A bibliometric analysis of autism spectrum disorder signaling pathways research in the past decade

Abstract

Background: This study employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively understand the fundamental structure of research about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Signaling Pathways by examining key indicators such as nations, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords.

Methodology: We utilized the WoScc database to retrieve literature relevant to ASD Signaling Pathways published between 2013 and 2023. Through visual analysis and tools like CiteSpace and VosViewer, we explored nations, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords, thereby constructing relevant networks.

Results: 26 The study encompasses 1,396 articles, revealing a consistent increase in publications. The United States, China, and Germany are leading nations in this literature. Regarding research institutions, the University of California system and Eric Klann have garnered significant attention due to their substantial contributions to the field of ASD Signaling Pathways. Most relevant research is published in the journal "Molecular Autism." Research interests are concentrated across various themes, including "elevating neuronal β-catenin levels," "Tunisian children," "Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice," "de novo mutations," "autistic children," "local translation," "propionic acid-induced mouse models," "neurosystems," "glucose metabolism," and "neuronal migration." Future research may emphasize exploring aspects such as gut microbiota, genes, stress, maternal immune activation, memory, and neurodevelopmental disorders of ASD.

Conclusion: This study, through bibliometric analysis of key indicators such as nations, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords, provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on ASD Signaling Pathways. These investigations predominantly focus on molecular mechanisms, animal model studies, population-based research, and the structure and function of neurosystems. Future research directions are also clearly proposed. First, in-depth research on the genes and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with ASD will continue to reveal the genetic basis and provide support for precise treatments. At the same time, attention to the gut microbiota will help explore its association with ASD, which may provide clues for new treatments. In addition, the relationship between stress and ASD will become the focus of research to understand better the emotional and behavioral characteristics of ASD patients in stressful situations. Maternal immune activation will also be further studied to explore how environmental factors influence the risk and development of ASD. Finally, a deeper understanding of the cognitive functions of patients with ASD, especially memory and learning, will help develop individualized treatment strategies to improve patients' quality of life. These directions will work together and are expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Signaling Pathways research in ASD and provide new ideas and opportunities for future intervention and treatment.

Keywords: ASD; Citespace; VOSviewer; bibliometric analysis; signaling pathways.

Figure 1

Prisma flow diagram.

Figure 2

(A) Type of publications. (B) The combination chart of the number of annual.

Figure 3

(A) Cooperation Network Country/Region. In the illustration, individual circles depict countries contributing to published research, while interconnecting lines represent collaborative efforts among these nations. The size of each circle corresponds to the volume of relevant research publications originating from that country. The closer the circle is to the red hue, the greater the number of articles that country has published in collaboration with others. Thicker lines denote stronger collaboration and closer partnerships between countries. (B) Publication country and regional distribution map.

Figure 4

Research Institution Map. In the graphical representation, each circle signifies the quantity of research publications attributed to a particular institution, with connecting lines illustrating collaborative endeavors between these institutions. The proximity of the circle to the shade of purple correlates with the institution’s volume of collaborative research articles. The thickness of the lines denotes a higher degree of collaboration and closer partnerships between institutions.

Figure 5

Average number of years that research on ASD-related Signaling Pathways has been published in high-volume journals. The nodes depicted in The Image 5 symbolize diverse journals. The magnitude of each node corresponds to the volume of associated papers it has published, while the color-coded legend signifies the average publication year of all articles within the journals. Journals highlighted with a yellow background denote recent engagement in research within a specific field. Conversely, those journals with a purple background may suggest a decrease in interest regarding the topic during the analyzed time frame.

Figure 6

Author Co-occurrence Map. In the author co-occurrence analysis map, the size of each node signifies the quantity of publications authored by the respective author, while the innermost color represents the average publication year of the author’s relevant documents. The links between nodes denote the presence of collaborative relationships among authors, with the thickness of the connections indicating the strength of cooperation among them.

Figure 7

Reference Diagrams for Common References. Cited documents serve as a reflection of the comprehensive knowledge foundation within the field, with highly cited documents often regarded as seminal classics. Each node within the network denotes a citation, where the node’s size corresponds to its frequency of co-citations. Interconnecting lines between nodes signify instances of co-citation within the literature.

Figure 8

Keyword Co-occurrence Diagram.

Figure 9

Keyword Clustering Time Graph.

Figure 10

Strongest-citation-bursts. The blue line depicted in the figure signifies the time interval, while the red line represents the period characterized by a surge in keywords.

Figure 11

Associated gene analysis.