1
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Hocking DR, Sun X, Haebich K, Darke H, North KN, Vivanti G, Payne JM. Delineating Visual Habituation Profiles in Preschoolers with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Syndrome Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1998-2011. [PMID: 36877426 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05913-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Atypical habituation to repetitive information has been commonly reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) but it is not yet clear whether similar abnormalities are present in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). We employed a cross-syndrome design using a novel eye tracking paradigm to measure habituation in preschoolers with NF1, children with idiopathic ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Eye movements were recorded to examine fixation duration to simultaneously presented repeating and novel stimuli. Children with NF1 showed a bias for longer look durations to repeating stimuli at the expense of novel stimuli, and slower habituation in NF1 was associated with elevated ASD traits. These findings could indicate aberrant modulation of bottom-up attentional networks that interact with the emergence of ASD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren R Hocking
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Xiaoyun Sun
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kristina Haebich
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Hayley Darke
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kathryn N North
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Giacomo Vivanti
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market Street, Suite 560, 19104-3734, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Payne
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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2
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de Blank P, Nishiyama A, López-Juárez A. A new era for myelin research in Neurofibromatosis type 1. Glia 2023; 71:2701-2719. [PMID: 37382486 PMCID: PMC10592420 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for myelin regulating higher-order brain function and disease is rapidly accumulating; however, defining cellular/molecular mechanisms remains challenging partially due to the dynamic brain physiology involving deep changes during development, aging, and in response to learning and disease. Furthermore, as the etiology of most neurological conditions remains obscure, most research models focus on mimicking symptoms, which limits understanding of their molecular onset and progression. Studying diseases caused by single gene mutations represents an opportunity to understand brain dys/function, including those regulated by myelin. Here, we discuss known and potential repercussions of abnormal central myelin on the neuropathophysiology of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Most patients with this monogenic disease present with neurological symptoms diverse in kind, severity, and onset/decline, including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, motor coordination issues, and increased risk for depression and dementia. Coincidentally, most NF1 patients show diverse white matter/myelin abnormalities. Although myelin-behavior links were proposed decades ago, no solid data can prove or refute this idea yet. A recent upsurge in myelin biology understanding and research/therapeutic tools provides opportunities to address this debate. As precision medicine moves forward, an integrative understanding of all cell types disrupted in neurological conditions becomes a priority. Hence, this review aims to serve as a bridge between fundamental cellular/molecular myelin biology and clinical research in NF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter de Blank
- Department of Pediatrics, The Cure Starts Now Brain Tumor Center, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Akiko Nishiyama
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alejandro López-Juárez
- Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA
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3
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Lalancette E, Charlebois-Poirier AR, Agbogba K, Knoth IS, Côté V, Perreault S, Lippé S. Time-frequency analyses of repetition suppression and change detection in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. Brain Res 2023; 1818:148512. [PMID: 37499730 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are at increased risk of developing cognitive problems, including attention deficits and learning difficulties. Alterations in brain response to repetition and change have been evidenced in other genetic conditions associated with cognitive dysfunctions. Whether the integrity of these fundamental neural responses is compromised in school-aged children with NF1 is still unknown. In this study, we examined the repetition suppression (RS) and change detection responses in children with NF1 (n = 36) and neurotypical controls (n = 41) aged from 4 to 13 years old, using a simple sequence of vowels. We performed time-frequency analyses to compare spectral power and phase synchronization between groups, in the theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. Correlational analyses were performed between the neural responses and the level of intellectual functioning, as well as with behavioral symptoms of comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders measured through parental questionnaires. Children with NF1 showed preserved RS, but increased spectral power in the change detection response. Correlational analyses performed with measures of change detection revealed a negative association between the alpha-band spectral power and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. These findings suggest atypical neural response to change in children with NF1. Further studies should be conducted to clarify the interaction with comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders and the possible role of altered inhibitory mechanisms in this enhanced neural response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Lalancette
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Marie Victorin Building, 90 Vincent-D'Indy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada.
| | - Audrey-Rose Charlebois-Poirier
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Marie Victorin Building, 90 Vincent-D'Indy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada.
| | - Kristian Agbogba
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Inga Sophia Knoth
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada.
| | - Valérie Côté
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Marie Victorin Building, 90 Vincent-D'Indy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Sébastien Perreault
- Department of Neurosciences, Division of Child Neurology, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada.
| | - Sarah Lippé
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Marie Victorin Building, 90 Vincent-D'Indy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc. H3T 1C5, Canada.
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4
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Huang Q, Velthuis H, Pereira AC, Ahmad J, Cooke SF, Ellis CL, Ponteduro FM, Puts NAJ, Dimitrov M, Batalle D, Wong NML, Kowalewski L, Ivin G, Daly E, Murphy DGM, McAlonan GM. Exploratory evidence for differences in GABAergic regulation of auditory processing in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:320. [PMID: 37852957 PMCID: PMC10584846 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02619-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered reactivity and responses to auditory input are core to the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Preclinical models implicate ϒ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in this process. However, the link between GABA and auditory processing in humans (with or without ASD) is largely correlational. As part of a study of potential biosignatures of GABA function in ASD to inform future clinical trials, we evaluated the role of GABA in auditory repetition suppression in 66 adults (n = 28 with ASD). Neurophysiological responses (temporal and frequency domains) to repetitive standard tones and novel deviants presented in an oddball paradigm were compared after double-blind, randomized administration of placebo, 15 or 30 mg of arbaclofen (STX209), a GABA type B (GABAB) receptor agonist. We first established that temporal mismatch negativity was comparable between participants with ASD and those with typical development (TD). Next, we showed that temporal and spectral responses to repetitive standards were suppressed relative to responses to deviants in the two groups, but suppression was significantly weaker in individuals with ASD at baseline. Arbaclofen reversed weaker suppression of spectral responses in ASD but disrupted suppression in TD. A post hoc analysis showed that arbaclofen-elicited shift in suppression was correlated with autistic symptomatology measured using the Autism Quotient across the entire group, though not in the smaller sample of the ASD and TD group when examined separately. Thus, our results confirm: GABAergic dysfunction contributes to the neurophysiology of auditory sensory processing alterations in ASD, and can be modulated by targeting GABAB activity. These GABA-dependent sensory differences may be upstream of more complex autistic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyun Huang
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Research Center for Brain-Computer Interface, Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hester Velthuis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jumana Ahmad
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Samuel F Cooke
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire L Ellis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Francesca M Ponteduro
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mihail Dimitrov
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nichol M L Wong
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lukasz Kowalewski
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Glynis Ivin
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gráinne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
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5
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Pride NA, Haebich KM, Walsh KS, Lami F, Rouel M, Maier A, Chisholm AK, Lorenzo J, Hearps SJC, North KN, Payne JM. Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3612. [PMID: 37509275 PMCID: PMC10377664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the evidence of elevated autistic behaviors and co-occurring neurodevelopmental difficulties in many children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we have a limited understanding of the sensory processing challenges that may occur with the condition. This study examined the sensory profile of children and adolescents with NF1 and investigated the relationships between the sensory profiles and patient characteristics and neuropsychological functioning. The parent/caregivers of 152 children with NF1 and 96 typically developing children completed the Sensory Profile 2 (SP2), along with standardized questionnaires assessing autistic behaviors, ADHD symptoms, internalizing symptoms, adaptive functioning, and social skills. Intellectual functioning was also assessed. The SP2 data indicated elevated sensory processing problems in children with NF1 compared to typically developing children. Over 40% of children with NF1 displayed differences in sensory registration (missing sensory input) and were unusually sensitive to and unusually avoidant of sensory stimuli. Sixty percent of children with NF1 displayed difficulties in one or more sensory modalities. Elevated autistic behaviors and ADHD symptoms were associated with more severe sensory processing difficulties. This first detailed assessment of sensory processing, alongside other clinical features, in a relatively large cohort of children and adolescents with NF1 demonstrates the relationships between sensory processing differences and adaptive skills and behavior, as well as psychological well-being. Our characterization of the sensory profile within a genetic syndrome may help facilitate more targeted interventions to support overall functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Pride
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Kristina M Haebich
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Karin S Walsh
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Francesca Lami
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Melissa Rouel
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Alice Maier
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Anita K Chisholm
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jennifer Lorenzo
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
| | | | - Kathryn N North
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Payne
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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6
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Dawson G, Rieder AD, Johnson MH. Prediction of autism in infants: progress and challenges. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:244-254. [PMID: 36427512 PMCID: PMC10100853 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00407-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (henceforth autism) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can be reliably diagnosed in children by age 18-24 months. Prospective longitudinal studies of infants aged 1 year and younger who are later diagnosed with autism are elucidating the early developmental course of autism and identifying ways of predicting autism before diagnosis is possible. Studies that use MRI, EEG, and near-infrared spectroscopy have identified differences in brain development in infants later diagnosed with autism compared with infants without autism. Retrospective studies of infants younger than 1 year who received a later diagnosis of autism have also showed an increased prevalence of health conditions, such as sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and vision problems. Behavioural features of infants later diagnosed with autism include differences in attention, vocalisations, gestures, affect, temperament, social engagement, sensory processing, and motor abilities. Although research findings offer insight on promising screening approaches for predicting autism in infants, individual-level predictions remain a future goal. Multiple scientific challenges and ethical questions remain to be addressed to translate research on early brain-based and behavioural predictors of autism into feasible and reliable screening tools for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Dawson
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Amber D Rieder
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
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7
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Dyson A, Ryan M, Garg S, Evans DG, Baines RA. Loss of NF1 in Drosophila Larvae Causes Tactile Hypersensitivity and Impaired Synaptic Transmission at the Neuromuscular Junction. J Neurosci 2022; 42:9450-9472. [PMID: 36344265 PMCID: PMC9794380 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0562-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition in which the mechanisms underlying its core symptomatology are largely unknown. Studying animal models of monogenic syndromes associated with ASD, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), can offer insights into its etiology. Here, we show that loss of function of the Drosophila NF1 ortholog results in tactile hypersensitivity following brief mechanical stimulation in the larva (mixed sexes), paralleling the sensory abnormalities observed in individuals with ASD. Mutant larvae also exhibit synaptic transmission deficits at the glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ), with increased spontaneous but reduced evoked release. While the latter is homeostatically compensated for by a postsynaptic increase in input resistance, the former is consistent with neuronal hyperexcitability. Indeed, diminished expression of NF1 specifically within central cholinergic neurons induces both excessive neuronal firing and tactile hypersensitivity, suggesting the two may be linked. Furthermore, both impaired synaptic transmission and behavioral deficits are fully rescued via knock-down of Ras proteins. These findings validate NF1 -/- Drosophila as a tractable model of ASD with the potential to elucidate important pathophysiological mechanisms.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1-2% of the overall population and can considerably impact an individual's quality of life. However, there are currently no treatments available for its core symptoms, largely because of a poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved. Examining how loss of function of the ASD-associated NF1 gene affects behavior and physiology in Drosophila may shed light on this. In this study, we identify a novel, ASD-relevant behavioral phenotype in NF1 -/- larvae, namely an enhanced response to mechanical stimulation, which is associated with Ras-dependent synaptic transmission deficits indicative of neuronal hyperexcitability. Such insights support the use of Drosophila neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) models in ASD research and may provide outputs for genetic or pharmacological screens in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dyson
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Ryan
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Shruti Garg
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - D Gareth Evans
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Baines
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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8
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Lalancette E, Charlebois-Poirier AR, Agbogba K, Knoth IS, Jones EJH, Mason L, Perreault S, Lippé S. Steady-state visual evoked potentials in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: associations with behavioral rating scales and impact of psychostimulant medication. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:42. [PMID: 35869419 PMCID: PMC9306184 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09452-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder often associated with cognitive dysfunctions, including a high occurrence of deficits in visuoperceptual skills. The neural underpinnings of these visuoperceptual deficits are not fully understood. We used steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) to investigate possible alterations in the synchronization of neural activity in the occipital cortex of children with NF1. Methods SSVEPs were measured using electroencephalography and compared between children with NF1 (n = 28) and neurotypical controls (n = 28) aged between 4 and 13 years old. SSVEPs were recorded during visual stimulation with coloured icons flickering at three different frequencies (6 Hz, 10 Hz, and 15 Hz) and analyzed in terms of signal-to-noise ratios. A mixed design ANCOVA was performed to compare SSVEP responses between groups at the three stimulation frequencies. Pearson’s correlations with levels of intellectual functioning as well as with symptoms of ADHD, ASD and emotional/behavioral problems were performed. The impact of psychostimulant medication on the SSVEP responses was analyzed in a subset of the NF1 group (n = 8) with paired t-tests. Results We observed reduced signal-to-noise ratios of the SSVEP responses in children with NF1. The SSVEP responses were negatively correlated with symptoms of inattention and with symptoms of emotional/behavioral problems in the NF1 group. The SSVEP response generated by the lowest stimulation frequency (i.e., 6 Hz) was rescued with the intake of psychostimulant medication. Conclusions Impaired processing of rhythmic visual stimulation was evidenced in children with NF1 through measures of SSVEP responses. Those responses seem to be more reduced in children with NF1 who exhibit more symptoms of inattention and emotional/behavioral problems in their daily life. SSVEPs are potentially sensitive electrophysiological markers that could be included in future studies investigating the impact of medication on brain activity and cognitive functioning in children with NF1. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-022-09452-y.
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9
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Garg S, Wan MW, Begum-Ali J, Kolesnik-Taylor A, Green J, Johnson MH, Jones E. Early Developmental Trajectories in Infants With Neurofibromatosis 1. Front Psychol 2022; 13:795951. [PMID: 35936291 PMCID: PMC9355323 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.795951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine the trajectories of cognitive, motor and behavioural development in infants with NF1 compared to infants without a family history of neurodevelopmental difficulties. Study design Infants with NF1 and low-risk controls were recruited from 5 months of age and followed longitudinally. Data from standardised tests was gathered at 5, 10 and 14 months and developmental trajectories of motor, language, behaviour, sleep, social development and parent-infant interaction were examined. Linear mixed modelling was used to estimate group differences in cognitive and behavioural measures over time. Results No group differences were observed on Mullen Scale of Early Learning, overall adaptive functioning, temperament or behavioural measures. There were no group differences observed on measures of social communication or parent-infant interaction. Over the course of development, the NF1 group slept less and took more time to settle to sleep as compared to the control group. Maternal education was significantly associated with cognitive and behavioural developmental outcomes in both groups. Conclusion Cognitive, social and behavioural impairments are a cause of significant functional morbidity in children with NF1. This report is the first study to investigate the trajectories of cognitive, motor and behavioural development in infancy in NF1. Our results demonstrate that overall cognitive and behavioural developmental trajectories of the NF1 group in the infancy period are similar to controls. Given previous reports of delayed development in the NF1 cohort by 40 months, early clinical interventions strategies to promote sleep hygiene may be beneficial to optimise developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Garg
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ming Wai Wan
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jannath Begum-Ali
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development and Department of Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Kolesnik-Taylor
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mark H. Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development and Department of Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development and Department of Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Crow AJD, Janssen JM, Marshall C, Moffit A, Brennan L, Kohler CG, Roalf DR, Moberg PJ. A systematic review and meta-analysis of intellectual, neuropsychological, and psychoeducational functioning in neurofibromatosis type 1. Am J Med Genet A 2022; 188:2277-2292. [PMID: 35546306 PMCID: PMC9302478 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder frequently associated with cognitive deficits. Despite cognitive deficits being a key feature of NF1, the profile of such impairments in NF1 has been shown to be heterogeneous. Thus, we sought to quantitatively synthesize the extant literature on cognitive functioning in NF1. A random-effects meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies was carried out comparing cognitive functioning of patients with NF1 to typically developing or unaffected sibling comparison subjects of all ages. Analyses included 50 articles (Total NNF1 = 1,522; MAge = 15.70 years, range = 0.52-69.60), yielding 460 effect sizes. Overall moderate deficits were observed [g = -0.64, 95% CI = (-0.69, -0.60)] wherein impairments differed at the level of cognitive domain. Deficits ranged from large [general intelligence: g = -0.95, 95% CI = (-1.12, -0.79)] to small [emotion: g = -0.37, 95% CI = (-0.63, -0.11)]. Moderation analyses revealed nonsignificant contributions of age, sex, educational attainment, and parental level of education to outcomes. These results illustrate that cognitive impairments are diffuse and salient across the lifespan in NF1. Taken together, these results further demonstrate efforts should be made to evaluate and address cognitive morbidity in patients with NF1 in conjunction with existing best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J D Crow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennica M Janssen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carolina Marshall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Psychology, Hope College, Holland, Michigan, USA
| | - Anne Moffit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Christian G Kohler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David R Roalf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul J Moberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Neklyudova A, Smirnov K, Rebreikina A, Martynova O, Sysoeva O. Electrophysiological and Behavioral Evidence for Hyper- and Hyposensitivity in Rare Genetic Syndromes Associated with Autism. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:671. [PMID: 35456477 PMCID: PMC9027402 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Our study reviewed abnormalities in spontaneous, as well as event-related, brain activity in syndromes with a known genetic underpinning that are associated with autistic symptomatology. Based on behavioral and neurophysiological evidence, we tentatively subdivided the syndromes on primarily hyper-sensitive (Fragile X, Angelman) and hypo-sensitive (Phelan-McDermid, Rett, Tuberous Sclerosis, Neurofibromatosis 1), pointing to the way of segregation of heterogeneous idiopathic ASD, that includes both hyper-sensitive and hypo-sensitive individuals. This segmentation links abnormalities in different genes, such as FMR1, UBE3A, GABRB3, GABRA5, GABRG3, SHANK3, MECP2, TSC1, TSC2, and NF1, that are causative to the above-mentioned syndromes and associated with synaptic transmission and cell growth, as well as with translational and transcriptional regulation and with sensory sensitivity. Excitation/inhibition imbalance related to GABAergic signaling, and the interplay of tonic and phasic inhibition in different brain regions might underlie this relationship. However, more research is needed. As most genetic syndromes are very rare, future investigations in this field will benefit from multi-site collaboration with a common protocol for electrophysiological and event-related potential (EEG/ERP) research that should include an investigation into all modalities and stages of sensory processing, as well as potential biomarkers of GABAergic signaling (such as 40-Hz ASSR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Neklyudova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.N.); (K.S.); (A.R.); (O.M.)
| | - Kirill Smirnov
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.N.); (K.S.); (A.R.); (O.M.)
| | - Anna Rebreikina
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.N.); (K.S.); (A.R.); (O.M.)
- Sirius Center for Cognitive Research, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
| | - Olga Martynova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.N.); (K.S.); (A.R.); (O.M.)
| | - Olga Sysoeva
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.N.); (K.S.); (A.R.); (O.M.)
- Sirius Center for Cognitive Research, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
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12
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Ní Choisdealbha Á, Attaheri A, Rocha S, Brusini P, Flanagan SA, Mead N, Gibbon S, Olawole-Scott H, Williams I, Grey C, Boutris P, Ahmed H, Goswami U. Neural detection of changes in amplitude rise time in infancy. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101075. [PMID: 35078120 PMCID: PMC8792064 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Amplitude rise times play a crucial role in the perception of rhythm in speech, and reduced perceptual sensitivity to differences in rise time is related to developmental language difficulties. Amplitude rise times also play a mechanistic role in neural entrainment to the speech amplitude envelope. Using an ERP paradigm, here we examined for the first time whether infants at the ages of seven and eleven months exhibit an auditory mismatch response to changes in the rise times of simple repeating auditory stimuli. We found that infants exhibited a mismatch response (MMR) to all of the oddball rise times used for the study. The MMR was more positive at seven than eleven months of age. At eleven months, there was a shift to a mismatch negativity (MMN) that was more pronounced over left fronto-central electrodes. The MMR over right fronto-central electrodes was sensitive to the size of the difference in rise time. The results indicate that neural processing of changes in rise time is present at seven months, supporting the possibility that early speech processing is facilitated by neural sensitivity to these important acoustic cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Áine Ní Choisdealbha
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Adam Attaheri
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sinead Rocha
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Perrine Brusini
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sheila A Flanagan
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha Mead
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Gibbon
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Olawole-Scott
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Williams
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Grey
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Panagiotis Boutris
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Henna Ahmed
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Usha Goswami
- Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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