Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Right-lateralized frontal activation underlies successful updating of verbal working memory in adolescents with
Michael K Yeung1, Tsz L Lee2, Agnes S Chan3
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada; Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Abstract:
Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit altered frontal lobe activation during working memory (WM) processing despite relatively intact WM updating ability. To determine whether this alteration reflects compensation and is also present in adolescents, this study examined prefrontal activation during WM updating in adolescents with ASD using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Eighteen adolescents with high-functioning ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) adolescents aged 11-18 years successfully underwent a verbal n-back paradigm with a WM (i.e., 2-back) and a control (i.e., 0-back) condition. We found that adolescents with ASD exhibit more right-lateralized prefrontal activation in response to WM load (i.e., 2-back > 0-back) compared to TD adolescents. More importantly, right-lateralized prefrontal activation was associated with better WM updating ability-specifically among adolescents with ASD. Thus, adolescents with ASD might rely on a compensatory mechanism such as the employment of a visuospatial processing style to help them update verbal WM.
More Related Videos
08:30Author Spotlight: Exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in Fruit Flies — Genetic Models and Behavioral Tests
Published on: September 6, 2024
08:17A Semantic Priming Event-related Potential ERP Task to Study Lexico-semantic and Visuo-semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 12, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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.
Ecological Succession
IR Spectrum Peak Intensity: Amount of IR-Active Bonds
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Non-Verbal Cues
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory