Arguments For Searching For A Biomarker To Aid Autisum Diagnosis

Question 1

What did just 2014 do

Answer 1

Scanned 17 HFA adults whilst they were thinking of social interactions

Question 2

What did just 2014 find

Answer 2

Only controls showed increased activation in brain areas linked to social processing (posterior midline)
Also machine learning algorithms could classify autism with 97% accuracy off the back of this

Question 3

What does just 2014 show

Answer 3

As machine learning algorithms could classify with 97% accuracy it could act as a biomarker and those that display this same pattern cause also be diagnosed

Question 4

What’s a criticism of just 2014

Answer 4

Only thinking about social interaction so it’s less eco valid
Also it’s just adults so it’s not good for children’s diagnoses

Question 5

What did Dapretto (2006) do

Answer 5

FMRI recording for both observation and imitation of behaviours

Question 6

What did dapretto (2006) find?

Answer 6

Less activity in amygdala

No activity in MNS in inferior frontal gurus

Question 7

What does daprettos (2006) show

Answer 7

Brain activity identified differences that weren’t observed behavioural as both groups performed similarly on imitation.

Question 8

What is a critque of dapretto (2006)

Answer 8

The differences shown in the MNS may not be specific to ASD as MNS underactivitt is also found in schizophrenia

Question 9

What did solso (2016 do

Answer 9

Measure fractional anisotropy in brains on infants with ASD or not
Scanned every 6 months till 3 yrs old

Question 10

What did solso (2016) find

Answer 10

Interaction between an ASD diagnosis and fractional anisotropy levels (connectivity)

Question 11

What does solso (2016) study show

Answer 11

If we can observe differences in structural connectivity in brains of those with ASD it acts as a good biomarker, this early there may not even be obvious behavioural differences (these emerge between 12-24mnths) so can detect it early with this biomarker

Question 12

Critique of solso (2016)

Answer 12

This trend doesn’t carry on into adulthood so wouldn’t be suitable for late diagnosis
Also, cross sectional study so used a different kid

Question 13

What dog elsabbagh (2012) study do

Answer 13

Shown infants faces that look towards you then away
Messages ERP response
A P400 positive inflection is seen when people look at u then look away in controls

Question 14

What did elsabbagh (2012) study find

Answer 14

Those who went on to have a diagnosis of ASD had no p400 inflection

Question 15

What’s a critique of elsabbagh (2012) study

Answer 15

Only shown static images of eyes, low in eco validity

Also done with infants who may simply not have paid attention

Question 16

What are some back up points that show brain differences in ASD compared to normal controls

Answer 16

Lloyd (2018) - showed social and none social vids - conducted fNRIS - this maps cortical anatomy whilst kids sit on laps - those who later had ASD diagnosis had lower activation for social stimuli in IFG
Baron Cohen (1999) - mind in eyes test, lower activation in amygdala and frontal lobes