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Saturday, May 17, 2008
Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)
10:30 AM
Background: A mirror neuron system (MNS) dysfunction has been proposed as the neurobiological substrate responsible of the socio-cognitive impairments in autism. However, some recent behavioral experimental evidence suggests that children with autism are not impaired in all the functions thought to be supported by the MNS, particularly understanding of intentions of actions on objects. Thus, the hypothesis of a general malfunctioning of MNS in people with autism is difficult to reconcile with their ability to understand intentional acts on objects.
Objectives: (1) to confirm that children with autism show no specific impairment in understanding others’ intentions on objects; (2) to examine mu wave suppression through EEG recording as an index of MNS activation in children with autism.
Methods: four successful intentional trials and four failed intentionality trials administered to 15 young children with autism and 15 with other developmental disabilities matched on CA and non verbal abilities.
Results: Analysis involved a mixed 2 between group (autism vs. DD) by 2 within group (imitation [e.g. successful intention] vs. intentionality [failed intention]) factorial design. Significant main effect of group (F=5.35; p<.05) was found in the successful intention condition, but not in the failed intention condition.
Based on these results, we propose to examine mu wave suppression as an index of MNS activity in autism and typical development when children are presented with: 1) transitive movements and 2) intransitive movements. We hypothesize an interaction of task by group in which the autism group will demonstrate abnormal MNS activation only in tasks involving intransitive movements.
Conclusions: Children with autism showed preserved abilities to understand others’ intentions on objects. The hypothesis of a malfunctioning MNS in people with autism needs further empirical investigation. At the moment, a generalized impairment of the MNS does not fully explain the behavioral phenotype of autism.
Objectives: (1) to confirm that children with autism show no specific impairment in understanding others’ intentions on objects; (2) to examine mu wave suppression through EEG recording as an index of MNS activation in children with autism.
Methods: four successful intentional trials and four failed intentionality trials administered to 15 young children with autism and 15 with other developmental disabilities matched on CA and non verbal abilities.
Results: Analysis involved a mixed 2 between group (autism vs. DD) by 2 within group (imitation [e.g. successful intention] vs. intentionality [failed intention]) factorial design. Significant main effect of group (F=5.35; p<.05) was found in the successful intention condition, but not in the failed intention condition.
Based on these results, we propose to examine mu wave suppression as an index of MNS activity in autism and typical development when children are presented with: 1) transitive movements and 2) intransitive movements. We hypothesize an interaction of task by group in which the autism group will demonstrate abnormal MNS activation only in tasks involving intransitive movements.
Conclusions: Children with autism showed preserved abilities to understand others’ intentions on objects. The hypothesis of a malfunctioning MNS in people with autism needs further empirical investigation. At the moment, a generalized impairment of the MNS does not fully explain the behavioral phenotype of autism.