Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism
Enhanced visuospatial abilities characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup of autistics. However, the neural correlates underlying such cognitive strengths are largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the neural underpinnings of superior visuospatial...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage: Clinical |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158222002868 |
| _version_ | 1798020737464795136 |
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| author | Véronique D. Thérien Janie Degré-Pelletier Elise B. Barbeau Fabienne Samson Isabelle Soulières |
| author_facet | Véronique D. Thérien Janie Degré-Pelletier Elise B. Barbeau Fabienne Samson Isabelle Soulières |
| author_sort | Véronique D. Thérien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enhanced visuospatial abilities characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup of autistics. However, the neural correlates underlying such cognitive strengths are largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the neural underpinnings of superior visuospatial functioning in different autistic subgroups. Twenty-seven autistic adults, including 13 with a Wechsler’s Block Design peak (AUTp) and 14 without (AUTnp), and 23 typically developed adults (TYP) performed a classic mental rotation task. As expected, AUTp participants were faster at the task compared to TYP. At the neural level, AUTp participants showed enhanced bilateral parietal and occipital activation, stronger occipito-parietal and fronto-occipital connectivity, and diminished fronto-parietal connectivity compared to TYP. On the other hand, AUTnp participants presented greater activation in right and anterior regions compared to AUTp. In addition, reduced connectivity between occipital and parietal regions was observed in AUTnp compared to AUTp and TYP participants. A greater reliance on posterior regions is typically reported in the autism literature. Our results suggest that this commonly reported finding may be specific to a subgroup of autistic individuals with enhanced visuospatial functioning. Moreover, this study demonstrated that increased occipito-frontal synchronization was associated with superior visuospatial abilities in autism. This finding contradicts the long-range under-connectivity hypothesis in autism. Finally, given the relationship between distinct cognitive profiles in autism and our observed differences in brain functioning, future studies should provide an adequate characterization of the autistic subgroups in their research. The main limitations are small sample sizes and the inclusion of male-only participants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:02:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f7e926882134a6eac647f685e464b1e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-1582 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:02:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage: Clinical |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f7e926882134a6eac647f685e464b1e2022-12-22T04:13:07ZengElsevierNeuroImage: Clinical2213-15822022-01-0136103221Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autismVéronique D. Thérien0Janie Degré-Pelletier1Elise B. Barbeau2Fabienne Samson3Isabelle Soulières4Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaLaboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaLaboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, CanadaLaboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, CanadaLaboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Corresponding author at: Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 succursale Centre-ville, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3P8, Canada.Enhanced visuospatial abilities characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup of autistics. However, the neural correlates underlying such cognitive strengths are largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the neural underpinnings of superior visuospatial functioning in different autistic subgroups. Twenty-seven autistic adults, including 13 with a Wechsler’s Block Design peak (AUTp) and 14 without (AUTnp), and 23 typically developed adults (TYP) performed a classic mental rotation task. As expected, AUTp participants were faster at the task compared to TYP. At the neural level, AUTp participants showed enhanced bilateral parietal and occipital activation, stronger occipito-parietal and fronto-occipital connectivity, and diminished fronto-parietal connectivity compared to TYP. On the other hand, AUTnp participants presented greater activation in right and anterior regions compared to AUTp. In addition, reduced connectivity between occipital and parietal regions was observed in AUTnp compared to AUTp and TYP participants. A greater reliance on posterior regions is typically reported in the autism literature. Our results suggest that this commonly reported finding may be specific to a subgroup of autistic individuals with enhanced visuospatial functioning. Moreover, this study demonstrated that increased occipito-frontal synchronization was associated with superior visuospatial abilities in autism. This finding contradicts the long-range under-connectivity hypothesis in autism. Finally, given the relationship between distinct cognitive profiles in autism and our observed differences in brain functioning, future studies should provide an adequate characterization of the autistic subgroups in their research. The main limitations are small sample sizes and the inclusion of male-only participants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158222002868AutismCognitive strengthBlock Design peakMental rotationfMRIFunctional connectivity |
| spellingShingle | Véronique D. Thérien Janie Degré-Pelletier Elise B. Barbeau Fabienne Samson Isabelle Soulières Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism NeuroImage: Clinical Autism Cognitive strength Block Design peak Mental rotation fMRI Functional connectivity |
| title | Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| title_full | Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| title_fullStr | Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| title_short | Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| title_sort | differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism |
| topic | Autism Cognitive strength Block Design peak Mental rotation fMRI Functional connectivity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158222002868 |
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