Active and observational reward learning in adults with autism spectrum disorder: relationship with empathy in an atypical sample
Active and observational reward learning in adults with autism spectrum disorder: relationship with empathy in an atypical sample
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DOI：
10.1080/13546805.2013.823860
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发表时间：
2014-05-04
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
Thoma, Patrizia
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bellebaum, Christian;Brodmann, Katja;Thoma, Patrizia
自闭症谱系障碍（ASDs）的特征是社交行为紊乱。一种流行的假设认为，这些问题与给社会刺激分配奖励价值的缺陷有关。本研究旨在通过事件相关电位（ERPs）研究成人asd的金钱奖励加工。方法10例轻度自闭症（阿斯伯格综合征和高功能自闭症）患者和12名健康对照者分别执行主动和观察性概率奖励学习任务。结果两组学生的整体学习表现相似。在奖励加工方面，与反馈效价和学习类型（主动或观察）无关，asd受试者表现出反馈相关负性（FRN）幅度的普遍降低。自闭症患者的认知同理心得分较低，而情感同理心在两组之间没有差异。相关分析显示，较高的共情（包括认知共情和情感共情）对对照组的观察学习表现和asd患者的主动学习表现（仅为认知共情）有负向影响。同理心和erp之间没有关系。结论FRN振幅的降低与asd快速奖励加工的缺陷有关，这可能表明奖励系统功能的改变。
IntroductionAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterised by disturbances in social behaviour. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that these problems are related to deficits in assigning rewarding value to social stimuli. The present study aimed to examine monetary reward processing in adults with ASDs by means of event-related potentials (ERPs).MethodsTen individuals with mild ASDs (Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism) and 12 healthy control subjects performed an active and an observational probabilistic reward-learning task.ResultsBoth groups showed similar overall learning performance. With respect to reward processing, subjects with ASDs exhibited a general reduction in feedback-related negativity (FRN) amplitude, irrespective of feedback valence and type of learning (active or observational). Individuals with ASDs showed lower scores for cognitive empathy, while affective empathy did not differ between groups. Correlation analyses revealed that higher empathy (both cognitive and affective) negatively affected performance in observational learning in controls and in active learning in ASDs (only cognitive empathy). No relationships were seen between empathy and ERPs.ConclusionsReduced FRN amplitudes are discussed in terms of a deficit in fast reward processing in ASDs, which may indicate altered reward system functioning.