Neural responses to syllable-induced P1m and social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing Peers.

In previous magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to respond differently to speech stimuli than typically developing (TD) children. Quantitative evaluation of this difference in responsiveness may support early diagnosis and intervention for ASD. The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between syllable-induced P1m and social impairment in children with ASD and TD children. We analyzed 49 children with ASD aged 40-92 months and age-matched 26 TD children. We evaluated their social impairment by means of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and their intelligence ability using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC). Multiple regression analysis with SRS score as the dependent variable and syllable-induced P1m latency or intensity and intelligence ability as explanatory variables revealed that SRS score was associated with syllable-induced P1m latency in the left hemisphere only in the TD group and not in the ASD group. A second finding was that increased leftward-lateralization of intensity was correlated with higher SRS scores only in the ASD group. These results provide valuable insights but also highlight the intricate nature of neural mechanisms and their relationship with autistic traits.

Joint attention and intelligence in children with autism spectrum disorder without severe intellectual disability.

In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), joint attention is regarded as a predictor of language function, social skills, communication, adaptive function, and intelligence. However, existing information about the association between joint attention and intelligence is limited. Most such studies have examined children with low intelligence. For this study, we investigated whether joint attention is related to intelligence in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without severe intellectual disability. We analyzed 113 children with ASD aged 40-98 months. Their Kaufman Assessment Battery (K-ABC) Mental Processing Index (MPI) scores are 60 and more (mean 93.4). We evaluated their intelligence using K-ABC and evaluated their joint attention using ADOS-2. After we performed simple regression analyses using K-ABC MPI and its nine subscales as dependent variables, using joint attention as the independent variable, we identified joint attention as a positive predictor of the MPI and its two subscales. From this result, we conclude that joint attention is related to intelligence in young children with ASD without severe intellectual disability. This result suggests a beneficial effect of early intervention targeting joint attention for children with ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Joint attention is the ability to coordinate visual attention with another person and then shift one's gaze toward an object or event. Impairment of joint attention is regarded as an early marker of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study revealed impairment of joint attention as associated with lower intelligence in ASD children. These results are expected to constitute a rationale for future studies, particularly addressing beneficial effects of early intervention targeting joint attention for children with ASD.