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Perception of complex sounds in autism: abnormal auditory cortical processing in children
Nathalie Boddaert1, Nadia Chabane, Pascal Belin
1Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, 4 place du Général Leclerc, 91406 Orsay, France.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|October 30, 2004
Summary
Autistic children show reduced brain activation in left speech areas when listening to sounds, similar to autistic adults. This abnormal auditory processing may contribute to autism
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Audiology
Background:
- Previous research indicated reduced left temporal lobe activation in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during auditory processing of speech-like sounds.
- This study aimed to investigate if similar cortical processing differences exist in children diagnosed with autism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if children with autism exhibit abnormal cortical auditory processing in speech-related brain regions.
- To confirm findings from adult autism studies in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) in 11 children with autism and 6 non-autistic children.
- Brain activity was assessed during resting state and while participants listened to speech-like sounds.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced activation was observed in left speech-related cortical areas in the autistic children compared to the control group.
- These findings mirror the reduced activation patterns previously identified in adults with autism.
Conclusions:
- This is the first activation study to demonstrate abnormal cortical auditory processing in children with autism, supporting previous adult findings.
- The observed neural differences in auditory processing may underlie characteristic autistic behaviors, including atypical responses to sounds and language impairments.