Project Description:
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are present early in development, are lifelong, and occur in all racial/ethnic groups1. With prevalence currently estimated at 1 in 88 children in the United States1, ASD is one of the most common childhood disabilities and incurs an annual societal cost of almost 137 billion dollars2. Lifetime costs per individual with ASD exceed $1.4 million on average3. Clinically, ASD is defined by impairments in social communication, a lack of reciprocal social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests4,5 and can be further complicated by highly prevalent co-occurring conditions such as poor motor coordination, sensory processing disorders, seizures, anxiety, and disruptive behaviors6, resulting in a highly heterogeneous population. Although there is general consensus that both primarily neural and genetic mechanisms are implicated in the etiology of ASD7, studies identifying its neurobiological underpinnings have produced inconclusive results. Given that efforts in identifying the neural basis of ASD have likely been hampered by patient heterogeneity, one promising approach is to embrace the heterogeneity in symptomology and use it to understand divergent findings in brain activity. In the current proposal we focus on the range of social and motor deficits present in ASD. We include participants that vary in both social and motor deficits, including individuals with ASD and individuals with DCD (dyspraxia), and correlate symptomology with measures of brain activity during tasks that range from purely motor function to those with higher social cognitive demands. Thus, we aim to understand the specific contributions of motor and social brain networks to motor and social impairments in ASD. Our long-term aim is to understand the neural bases of variation in ASD and to provide data to inform the development of optimal behavioral interventions tailored to the abilities and challenges of each individual with ASD.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Specific Groups
