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Autism Spectrum Disorder. A Clinical Neurophysiology Approach II

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Translational Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

One of the most controversial issues in the study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the involvement and dysfunction of sensory systems that underlie atypical behaviors, which could be evaluated through neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques. Auditory disturbances are the most frequently reported sensory deficits that could explain language and communication deficits shown in ASD patients. Event-related potentials such as auditory brainstem response, mismatch negativity, P50, and P300 have shown differences between patients and normal subjects, supporting the existence of an abnormal auditory processing. Somesthetic perception is also distorted in this heterogeneous group of patients, probably associated with deficits in communication, motor ability, and social skills. It has been confirmed by abnormalities in short- and long-latency somatosensory evoked potentials. Visual processing impairment has also been described in children and young adults with autism. Dipole source analysis revealed that the visual cortex, fusiform gyrus, and medial prefrontal lobe are less active in autism compared with control subjects during the execution of emotion processing tasks. ASD patients also have problems to integrate information from multiple sensory sources necessary to a successful social behavior, and consequently, they show deficits with social and cognitive processes. Electrophysiological and imaging techniques may constitute useful tools in the diagnosis, classification, and therapeutic strategies of ASD patients, considering the diversity of this spectrum.

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Abbreviations

ABR:

Auditory brainstem response

AD/HD:

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorder

MLR:

Middle latency response

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PDD:

Pervasive development disorder

S-SEPs:

Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials.

TEOAEs:

Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

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Acknowledgments

We thank Odalys Morales-Chacon for her English assistance and Jorge Bergado-Rosado for his contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Center for Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Clinical Neurophysiology Service, Havana, Cuba

    Margarita Minou Baez Martin, Lilia María Morales Chacón & Ivette Cabrera Abreu

Authors
  1. Margarita Minou Baez Martin
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  2. Lilia María Morales Chacón
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  3. Ivette Cabrera Abreu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margarita Minou Baez Martin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimmunology Department, International Center for Neurological Restoration, Havana, Cuba

    Maria de los Angeles Robinson-Agramonte

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Baez Martin, M., Morales Chacón, L., Cabrera Abreu, I. (2015). Autism Spectrum Disorder. A Clinical Neurophysiology Approach II. In: Robinson-Agramonte, M. (eds) Translational Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16321-5_5

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