Reduced GABA and altered somatosensory function in children with autism spectrum disorder
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- Nicolaas A.J. Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street Baltimore Maryland 21287
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- Ericka L. Wodka
- Center for Neurocognitive and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N Broadway Baltimore Maryland 21205
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- Ashley D. Harris
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street Baltimore Maryland 21287
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- Deana Crocetti
- F.M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N Broadway Street Baltimore Maryland 21205
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- Mark Tommerdahl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina 27599
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- Stewart H. Mostofsky
- Center for Neurocognitive and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N Broadway Baltimore Maryland 21205
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- Richard A.E. Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street Baltimore Maryland 21287
抄録
<jats:p>Background: Abnormal responses to tactile stimuli are a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Several lines of evidence suggest that GABAergic function, which has a crucial role in tactile processing, is altered in ASD. In this study, we determine whether in vivo GABA levels are altered in children with ASD, and whether alterations in GABA levels are associated with abnormal tactile function in these children.</jats:p><jats:p>Methods: GABA‐edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy was acquired in 37 children with Autism and 35 typically developing children (TDC) from voxels over primary sensorimotor and occipital cortices. Children performed tactile tasks previously shown to be altered in ASD, linked to inhibitory mechanisms. Detection threshold was measured with‐ and without the presence of a slowly increasing sub‐threshold stimulus. Amplitude discrimination was measured with‐ and without the presence of an adapting stimulus, and frequency discrimination was measured.</jats:p><jats:p>Results: Sensorimotor GABA levels were significantly reduced in children with autism compared to healthy controls. Occipital GABA levels were normal. Sensorimotor GABA levels correlated with dynamic detection threshold as well as with the effect of sub‐threshold stimulation. Sensorimotor GABA levels also correlated with amplitude discrimination after adaptation (an effect absent in autism) and frequency discrimination in controls, but not in children with autism.</jats:p><jats:p>Conclusions: GABA levels correlate with behavioral measures of inhibition. Children with autism have reduced GABA, associated with abnormalities in tactile performance. We show here that altered in vivo GABA levels might predict abnormal tactile information processing in ASD and that the GABA system may be a future target for therapies. <jats:bold><jats:italic>Autism Res</jats:italic></jats:bold> <jats:italic>2016</jats:italic>. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</jats:p>
収録刊行物
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- Autism Research
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Autism Research 10 (4), 608-619, 2016-09-09
Wiley
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詳細情報 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1363951795244635776
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- DOI
- 10.1002/aur.1691
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- ISSN
- 19393806
- 19393792
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- データソース種別
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- Crossref