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Behavioral and physiological differences during an emotion-evoking task in children at increased likelihood for

Lori-Ann R Sacrey1, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum1, Jessica A Brian2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta/Autism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Development and Psychopathology
|December 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who were later diagnosed showed differences in emotional responses, gaze, and heart rate. These early behavioral and physiological markers may help understand emerging ASD mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Infant Behavior

Background:

  • Existing research on emotional regulation in infants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) primarily relies on parent reports.
  • There is a need for objective measures, including behavioral and physiological responses, to understand early emotional regulation in infants at risk for ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate behavioral and physiological responses during an emotion-evoking task in infants with an increased likelihood for ASD (IL) compared to infants with a low likelihood (LL).
  • To identify early markers of emerging ASD by examining affect, gaze, and heart rate variability.

Main Methods:

  • Infants with increased likelihood for ASD (IL) and low likelihood (LL) completed an emotion-evoking task at 6, 12, and 18 months.
  • Behavioral (negative affect, gaze) and physiological (heart rate) responses were recorded during tasks involving toy removal and negative stimuli.
  • Infants were classified at 24 months for ASD diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Infants later diagnosed with ASD (IL-ASD group) exhibited higher negative affect during challenging tasks compared to IL non-ASD and LL groups.
  • The IL-ASD group spent more time looking at the baseline task, suggesting differences in attention or engagement.
  • A greater increase in heart rate from baseline was observed in the IL-ASD group during toy removal and negative tasks compared to the LL group.

Conclusions:

  • Infants who are classified as ASD at 24 months demonstrate distinct patterns in affect, gaze, and heart rate during infancy.
  • These findings suggest potential early biomarkers for emerging ASD, offering insights into underlying mechanisms.
  • Objective measures of behavioral and physiological responses are crucial for understanding early emotional development in infants at risk for ASD.

Keywords:
ASDaffectautismbaby siblinggazeheart ratephysiology

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