Neural Correlates of Infant Face Processing and Later Emerging Autism Symptoms in Fragile X Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Genetics

Background:

• Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a leading genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Infants with FXS show distinct neural responses to faces compared to typical infants and those at high familial risk for ASD.
• Understanding early neural markers is crucial for predicting ASD development in high-risk populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between infant event-related potential (ERP) responses during face processing and later ASD symptoms in children with FXS.
• To compare these neural markers in FXS, siblings of children with ASD, and low-risk controls.
• To explore common and unique neurodevelopmental pathways to ASD in syndromic and familial risk groups.

Main Methods:

• Measured infant ERPs (N290, Nc amplitudes) during face processing at 12 months of age.
• Assessed ASD symptoms at approximately 48 months of age.
• Included participants with FXS, siblings of children with ASD, and low-risk controls.

Main Results:

• Greater N290 amplitude in infancy predicted more severe ASD symptoms in childhood for FXS and ASD-sibling groups.
• Reduced Nc amplitude in infancy was associated with more severe ASD symptoms specifically in the FXS group.
• These ERP patterns were not observed in low-risk control participants.

Conclusions:

• Infant ERP responses during face processing may predict later ASD symptoms in individuals with FXS.
• Findings support the existence of both shared and distinct neurodevelopmental pathways to ASD across different high-risk groups.
• This study provides novel insights into early neural markers for ASD in FXS.