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. 2012 May 17;4(1):11.
doi: 10.1186/1866-1955-4-11.

Social attention: a possible early indicator of efficacy in autism clinical trials

Geraldine Dawson  1 , Raphael Bernier, Robert H Ring
Affiliations

Social attention: a possible early indicator of efficacy in autism clinical trials

Geraldine Dawson et al. J Neurodev Disord. .

Abstract

For decades, researchers have sought to clarify the nature of the social communication impairments in autism, highlighting impaired or atypical 'social attention' as a key measurable construct that helps to define the core impairment of social communication. In this paper, we provide an overview of research on social attention impairments in autism and their relation to deficiencies in neural circuitry related to social reward. We offer a framework for considering social attention as a potential moderator or mediator of response to early behavioral intervention, and as an early indicator of efficacy of behavioral and/or pharmacological treatments aimed at addressing the social impairments in autism.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Role of social attention as an early indicator of efficacy in clinical trials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Social attention as an early indicator of efficacy in a clinical trial testing combined behavioral and pharmacological treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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