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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Frontal contributions to face processing differences in autism: evidence from fMRI of inverted face processing
Susan Y Bookheimer1, A Ting Wang, Ashley Scott
1Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. sbook@ucla.edu
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|October 29, 2008
Summary
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show differences in face processing, with atypical activation in social cognition brain regions, not visual areas. This suggests social significance, not visual processing, underlies these differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social communication deficits.
- Previous neuroimaging studies on face processing in ASD have yielded inconsistent findings, often focusing on visual regions like the fusiform face area (FFA).
- Recent research suggests atypicalities in frontal regions and mirror-neuron systems during face processing in ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in brain activity during face processing between typically developing (TD) children and children with ASD.
- To examine the role of visual processing versus social cognition in the behavioral inversion effect for faces in ASD.
- To identify specific brain regions involved in atypical face processing in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity in TD children and children with ASD during a face matching task.
- Participants viewed faces presented in upright and inverted positions.
- Behavioral data (reaction time) and fMRI data were analyzed to compare group differences.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD showed a reduced behavioral inversion effect compared to TD children.
- fMRI data revealed similar activation in the fusiform face area (FFA) between groups for upright and inverted faces.
- Significant group differences in activation were observed in prefrontal cortex and amygdala, regions associated with social cognition.
Conclusions:
- The behavioral differences in processing upright versus inverted faces in ASD are likely related to the social significance of faces, rather than visual processing deficits.
- Findings suggest that atypical face processing in ASD involves dysfunction in social cognition brain networks, including prefrontal cortex and amygdala.
- These results align with broader theories implicating frontal and limbic system abnormalities in the social deficits observed in autism.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:24Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...