Neural Mechanisms for Social Interactions and Eye Contact in ASD

项目摘要 社会交往和交流开始在婴儿早期，虽然这些是基本的人类 功能，很少有人知道的基本神经机制，特别是在自闭症调节他们 谱系障碍（ASD）。ASD是一种神经发育障碍，其特征是严重的残疾， 语言和社会技能，以及导致这些残疾的特定神经机制仍然是活跃的话题 进行调查新兴的理论方向集中在以目光接触为突出组成部分的问题上 这些沟通和社交障碍。然而，与两个或两个以上的成像相关的技术局限性， 更多的人在自然交流和相互的目光接触已经成为这些的主要障碍， 调查事务所为了克服这一技术僵局，我们采用了快速发展的大脑成像技术， 功能性近红外光谱（fNIRS）允许同时对两个人进行神经成像， 有效的互动，观察眼睛对眼睛接触和实际对话的神经效应。功能性NIRS 基于血氧水平依赖（BOLD）信号，通过测量变化来检测活动神经组织 与氧合血红蛋白和脱氧血红蛋白相关的吸收光谱。因为探测器和 发射器表面安装在头部上，它们对头部运动相对不敏感，因此，fNIRS 非常适合于研究两个人之间积极的人际互动过程中的神经事件。 参与者成人非典型人际互动和目光接触的神经机制 ASD是该提案的重点。试点研究证实了该研究项目各个方面的可行性。 将比较由一个同盟者和一个具有典型发展（TYP）或ASD的参与者组成的二人组 在神经成像过程中进行自然的互动和交流。我们引入一个计算 一种基于小波分析的方法来量化两个参与者之间的区域跨脑一致性 并假设ASD患者与言语和眼神交流相关的跨脑连贯性会降低 相对于TYP队列。跨脑计算也构成了动态神经网络模型的基础。 在通信期间基于神经“发送和接收”功能的处理。我们假设这些 动态的“跨脑交流”系统统一和协调语言产生的作用， 接收（布罗卡区和韦尼克区），分别与涉及面部特化的视觉接收 （梭状回）。跨脑连接效应的计算比较以及传统的功能 在有和没有直接眼神接触的现场交流中的连通性和隔离/对比效应 提供了一个变革性的技术，经验，计算和理论的进步，以了解 与ASD中社交和沟通障碍相关的动态神经机制。

PROJECT SUMMARY Social interaction and communication begin in early infancy, and, although these are fundamental human functions, little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms that regulate them particularly in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant disabilities in language and social skills, and the specific neural mechanisms that lead to these disabilities remain active topics for investigation. Emerging theoretical directions converge on problems with eye-contact as a salient component of these communication and social disabilities. Technical limitations, however, associated with imaging of two or more individuals during natural communication and mutual eye contact have been a primary obstacle to these investigations. To overcome this technical impasse, we employ a rapidly developing brain imaging technology, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) allowing simultaneous neural imaging of two individuals during valid interactions to observe the neural effects of eye-to-eye contact and actual dialogue. Functional NIRS detects active neural tissue based on the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal by measuring variations in the absorption spectra associated with oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. Because detectors and emitters are surface mounted on the head, they are relatively insensitive to head movement, and, as such, fNIRS is well suited for investigations of neural events engaged during active interpersonal interactions between two participants. The neural mechanisms that underlie atypical interpersonal interactions and eye contact in adult ASD are the focus of this proposal. Pilot studies confirm the feasibility of all aspects of this research project. Dyads consisting of a confederate and a participants with typical development (TYP) or ASD will be compared during neuroimaging while engaged in natural interaction and communication. We introduce a computational approach based on wavelet analysis to quantify regional cross-brain coherence between the two participants and hypothesize that cross-brain coherence associated with speech and eye contact will be reduced in ASD relative to the TYP cohort. Cross-brain computations also form the basis for a model of dynamic neural processes based on neural “send and receive” functions during communication. We hypothesize that these dynamic “cross-brain communication” systems unify and coordinate the roles of language production and reception (Broca's and Wernicke's Areas), respectively, with visual reception involving face specializations (fusiform gyrus). Computational comparison of cross-brain connectivity effects as well as conventional functional connectivity and segregation/contrast effects during live communication both with and without direct eye contact provides a transformational technical, empirical, computational, and theoretical advance toward understanding the dynamic neural mechanisms associated with social and communication disabilities in ASD.