Neural and behavioral responses during self-evaluative processes differ in youth with and without autism

Abstract

This fMRI study investigated neural responses while making appraisals of self and other, across the social and academic domains, in children and adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Compared to neurotypical youth, those with ASD exhibited hypoactivation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex during self-appraisals. Responses in middle cingulate cortex (MCC) and anterior insula (AI) also distinguished between groups. Stronger activity in MCC and AI during self-appraisals was associated with better social functioning in the ASD group. Although self-appraisals were significantly more positive in the neurotypical group, positivity was unrelated to brain activity in these regions. Together, these results suggest that multiple brain regions support making self-appraisals in neurotypical development, and function atypically in youth with ASD.

Fig. 1

a Significant clusters resulting from the two-way interaction between group and target, specifically the directional contrast NT >ASD (for Self >Other). Images are thresholded at p <.005, 23 voxels (which achieves correction for multiple comparisons as calculated by 3dClusterSim). For display purposes, hot colors represent the contrast when masked by the Self >Other contrast from NT participants, thus depicting clusters in which NT >ASD (for Self >Other); cool colors represent the contrast when masked by the Other >Self contrast from ASD participants, thus depicting clusters in which ASD >NT (for Other >Self). x, y, and z refer to the left–right, anterior–posterior, and inferior–superior dimensions, respectively. b Mean parameter estimates of activity from the ventral mPFC (resulting from two-way interaction) cluster depicted in (a), for each target, by group. Asterisk denotes means that significantly differ (p <.05, two-tailed)

Fig. 2

a Significant clusters resulting from the three-way interaction between group, target, and domain in bilateral insula. Images are thresholded at p <.005, 23 voxels (which achieves correction for multiple comparisons as calculated by 3dClusterSim). y and z refer to the anterior–posterior and inferior–superior dimensions, respectively. b Mean parameter estimates of activity from the left anterior insula cluster depicted in (a), for each target across domains, by group. Asterisk denotes means that significantly differ (p <.05, two-tailed)

Fig. 3

The significant correlation between more activity in the left anterior insula during appraisals of self (relative to appraisals of other) and better social functioning (as indexed by lower scores on the social subscale of the ADOS; higher scores indicate more impairment)