Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Parent-child interaction related to brain functional alterations and development outcomes in autism spectrum
Yang Xue1, Han-Yu Dong1, Jun-Yan Feng1
1Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of the First Hospital of Jilin University, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China; The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China.
Insights
Parent-child interaction positively impacts autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children's development and autistic traits. Brain regions like DCG.L and SFGmed.R are key factors in this relationship.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Limited research exists on how parent-child interaction influences brain function and developmental outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing targeted interventions for ASD.
- This pilot study addresses this gap by exploring the connection between parent-child interaction, brain activity, and development in ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between parent-child interaction and brain functional alterations in children with ASD.
- To explore how parent-child interaction correlates with developmental outcomes in ASD.
- To identify specific brain regions and functional measures that mediate the effects of parent-child interaction on ASD development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to assess local brain function via amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo).
- Employed the Chinese Parent-child Interaction Scale (CPCIS) to measure parent-child interaction.
- Assessed developmental outcomes using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and developmental quotient (DQ).
Main Results:
- Parent-child interaction (CPCIS scores) was negatively correlated with autistic traits (CARS scores) and positively correlated with developmental quotient (DQ).
- Increased parent-child interaction frequency was associated with reduced ALFF in the left median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.L) and reduced ReHo in the right superior frontal gyrus, medial (SFGmed.R).
- ALFF in DCG.L and ReHo in SFGmed.R significantly mediated the relationship between parent-child interaction and performance DQ.
Conclusions:
- Parent-child interaction significantly influences autistic characteristics and developmental quotient (DQ) in children with ASD.
- Functional abnormalities in specific brain regions (DCG.L and SFGmed.R) appear critical in mediating the impact of parent-child interaction on the developmental performance of children with ASD.
- These findings highlight the importance of fostering parent-child interaction to improve developmental outcomes in ASD.
Background:
Limited study has investigated the influence of parent-child interaction on brain functional alterations and development outcomes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children. This pilot study aimed to explore the relationship between parent-child interaction, brain functional activities and development outcomes of ASD children.
Methods:
and Procedures: 653 ASD with an average age of 41.06 ± 10.88 months and 102 typically developmental (TD) children with an average age of 44.35 ± 18.39 months were enrolled in this study, of whom 155 ASD completed brain rs-fMRI scans. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data reflect local brain function. The parent-child interaction was assessed by the Chinese Parent-child Interaction Scale (CPCIS). Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and developmental quotient (DQ) indicated development outcomes.
Outcomes And Results:
Total CPCIS score was negatively correlated with CARS total score, and positively correlated with DQ. The frequency of parent-child interaction was negatively correlated with ALFF values in the left median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.L) and ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus, medial (SFGmed.R)(P < 0.05, FDR correction). ALFF values in the DCG.L and ReHo values in the SFGmed.R play complete mediating roles in the relationship between parent-child interaction and performance DQ.
Conclusion And Implications:
This study suggest that parent-child interaction has an impact on autistic characteristics and DQ of ASD children. Local brain regions with functional abnormalities in the DCG.L and SFGmed.R may be a crucial factors affecting the performance development of ASD children with reduced parent-child interaction.
