Self responses along cingulate cortex reveal quantitative neural phenotype for high-functioning autism

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Cognition
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Accurate attribution of behavioral outcomes to self versus others is crucial for social interaction.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by social interaction deficits.
• Understanding the neural basis of self-attribution in ASD is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate self-attribution mechanisms in high-functioning males with ASD using fMRI.
• To identify neural correlates of self-specific responses in the cingulate cortex.
• To assess the relationship between neural self-response and ASD symptom severity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two fMRI paradigms: a visual imagery task and an iterated trust game.
• Extracted agent-specific eigenvectors (self eigenmodes) from cingulate cortex activity in control subjects.
• Examined the 'self eigenmode' during self-decisions in the trust game for ASD males and controls.

Main Results:

• A distinct 'self eigenmode' in the cingulate cortex was identified in controls during self-imagined actions and self-decisions.
• ASD males exhibited a significantly diminished cingulate 'self response' during interpersonal exchanges.
• The reduction in self response correlated parametrically with ASD symptom severity.

Conclusions:

• The cingulate 'self eigenmode' represents a neural marker for self-attribution.
• Diminished self response in ASD males during social interaction may underlie social deficits.
• This neural marker could serve as an objective endophenotype and quantitative assessment tool for high-functioning ASD.