Cognitive Control in Autism

该补助金的目标是获得足够的培训和经验，以最佳地使用认知神经科学方法来推进自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）及其症状的研究。自闭症涉及社会行为，沟通，限制和重复行为或兴趣的障碍。自闭症可以被描述为一种障碍，其中个体变得专注于思想和/或行为。认知控制是指根据内部目标灵活分配心理资源以指导思想和行动的能力。它涉及表示和维护行为相关信息或“上下文”的能力，以支持适应性响应。本申请的中心原则是ASD患者的认知控制大脑系统受损。与认知控制密切相关的大脑区域包括背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）、前扣带皮层（ACC）和顶叶皮层（PPC）。在拟议的研究中，我将使用成熟的认知神经科学探针来调查自闭症谱系障碍患者认知控制系统的功能状态。我将特别讨论这些系统的损伤及其与限制性和重复性行为严重程度的关系。目的1使用两个行为实验来研究12至18岁ASD个体的认知控制形式，包括克服优势反应倾向和任务转换。目的2使用事件相关功能性神经成像（fMRI）检查的作用，前额叶皮层（RFC），前扣带皮层（ACC），顶叶皮层在认知控制与ASD的个人相比，通常发展控制科目。目的3将行为和神经影像学发现与限制性和重复性行为症状的测量相关联。与美国国立卫生研究院机构内自闭症协调委员会（IACC）研究矩阵的目标相一致，临床神经心理学和认知神经科学领域的整合有可能促进我们对临床症状的理解，阐明自闭症与相关发展问题之间的区别，并为治疗的发展提供信息。本申请中概述的培训和研究计划将帮助候选人作为高级研究员参与实现这些目标的努力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this grant is to gain sufficient training and experience to optimally use cognitive neuroscience methods to advance the study of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their symptoms. Autism involves impairments in social behavior, communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests. Autism can be characterized as a disorder in which individuals become fixated on thoughts and/or behaviors. Cognitive control refers to the ability to flexibly allocate mental resources to guide thoughts and actions in light of internal goals. It involves the ability to represent and maintain behaviorally-relevant information, or "context," to support adaptive responding. The central tenet of this application is that individuals with ASDs have an impairment in the brain systems underlying cognitive control. Regions of the brain that have been closely associated with cognitive control include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the parietal cortex (PPC). In the proposed studies, I will use well-established cognitive neuroscience probes to investigate the functional status of cognitive control systems in individuals with ASDs. I will particularly address impairments in these systems and their relationship to the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors. Aim 1 uses two behavioral experiments to investigate forms of cognitive control including overcoming a prepotent response tendency and task switching in individuals with ASDs aged 12 to 18. Aim 2 uses event-related functional neuroimaging (fMRI) to examine the role of the prefrontal cortex (RFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and parietal cortex in cognitive control in individuals with ASDs compared to typically developing control subjects. Aim 3 relates behavioral and neuroimaging findings to measures of the restricted and repetitive behavior symptoms. Consistent with the objectives of the National Institutes of Health Intragency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Research matrix, improved integration of the fields of clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience holds the potential to advance our understanding of clinical symptoms, to illuminate distinctions between autism and related developmental problems, and to inform the development of treatments. The training and research plans outlined in this application will prepare the Candidate to participate as a senior investigator in efforts to achieve these goals.