Global Sensory Features are Linked to Executive and Attentional Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Sensory features, executive and attentional impairments are frequently reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, little is known about their complex relationships. In this study, we aim to examine the executive and attentional difficulties related to distinct sensory profiles. We identified sensory profiles with a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) based on scores on the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire in 95 children with ASD aged 6 to 17 years. Executive and attention functions were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) questionnaire and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). A three-cluster solution based on raw SSP scores identified a "high'', a "medium" and a "low'' SSP profile. We found a significant relationship between executive functions, attentional skills and the global severity of sensory features, reinforcing findings of previous studies in the literature. A two-cluster solution based on normalized SSP (i.e. equalized for the global severity) identified distinct sensory profiles, mainly discriminated by the score of underresponsive/seeks sensation. We found no significant difference between these two clusters for the BRIEF and ADHD-RS related scores. Our study suggests that the heterogeneity of sensory features in ASD may not be explained by differences in executive and attention functions. Future studies are needed to refine the link between sensory features and executive functions in autism.

Rest Functional Brain Maturation during the First Year of Life.

The first year of life is a key period of brain development, characterized by dramatic structural and functional modifications. Here, we measured rest cerebral blood flow (CBF) modifications throughout babies' first year of life using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging sequence in 52 infants, from 3 to 12 months of age. Overall, global rest CBF significantly increased during this age span. In addition, we found marked regional differences in local functional brain maturation. While primary sensorimotor cortices and insula showed early maturation, temporal and prefrontal region presented great rest CBF increase across the first year of life. Moreover, we highlighted a late and remarkably synchronous maturation of the prefrontal and posterior superior temporal cortices. These different patterns of regional cortical rest CBF modifications reflect a timetable of local functional brain maturation and are consistent with baby's cognitive development within the first year of life.