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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism 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.
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Working Memory

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Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

Desynchronization of fronto-temporal networks during working memory processing in autism.

Charline Urbain^1,2, Vanessa M Vogan^1,2, Annette X Ye^1,2

¹Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

Human Brain Mapping

|October 21, 2015

Summary

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show atypical brain connectivity during working memory (WM) tasks. Reduced synchronization in fronto-temporal networks may underlie social and cognitive deficits in ASD.

Keywords:

MEG alpha oscillations children executive functions phase-locking values

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Published on: December 7, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasingly viewed as a network disorder.
Atypical brain connectivity, particularly in working memory (WM) processes, is linked to social and cognitive deficits in children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate differences in brain connectivity during a high-load WM task in children with ASD compared to controls.
To explore the relationship between atypical connectivity and ASD symptom severity.

Main Methods:

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to measure brain activity.
17 children with ASD and 20 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched controls performed a 2-back WM task.

Main Results:

Children with ASD exhibited reduced inter-regional alpha-band (9-15 Hz) phase synchronization during the WM task.
This reduced synchronization involved fronto-temporal networks, including the left insula, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right middle temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus.
Reduced connectivity in the right fusiform gyrus correlated with ASD symptom severity.

Conclusions:

The findings provide evidence for atypical long-range synchronization in fronto-temporal areas crucial for WM, emotion regulation, and social cognition in children with ASD.
These results support the network disorder hypothesis of ASD.
Atypical working memory and executive function processes may contribute to autism symptomatology.