification was examined in 10 individuals with high-functioning autism. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes in the FG and other regions of interest, as well as behavioral facial affect recognition measures, were assessed pre- and posttraining. No significant activation changes in the FG were observed. Trained participants showed behavioral improvements, which were accompanied by higher BOLD fMRI signals in the superior parietal lobule and maintained activation in the right medial occipital gyrus.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. boelte@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Sven
S
Bölte
Daniela
D
Hubl
Sabine
S
Feineis-Matthews
David
D
Prvulovic
Thomas
T
Dierks
Fritz
F
Poustka
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index