Altered Medial Frontal and Superior Temporal Response to Implicit Processing of Emotions in Autism
Altered Medial Frontal and Superior Temporal Response to Implicit Processing of Emotions in Autism
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DOI：
10.1002/aur.1496
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发表时间：
2016-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Wicker, Bruno
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kana, Rajesh K.;Patriquin, Michelle A.;Wicker, Bruno
恰当地解释情感表达对自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者来说是一个挑战。特别是，在情感表达是微妙的、自动的和反射性的（即隐性的）的情况下，ASD患者的情感处理困难更加明显。相比之下，外显情绪处理，这需要的认知评估的情绪体验，似乎是相对完整的个体与ASD。在本研究中，我们研究了年龄和智商匹配的ASD患者（n=17）和非ASD患者（n=15）的大脑激活和功能连接差异。结果表明：（1）内隐情绪处理过程中，ASD患者内侧前额叶皮层（MPFC）和上级颞回（STG）的脑激活水平显著降低;（2）ASD患者MPFC与杏仁核、颞叶、顶叶和梭状回的连接功能显著减弱;（3）在操作准确性和反应时间方面没有组间差异;（4）ASD患者的共情能力与STG活动之间存在显著的正相关关系，但在正常发育者中则不存在。这些研究结果表明，神经机制潜在的内隐，但不是外显，情绪处理可能会改变在多个层次的个体与ASD。Autism Res2015. (c)2015年国际自闭症研究学会，Wiley Periodicals，Inc。
Interpreting emotional expressions appropriately poses a challenge for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In particular, difficulties with emotional processing in ASD are more pronounced in contexts where emotional expressions are subtle, automatic, and reflexivethat is, implicit. In contrast, explicit emotional processing, which requires the cognitive evaluation of an emotional experience, appears to be relatively intact in individuals with ASD. In the present study, we examined the brain activation and functional connectivity differences underlying explicit and implicit emotional processing in age- and IQ-matched adults with (n=17) and without (n=15) ASD. Results indicated: (1) significantly reduced levels of brain activation in participants with ASD in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and superior temporal gyrus (STG) during implicit emotion processing; (2) significantly weaker functional connectivity in the ASD group in connections of the MPFC with the amygdala, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and fusiform gyrus; (3) No group difference in performance accuracy or reaction time; and (4) Significant positive relationship between empathizing ability and STG activity in ASD but not in typically developing participants. These findings suggest that the neural mechanisms underlying implicit, but not explicit, emotion processing may be altered at multiple levels in individuals with ASD. Autism Res2015. (c) 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.