This study aims to explore whether Guzheng playing training has a positive impact on the brain functional state of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on power spectral and sample entropy analyses. Eight ASD participants were selected to undergo four months of Guzheng playing training, with one month as a training cycle. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and behavioral data were collected for comparative analysis. The results showed that after Guzheng playing training, the relative power of the alpha band in the occipital lobe of ASD children increased, and the relative power of the theta band in the parietal lobe decreased. The differences compared with typically developing (TD) children were narrowed. Moreover, some channels exhibited a gradual increase or decrease in power with the extended training period. Meanwhile, the sample entropy parameter also showed a similar upward trend, which was consistent with the behavioral data representation. The study shows that Guzheng training can enhance the brain function of ASD patients, with better effects from longer training. Guzheng playing training could be used as a daily intervention for autism.
Humans ; Electroencephalography ; Entropy ; Music Therapy ; Child ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Autistic Disorder/therapy*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the manifestations of sensory hypersensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and individuals with subclinical autistic traits. METHODS: From September 2021 to April 2023, interviews were conducted on 18 college students with high levels of autistic traits and sensory hypersensitivity selected using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (as subclinical group). Interviews were also conducted on the parents of 11 children with ASD aged 6-13 years selected using the intensity sampling method (as clinical group). Qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis were performed on the interview texts to investigate the scenarios and impact of sensory hypersensitivity and coping strategies in the two groups. RESULTS: The Autism Spectrum Quotient score was significantly positively correlated with sensory hypersensitivity (r=0.504, P<0.001; n=225). Sensory modalities that triggered sensitive reactions were similar in the subclinical and clinical groups, with auditory hypersensitivity being the most prominent. Sensory hypersensitivity had significant negative impact on emotional wellbeing, cognitive ability, physical health, interpersonal relationships, and general adaptive functioning. These dimensions were interconnected, culminating in a holistic experience. Avoidance was the most commonly used coping mechanism for both groups (16 subclinical participants mentioned it 44 times; 8 clinical participants mentioned it 40 times). The clinical group required more support and help from their caregivers (18 times), while the subclinical group used more proactive coping strategies (e.g., facing sensitive scenarios, distracting attention) to alleviate the negative impact (51 times). CONCLUSIONS Sensory hypersensitivity is a common manifestation across the broad ASD phenotype, posing negative effects on multiple aspects of their lives. There is an urgent need for social tolerance and acceptance as well as the development of effective intervention measures.
Humans ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Autistic Disorder/psychology* ; Sensation Disorders/etiology* ; Qualitative Research

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of plasma valine level between autistic and healthy children, and to explore the relationship between plasma valine level and developmental quotient in children with autism. METHODS: In this study, a total of 29 autistic children and 30 typically developing children of the same age range were recruited as the autistic group and the control group. The childhood autism rating scale (CARS) was used to assess autistic core symptoms and severity in the autistic children. Children's developmental quotient was evaluated by Gesell developmental schedules (GDS), and plasma valine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma valine level and developmental quotient scores in the autistic group was analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma level of valine in the autism group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). Children in the autism group got significantly lower scores in the adaption, gross motor, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS than in the control group (P < 0.000 1). Plasma valine level in the autism group showed significant positive correlations with scores of the fine motor (r=0.441, P < 0.05) and personal/social function (r=0.437, P < 0.05) subscales in GDS, but showed no significant correlations with scores of the adaption, gross motor and language function subscales in GDS (P>0.05). According to the criteria of CARS, children in the autism group were subdivided into the mild to moderate subgroup and the severe subgroup based on the severity of the autistic symptoms. Compared with children in the mild to moderate subgroup, children in the severe subgroup got significantly lower scores in the adaption, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two subgroups in gross motor scores and plasma valine level (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The level of valine in plasma of autistic children is relatively lower, and there is a certain relationship between plasma valine level and the fine movement and personal/social function among children with autism.
Humans ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Valine/blood* ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Case-Control Studies

Atypical sensory responsivity is widely reported in autistic individuals and is related to elevated functional difficulties. Dynamically, altered initial responses and/or habituation rates could underlie their atypical averaged responses to repeated sensory stimuli. In this study we aimed to measure the arousal level in response to different types of auditory stimuli and the dynamic change of atypical arousal level using pupillometry in autistic children. In Experiment 1, 43 autistic children and 49 neurotypical (NT) children were asked to passively listen to a mild sound and an aversive sound repeatedly. In Experiment 2, 39 autistic children and 44 NT children who went through Experiment 1 listened to a gradually emerging non-startling sound and a suddenly emerging startling sound in a random order. We found that the autistic group showed hyper-arousal in response to the aversive sound and the startling sound as reflected by their larger change in pupil area. In comparison, these autistic children demonstrated normal arousal in response to the mild sound and the non-startling sound. Dynamically, the autistic group had a larger peak pupil area change than the NT group in the first trial and a normal habituation rate to the aversive sound. In summary, our results suggest hyper-arousal to aversive and startling stimuli and the role of larger initial responses in hyper-arousal in autism. Minimizing aversive and startling sensory stimuli or gradually increasing the volume of aversive auditory stimuli to allow autistic children to adapt using the principle of habituation is recommended to reduce the arousal level and problematic behaviors of autistic children.
Humans ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Arousal/physiology* ; Pupil/physiology* ; Habituation, Psychophysiologic/physiology* ; Auditory Perception ; Child, Preschool

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviors or interests. Normal brain development is crucial to behavior and cognition in adulthood. Abnormal brain development, such as synaptic and myelin dysfunction, is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are important in regulating the processes of brain development, including neuron production and synaptic formation, as well as myelination. Increasing evidence suggests that the level of MAPs are changed in autistic patients and mouse models of ASD. Here, we discuss the roles of MAPs.
Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Autistic Disorder ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Social Behavior

Autistic Disorder ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Immune System ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) in the treatment of childhood autism (CA) and evaluate its effectiveness using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

METHODSA total of 55 CA patients (4.52±2.73 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients received EA treatments and were examined by SPECT before and after treatments.

RESULTSFollowing treatment, the intracerebral multiple focal radioactivity distribution defect areas of CA patients were observed to be partially filled. Specifically, significant differences in the ratios of regional cerebral blood flow and global cerebral blood flow before (Fb) and after (Fe) EA treatment in different lesions were observed (in the left prefrontal cortex, t=5.01, P<0.01; in the right prefrontal cortex, t=2.32, P<0.05; in the left temporal lobe, t=4.54, P<0.01; in the right temporal lobe, t=2.90, P<0.05; in the left Broca's area, t=5.82, P<0.01). After EA treatment, the patients exhibited symptomatic relief.

CONCLUSIONEA is useful to treat CA and SPECT can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.

Autistic Disorder ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Brain ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Child ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Autistic Disorder ; complications ; psychology ; Child ; Child Development ; Communication ; Down Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Play and Playthings ; Singapore ; Social Behavior ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology

Neuroligins (NLs) are postsynaptic membrane proteins expressed in the brain and mediate synaptogenesis. Neuroligin family proteins can specifically induce either excitatory or inhibitory synapses. Deletions or point mutations in neuroligin genes are found in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or mental retardations. The dysfunctions of these mutations have been tested in multiple neuroligin mouse models. In most of the models, including the human autism-linked NL3 and NL4 mutation mice, there are social interaction defects, memory impairment and repetitive behaviors. Researchers also found the excitatory/inhibitory synapse ratio altered in those mice, as well as receptor subunit composition. However, inconsistencies and debates also exist between different research approaches. In this review, we summarize the neuroligin mouse models currently available, examine the detailed alterations detected in those mice and compare the differences within different mouse models or different investigation methods, to obtain an overall picture of the current progress on neuroligin mouse models.
Animals ; Autistic Disorder ; physiopathology ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Mice ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; physiology ; Synapses ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo present a model for autism showing that impairment of sensory and self-regulation is the core deficit that underlies delays in social/language skills and abnormal behavior in autism; and to demonstrate the efficacy of a treatment for autism based on Chinese medicine.

METHODSChildren with autism under 6 years of age were assigned to treatment or wait-list conditions. A total of 130 children were treated and the results compared with 45 wait-list controls. Treatment is a tuina methodology directed at sensory impairment--Kai Qiao Tuina. The treatment was a five-month protocol that was implemented daily by trained parents via trained support staff. The effects of treatment on the main symptoms, autistic behavior, social/language delay, sensory and self-regulatory impairment, as well as on parenting stress, were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe treatment had a large effect size (P<0.0001) on measures of sensory and self-regulation. The evaluations done by pre-school teachers demonstrated improvement in the measures of autism (P<0.003), and were confirmed by evaluations done by parents (P<0.0001). There was a large decrease (P<0.0001) in parenting stress.

CONCLUSIONSSensory and self-regulatory impairment is a main factor in the development and severity of autism. Treatment of young children with autism with Kai Qiao Tuina resulted in a decrease in sensory and self-regulatory impairment and a reduction in severity of measures of autism.

Autistic Disorder ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Biological ; Parents ; psychology ; Sensation ; physiology ; Stress, Psychological ; Treatment Outcome ; Vagus Nerve ; physiopathology