Oscillatory biomarkers of autism: evidence from the innate visual fear evoking paradigm

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with multiple associated deficits in both social and cognitive functioning. Diagnosing ASD usually relies on subjective clinical competencies, and research on objective criteria for diagnosing ASD in the early stage is still in its infancy. A recent animal study showed that the looming-evoked defensive response was impaired in mice with ASD, but whether the effect will be observed in human and contribute to finding a robust clinical neural biomarker remain unclear. Here, to investigate the looming-evoked defense response in humans, electroencephalogram responses toward looming and corresponding control stimuli (far and missing type) were recorded in children with ASD and typical developed (TD) children. Results revealed that alpha-band activity in the posterior brain region was strongly suppressed after looming stimuli in the TD group, but remained unchanged in the ASD group. This method could be a novel, objective way to detect ASD earlier. These findings suggest that further investigation of the neural mechanism underlying innate fear from the oscillatory view could be a helpful direction in the future.

Automated summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has deficits in social and cognitive functioning. It is diagnosed subjectively, and objective criteria for early diagnosis are still being researched. A recent animal study found that the defensive response to looming stimuli was impaired in mice with ASD, but whether this effect exists in humans and can serve as a reliable clinical neural biomarker is uncertain. This study recorded electroencephalogram responses in children with ASD and typical developed children and found that alpha-band activity in the posterior brain region remained unchanged in the ASD group after looming stimuli, while it was suppressed in the TD group. This method could be a novel, objective way to detect ASD earlier.