Emerging signs of autism spectrum disorder in infancy: Putative neural substrate
1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Paediatrics, Section of Developmental Neurology, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Insights
Early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appear between 6-12 months, linked to atypical brain development. Altered dissolution of transient brain structures may explain these early social and motor indicators in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves atypical social brain development, particularly in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum.
- Early ASD signs, including social communication deficits and motor delays, manifest between 6 and 12 months of age.
- Transient brain structures, like the cortical subplate and cerebellar external granular layer, undergo dissolution in the first year, crucial for neurodevelopment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that altered dissolution of transient brain structures contributes to the emergence of early ASD signs.
- To correlate the development of fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum with early social and motor behaviors in infants.
- To understand the neurobiological underpinnings of early social communication and motor skill development in the context of ASD.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews existing literature and neurodevelopmental models focusing on the first postnatal year.
- It examines the role of transient brain structures and their dissolution process in relation to early ASD indicators.
- Analysis integrates findings on social brain development, motor planning networks, and sensory responsivity in infants.
Main Results:
- Early social and motor signs of ASD are observable between 6 and 12 months of age.
- Atypical sensory responsivity may impact social communication and motor skill development, potentially leading to repetitive behaviors.
- Altered dissolution of transient structures in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum is proposed as a key mechanism for early ASD manifestation.
Conclusions:
- The emergence of early social and motor signs of ASD is linked to the developmental period between 6 and 12 months.
- Altered dissolution of transient brain structures within the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum may be the underlying cause of these early ASD signs.
- Understanding these early neurodevelopmental processes offers potential targets for early intervention in autism spectrum disorder.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by altered development of the social brain with prominent atypical features in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum. Early signs of ASD emerge between 6 and 12 months: reduced social communication, slightly less advanced motor development, and repetitive behaviour. The fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum play a prominent role in the development of social communication, whereas fronto-parietal-cerebellar networks are involved in the planning of movements, that is, movement selection. Atypical sensory responsivity, a core feature of ASD, may result in impaired development of social communication and motor skills and/or selection of atypical repetitive behaviour. In the first postnatal year, the brain areas involved are characterized by gradual dissolution of temporary structures: the fronto-temporo-parietal cortical subplate and cerebellar external granular layer. It is hypothesized that altered dissolution of the transient structures opens the window for the expression of early signs of ASD arising in the impaired developing permanent networks. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The early social and motor signs of autism spectrum disorder emerge between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Altered dissolution of transient brain structures in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum may underlie the emergence of these early signs.
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