Neurobiological Correlates of Language Dysfunction in autism Spectrum Disorders

描述(申请人提供)：语言障碍是自闭症谱系障碍的主要特征之一。只有不到50%的自闭症儿童是语言儿童，其中大多数都表现出严重的语用障碍，损害了语言技能的功能质量。这个项目试图更好地定义自闭症谱系障碍中语言多样性的神经生物学关联。最近对有语言障碍的非自闭症儿童的几项研究表明，语言方面的许多困难可以追溯到听觉处理的基本缺陷，特别是在处理快速变化的语言信息方面。这项研究试图确定自闭症儿童的基本听觉处理问题与语言功能障碍的关系程度。作为研究的一部分，我们还将调查听觉和语言皮质中的癫痫样活动可能在多大程度上对语言妥协做出贡献。将获得语言和听觉功能的行为和心理物理测量，以及听觉和语言处理的电生理(EEG和MEG)测量。我们还将获得结构磁共振数据，这些数据将接受量化分析，特别是关于布罗卡区和韦尼克区的体积不对称性。将使用多重对应分析来检查功能、结构和行为措施之间的相互关系。为了全面了解自闭症患者的语言可变性，将从五组患有自闭症谱系障碍的儿童中获取数据。具体的自闭症儿童群体是：(A)非言语自闭症儿童，(B)言语但缺乏两个单词短语的非功能性语言的自闭症儿童，(C)具有功能但语言受损的自闭症儿童[CELF&lt；81]，(D)功能语言相对正常的自闭症儿童[CELF&>81]，以及(E)阿斯伯格综合征和相对正常的功能语言的儿童。我们还将收集来自两个对照组的数据--正常对照组儿童和没有自闭症但有特定语言障碍的儿童项目叙述；自闭症谱系障碍是一种以语言和社交技能受损为特征的神经生物学疾病。与公共健康相关：语言能力是预测长期结果的最佳指标之一，但这些能力在这种情况下可能存在很大的变数，一些自闭症儿童表现出接近正常的语言能力，而另一些儿童则完全不会说话。该项目使用多种脑成像技术来评估基本的听觉[听力]技能如何影响语言发展和能力。通过更好地了解语言缺陷的生物学，可以开发更好的治疗干预措施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Language dysfunction is one of the cardinal characteristics of the autism spectrum disorders. Less than 50% of autistic children are verbal, and most of these demonstrate significant pragmatic impairments that compromise the functional quality of verbal skills. This project seeks to better define the neurobiological correlates of language diversity within the autism spectrum disorders. Several recent studies of non-autistic children with language impairments suggest that many difficulties in language can be traced to fundamental deficits in auditory processing, especially with respect to the processing of rapidly changing linguistic information. This study seeks to determine the extent to which basic auditory processing problems are associated with language dysfunction in children with autism. As part of the study we will also investigate the extent to which epileptiform activity in auditory and language cortices may be contributing to language compromise. Behavioral and psychophysical measures of language and auditory functioning will be obtained, as will electrophysiological (EEG and MEG) measures of auditory and language processing. We will also acquire structural MRI data that will be subjected to quantitative analyses, especially with respect to volumetric asymmetries for Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Multiple correspondence analyses will be used to examine the inter-relationships between functional, structural, and behavioral measures. In order to capture the full range of language variability in autism, data will be obtained from five groups of children with autism spectrum disorders. The specific ASD groups are (A) non-verbal autistic children, (B) autistic children that are verbal but with non-functional language as indexed by a lack of two word phrases, (C) autistic children with functional but impaired language [CELF<81], (D) autistic children with relatively normal functional language [CELF>81], and (E) children with Asperger's syndrome and relatively normal functional language. We will also collect data from two comparison groups -- normal control children and children without autism but with specific language impairment Project Narrative; Autism Spectrum Disorders are a neurobiological condition characterized by impaired language and social skills. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Language abilities are one of the best predictors of long-term outcome, but these can be highly variable in the condition, some children with autism showing near normal language abilities while others are completely non-verbal. This project uses multiple brain imaging techniques to evaluate how basic auditory [hearing] skills impact language development and ability. By better understanding the biology of language deficits, better therapeutic interventions can be developed.