Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
12:21
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
26.1K
Typical and atypical neurodevelopment for face specialization: an FMRI study.
Jane E Joseph1, Xun Zhu, Andrew Gundran
1Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Clinical Sciences Building, Room 325E, MSC 616, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA, josep@musc.edu.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|December 7, 2014
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and siblings show distinct face processing brain patterns compared to typically developed individuals. These differences suggest unique neural pathways and potential compensatory mechanisms in ASD and family members.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Autism Research
Background:
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit altered social cognition, including face processing.
- Family members of individuals with ASD often show subclinical traits, suggesting shared genetic or environmental influences.
- Understanding neural differences in face processing is crucial for identifying early biomarkers and intervention targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in brain activation during face viewing in children with ASD, their siblings (SIB), and typically developed (TD) controls.
- To identify distinct neural patterns of face specialization across these groups.
- To explore potential compensatory mechanisms in SIBs and atypical development in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a face-viewing task.
- Comparison of brain activation patterns in children aged 5-18 years.
- Analysis of face specialization in key brain regions, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and fusiform gyrus.
Main Results:
- TD and SIB children demonstrated face specialization in the right amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
- Face specialization increased with age in TD subjects in the left fusiform and right amygdala.
- SIBs exhibited unique antero-medial temporal lobe activation, potentially indicating compensation.
- ASD showed minimal face specialization, with increased right fusiform and decreased left amygdala activation with age, suggesting atypical frontal-amygdala-fusiform system development.
Conclusions:
- Face processing networks develop atypically in individuals with ASD.
- Siblings of individuals with ASD may employ compensatory neural strategies.
- Age-related changes in face processing circuitry differ significantly across TD, SIB, and ASD groups.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.9K
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,...
10.9K
01:24Prosopagnosia
1.2K
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...
1.2K
01:14Brain Imaging
1.0K
Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...
1.0K