Imaging Brain and Movement in ASD

描述(由申请人提供)：我们建议使用同步的脑和运动成像对自闭症患者的运动功能进行首次全面的定量研究。由合作调查员Makeig和他的同事开发的一种新系统(移动大脑/身体成像，MOBI)，将允许我们在记录高密度脑电的同时，测量自我发起和定向运动期间自然全身运动的时间、准确性和效率。我们将测试25名自闭症青少年(12-16岁)和25名典型的年龄和智商匹配的对照组。参与者将完成一系列神经心理测试、功能评估、磁共振和扩散张量成像以及Mobi大脑和运动成像。另外10名患有自闭症的低功能儿童(4-8岁)，他们有证据表明经常出现重复的、刻板印象的运动，他们将在刻板印象中参与大脑和运动成像。这个探索性R21项目的目的是开发和完善用于ASD个人的数据收集和分析方法，以便：(1)确定患有自闭症或阿斯伯格障碍的青少年运动功能异常的性质；(2)确定支持自闭症和典型发育正常儿童运动预期、计划和执行的相关脑网络；(3)调查运动功能障碍与其他认知障碍(如运动障碍、视觉-运动整合)和自闭症的社会症状的关系；以及(4)检测小样本低功能自闭症儿童在重复和刻板印象动作中的运动功能和脑激活。相关性：认识到运动功能障碍是自闭症的一个显著特征，这些问题甚至可能是某些认知和社会缺陷的促成因素，导致了以运动或感觉-运动训练为特色的各种干预措施。然而，由于对ASD患者运动功能障碍的具体性质知之甚少，这些治疗方法几乎没有科学指导。运动症状的具体异常和严重程度因人而异，目前还没有公认的模型来组织这种变异性或根据运动功能障碍的模式形成亚型。此外，由于成像运动固有的问题，人们对运动症状背后的大脑功能知之甚少。拟议的研究将解决这些问题。本研究的目的是初步探索运动和相关脑功能的模式，可用于组织ASD运动功能障碍的变异性，并探索运动功能障碍与其他认知和社会症状的关系。这项探索性研究的方法和数据也将为大样本研究提供基础，从大样本研究中可以检验解释性模型。分离导致各种运动障碍(如计时、预期)的特定潜在机制将为有效的干预提供信息，这反过来可能不仅改善运动能力，还可能改善受运动功能障碍影响的行为问题。 与公共健康相关：运动功能问题在自闭症患者中很突出，但可能因人而异。虽然运动问题会明显影响日常功能，但它们也可能影响社会功能，并可能导致儿童早期学习社交技能的困难。我们的新系统可以同时对自然运动和大脑活动进行成像，这将使我们能够识别不同受损运动之间潜在的相似之处，这将增加我们对ASD运动行为本质的理解，并将指导有效干预的发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to conduct a first-ever comprehensive quantitative investigation of motor function in autism using simultaneous brain and movement imaging. A novel system developed by Co- Investigator Makeig and his colleagues (Mobile Brain/Body Imaging, MoBI), will allow us to measure timing, accuracy and efficiency of natural full body motion during self-initiated and directed movement while simultaneously recording high density EEG. We will test 25 ASD adolescents (aged 12-16) and 25 typically developing age- and IQ-matched controls. Participants will complete a series of neuropsychological tests, functional assessments, MR and Diffusion Tensor Imaging and MoBI brain and movement imaging. An additional 10 low-functioning young children with autism (aged 4-8) who evidence frequent episodes of repetitive, stereotyped movements will participate in brain and movement imaging during stereotypies. The objective of this exploratory R21 project is to develop and refine data collection and analytic methods for use with ASD individuals in order to: (1) specify the nature of abnormalities of motor function in adolescents with autism or Asperger's disorder; (2) identify the associated underlying brain networks that support motor anticipation, planning and execution in ASD and in typically developing controls; (3) investigate the association of motor dysfunction with other cognitive (e.g., dyspraxia, visual-motor integration) and social symptoms of ASD; and (4) examine motor function and brain activation during repetitive and stereotyped movements in a small sample of low functioning children with autism. Relevance: The recognition that motor dysfunction is a prominent feature in ASD and that these problems may even be a contributing factor in some cognitive and social deficits has led to a variety of interventions featuring motor or sensory-motor training. However, because little is known about the specific nature of motor dysfunction in ASD, these therapies have little scientific guidance. Specific abnormalities and severity of motor symptoms vary from individual to individual, and there is currently no accepted model for organizing this variability or forming sub-types based on patterns of motor dysfunction. Moreover, because of problems inherent in imaging motion, little is known about brain function underlying motor symptoms. The proposed study will address these issues. The study goal is to provide an initial exploration of patterns of motor and associated brain function that may be used to organize the variability in ASD motor dysfunction, and an exploration of the association of motor dysfunction with other cognitive and social symptoms. Methods and data from this exploratory study will also provide the base for a large sample study from which explanatory models can be tested. Isolating specific underlying mechanisms that lead to a variety of motor impairments (e.g., timing, anticipation) would inform effective intervention that may in turn improve not only motor competence but also behavioral problems that are affected by motor dysfunction. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Problems with motor function are prominent in autism, but may differ greatly from person to person. While motor problems can clearly affect daily function, they may also affect social function and may contribute to difficulty learning social skills during early childhood. Our novel system for imaging natural movement and brain activity at the same time will allow us to identify underlying similarities across different impaired movements which will increase our understanding of the nature of motor behavior in ASD and will guide development of effective intervention.