A functional and structural study of emotion and face processing in children with autism.
Children with autism exhibit impairment in the processing of socioemotional information. The amygdala, a core structure centrally involved in socioemotional functioning, has been implicated in the neuropathology of autism. We collected structural and functional magnetic resonance images (MRI) in children 8 to 12 years of age with high-functioning autism (n=12) and typical development (n=15). The functional MRI experiment involved matching facial expressions and people. Volumetric analysis of the amygdala was also performed. The results showed that children with autism exhibited intact emotion matching, while showing diminished activation of the fusiform gyrus (FG) and the amygdala. Conversely, the autism group showed deficits in person matching amidst some FG and variable amygdala activation. No significant between-group differences in the volume of the left or right amygdala were found. There were associations between age, social anxiety and amygdala volume in the children with autism such that smaller volumes were generally associated with more anxiety and younger age. In summary, the data are consistent with abnormalities in circuits involved in emotion and face processing reported in studies of older subjects with autism showing reductions in amygdala activation related to emotion processing and reduced fusiform activation involved in face processing.
Corbett
Blythe A
BA
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA. blythe.corbett@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Carmean
Vanessa
V
Ravizza
Susan
S
Wendelken
Carter
C
Henry
Melissa L
ML
Carter
Cameron
C
Rivera
Susan M
SM
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010100:Oxygen