Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study.
The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. jrahko@me.com.
Jukka S
JS
Rahko
Brain Research Unit, O. V. Lounasmaa Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.|Neuroscience Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Virve A
VA
Vuontela
Brain Research Unit, O. V. Lounasmaa Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.|Neuroscience Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Synnöve
S
Carlson
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland.
Juha
J
Nikkinen
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.|Institute of Health Sciences, Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Tuula M
TM
Hurtig
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Sanna
S
Kuusikko-Gauffin
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Marja-Leena
ML
Mattila
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Katja K
KK
Jussila
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland.
Jukka J
JJ
Remes
Neurocognitive Unit, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Behavioral Sciences and Philosophy, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN), University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, Turku, 20017, Finland.
Eira M
EM
Jansson-Verkasalo
Children's Hospital, Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum 2, Tukholmankatu 8 C 613, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Eeva T
ET
Aronen
Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
David L
DL
Pauls
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Hanna E
HE
Ebeling
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland.
Osmo
O
Tervonen
PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Irma K
IK
Moilanen
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland.
Vesa J
VJ
Kiviniemi
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
Attention; Autism spectrum disorder; Default mode network; Visuospatial; Working memory