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Mitchell CAA, Maybery MT, Russell-Smith SN, Collerton D, Gignac GE, Waters F. The Structure and Measurement of Unusual Sensory Experiences in Different Modalities: The Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ). Front Psychol 2017; 8:1363. [PMID: 28848477 PMCID: PMC5554527 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hallucinations and other unusual sensory experiences (USE) can occur in all modalities in the general population. Yet, the existing literature is dominated by investigations into auditory hallucinations (“voices”), while other modalities remain under-researched. Furthermore, there is a paucity of measures which can systematically assess different modalities, which limits our ability to detect individual and group differences across modalities. The current study explored such differences using a new scale, the Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ). The MUSEQ is a 43-item self-report measure which assesses USE in six modalities: auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, bodily sensations, and sensed presence. Scale development and validation involved a total of 1,300 participants, which included: 513 students and community members for initial development, 32 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder for validation, 659 students for factor replication, and 96 students for test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a correlated-factors model and bifactor model yielded acceptable model fit, while a unidimensional model fitted poorly. These findings were confirmed in the replication sample. Results showed contributions from a general common factor, as well as modality-specific factors. The latter accounted for less variance than the general factor, but could still detect theoretically meaningful group differences. The MUSEQ showed good reliability, construct validity, and could discriminate non-clinical and clinical groups. The MUSEQ offers a reliable means of measuring hallucinations and other USE in six different modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A A Mitchell
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | | | - Daniel Collerton
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Bensham HospitalGateshead, United Kingdom.,Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Gilles E Gignac
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | - Flavie Waters
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia.,Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metro Health Service Mental HealthMount Claremont, WA, Australia
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Jamnadass ESL, Keelan JA, Russell-Smith SN, Hickey M, Maybery MT, Whitehouse AJO. Umbilical cord androgens and estrogens in relation to verbal and nonverbal abilities at age 10 in the general population. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173493. [PMID: 28278304 PMCID: PMC5344490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in verbal and nonverbal abilities are a contentious area of research. Prenatal steroids have been shown to have masculinizing effects on the brain that may affect the development of nonverbal and verbal abilities in later life. The current study examined a wide range of biologically active sex steroids (both androgens and estrogens) in umbilical cord blood at birth in a large pregnancy cohort in relation to performance on nonverbal (Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices) and verbal (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-3 and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III) measures at age 10 years. Overall, Androgen and Estrogen composites in cord blood were not found to be predictive of performance on verbal and nonverbal measures at age 10. These data suggest that late gestation sex steroids do not exert a major effect on nonverbal and verbal abilities in middle childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esha S. L. Jamnadass
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jeffrey A. Keelan
- School of Women’s and Infant’s Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Martha Hickey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Murray T. Maybery
- School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew J. O. Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Tan DW, Russell-Smith SN, Simons JM, Maybery MT, Leung D, Ng HLH, Whitehouse AJO. Perceived Gender Ratings for High and Low Scorers on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Consistent with the Extreme Male Brain Account of Autism. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131780. [PMID: 26186689 PMCID: PMC4506065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Extreme Male Brain (EMB) theory posits that autistic traits are linked to excessive exposure to testosterone in utero. While findings from a number of studies are consistent with this theory, other studies have produced contradictory results. For example, some findings suggest that rather than being linked to hypermasculinization for males, or defeminization for females, elevated levels of autistic traits are instead linked to more androgynous physical features. The current study provided further evidence relevant to the EMB and androgony positions by comparing groups of males selected for high or low scores on the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) as to the rated masculinity of their faces and voices, and comparable groups of females as to the rated femininity of their faces and voices. The voices of High-AQ males were rated as more masculine than those of Low-AQ males, while the faces of High-AQ females were rated as less feminine than those of Low-AQ females. There was no effect of AQ group on femininity ratings for female voices or on masculinity ratings for male faces. The results thus provide partial support for a link between high levels of autistic-like traits and hypermasculinization for males and defeminization for females, consistent with the EMB theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Weiting Tan
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Suzanna N. Russell-Smith
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica M. Simons
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Murray T. Maybery
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Doris Leung
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Honey L. H. Ng
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew J. O. Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Gilani SZ, Tan DW, Russell-Smith SN, Maybery MT, Mian A, Eastwood PR, Shafait F, Goonewardene M, Whitehouse AJO. Sexually dimorphic facial features vary according to level of autistic-like traits in the general population. J Neurodev Disord 2015; 7:14. [PMID: 25901187 PMCID: PMC4404287 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-015-9109-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a recent study, Bejerot et al. observed that several physical features (including faces) of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were more androgynous than those of their typically developed counterparts, suggesting that ASD may be understood as a 'gender defiant' disorder. These findings are difficult to reconcile with the hypermasculinisation account, which proposes that ASD may be an exaggerated form of cognitive and biological masculinity. The current study extended these data by first identifying six facial features that best distinguished males and females from the general population and then examining these features in typically developing groups selected for high and low levels of autistic-like traits. METHODS In study 1, three-dimensional (3D) facial images were collected from 208 young adult males and females recruited from the general population. Twenty-three facial distances were measured from these images and a gender classification and scoring algorithm was employed to identify a set of six facial features that most effectively distinguished male from female faces. In study 2, measurements of these six features were compared for groups of young adults selected for high (n = 46) or low (n = 66) levels of autistic-like traits. RESULTS For each sex, four of the six sexually dimorphic facial distances significantly differentiated participants with high levels of autistic-like traits from those with low trait levels. All four features were less masculinised for high-trait males compared to low-trait males. Three of four features were less feminised for high-trait females compared to low-trait females. One feature was, however, not consistent with the general pattern of findings and was more feminised among females who reported more autistic-like traits. Based on the four significantly different facial distances for each sex, discriminant function analysis correctly classified 89.7% of the males and 88.9% of the females into their respective high- and low-trait groups. CONCLUSIONS The current data provide support for Bejerot et al.'s androgyny account since males and females with high levels of autistic-like traits generally showed less sex-typical facial features than individuals with low levels of autistic-like traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Zulqarnain Gilani
- />School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Diana Weiting Tan
- />Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
- />Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, 6008 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Suzanna N Russell-Smith
- />Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- />Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Ajmal Mian
- />School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Peter R Eastwood
- />School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Faisal Shafait
- />School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Mithran Goonewardene
- />School of Dentistry/Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Andrew JO Whitehouse
- />Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA Australia
- />Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, 6008 Perth, WA Australia
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Russell-Smith SN, Maybery MT, Bayliss DM, Sng AAH. Support for a link between the local processing bias and social deficits in autism: an investigation of embedded figures test performance in non-clinical individuals. J Autism Dev Disord 2013; 42:2420-30. [PMID: 22434280 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1506-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to explore the degree to which specific subsets of autistic-like traits relate to performance on the Embedded Figures Test (Witkin et al. in A manual for the embedded figures test. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA, 1971). In the first group-based investigation with this focus, students were selected for their extreme scores (either high or low) on each of the 'Social Skills' and 'Details/Patterns' factors of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (Baron-Cohen et al. in J Austim Dev Disord 31:5-17, 2001). The resulting 2 × 2 factorial design permitted examination of the degree to which the social and non-social autistic-like traits separately relate to EFT performance. Surprisingly, in two studies, superior EFT performance was found to relate only to greater social difficulty, suggesting that the local processing bias in autism may be linked specifically to the social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanna N Russell-Smith
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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Russell-Smith SN, Maybery MT, Bayliss DM. Relationships between autistic-like and schizotypy traits: An analysis using the Autism Spectrum Quotient and Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences. Personality and Individual Differences 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Russell-Smith SN, Maybery MT, Bayliss DM. Are the Autism and Positive Schizotypy Spectra Diametrically Opposed in Local Versus Global Processing? J Autism Dev Disord 2010; 40:968-77. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-0945-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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