Lecture 11 - Social understanding in the context of developmental disorders

Question 1

(Reading):

Asada, K., & Itakura, S. (2012). Social phenotypes of autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome: Similarities and differences. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 247. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00247

Burnett, A.C., Reutens D.C., & Wood, A.G. (2010). Social cognition in Turner’s Syndrome. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 283-286.

Answer 1

(Reading):

Question 2

(lecture summary):

Having been introduced to autism spectrum disorder in lectures 15 and 16, this lecture takes a broader approach and introduces other developmental disorders including Williams syndrome and Turner syndrome. Disorders will be compared and contrasted to explore the range of cognitive and social difficulties that result from atypical development.

• Autism is not the only neurodevelopmental disorder to present with difficulties in social understanding.
• However, the profile of each condition is different.
• Williams syndrome is superficially opposite to autism, but also shares similarities.
• Individuals with Turner syndrome can have some social cognitive difficulties (NB. there has been very limited research) but the overall behavioural profile is not autistic.
• NB. other neurodevelopmental disorders also show social cognitive impairments (e.g. Fragile X, Prader-Willi syndrome).

Answer 2

(lecture summary):

Question 3

(lecture study question):

Evaluate the claim that difficulties in social cognition are common to developmental disorders.

Answer 3

(lecture study question):

Question 4

(lecture):

Briefly describe Williams syndrome (WS)

Answer 4

(lecture) :
- A neurodevelopmental disorder
- Genetic cause – deletion of genes on chromosome 7
- Affects 1:20,000 births
- Distinct physical, cognitive and behavioural presentation.

Question 5

(lecture):

What are some key physical signs of Williams Syndrome (WS)?

Answer 5

(lecture):

(see slide 5 for photos)

• Characteristic facial features
• Hypercalcemia ( calcium)
• Low birth weight/slow weight gain (“failure to thrive”)
• Height slightly shorter than average.
• Cardiovascular problems
• Musculoskeletal problems

Question 6

(lecture):

What does a cognitive profile of a person with Williams syndrome (WS) tend to look like?

Answer 6

(lecture):

See slides 7-8

Question 7

(lecture):

What are some deficits of executive functions in people with Williams syndrome (WS)?

Answer 7

(lecture):

Deficits across a range of executive functions in WS:

• Planning (Tower of London)
• Inhibition (Go/No Go)
• Shifting (Trail Making Test)
• Working memory (Digit Span)

Question 8

(lecture):

What does the sociability look like in people with Williams Syndrome (WS)?

Answer 8

(lecture):

Hypersociability.

• Exaggerated interest in social interaction.
• ‘Over-friendly’
• Social approaches to strangers.

- But:
> Difficulties with peer relationships. 
> Social victimisation. 
> Lack social judgment. 
> 75% report social isolation. 
> Vulnerability to sexual abuse (20%).

See slides 11-12 + 24

Question 9

(lecture):

Describe:
Autism vs. WS: Social scene perception (Riby & Hancock, 2008)

Answer 9

(lecture):

See slide 13-15

Question 10

(lecture):

Describe:
Emotion recognition: WS vs. autism(Lacroix et al., 2009)

Answer 10

(lecture):

See slide 16-22

Question 11

(lecture):

Describe the Theory of Mind (ToM) in people with Williams syndrome (WS).

Answer 11

(lecture):

See slide 23

Question 12

(lecture):

Briefly describe Turner syndrome (TS)

Answer 12

(lecture) :
- A neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Genetic cause – part or all of one of the X chromosomes is missing
- Affects 1:2,000 female births
- Key physical signs emerge at puberty so diagnosis often only occurs in adolescence

• Treatment:
  > Growth hormone treatment in childhood
  > Oestrogen replacement therapy in adolescence

Question 13

(lecture):

What are some key physical signs in people with Turner syndrome (TS)?

Answer 13

(lecture) :
- Shorter than average (under 5 ft)

• Underdeveloped ovaries
  > Pubertal delay
  > Amenorrhea
  > Infertility
• Webbed neck, low set ears and hairline
• Can be associated with heart, kidney and thyroid problems

(see slide 26 for photos)

Question 14

(lecture):

Describe what the cognitive profile that people with Turner syndrome (TS) usually present.

Answer 14

(lecture):

• Average full scale IQ but an uneven profile:
  > Relatively strong verbal IQ
  > Relatively weak non-verbal IQ
• Non-verbal weakness driven by poor visuo-spatial skills (e.g. block design, embedded figures) and executive function difficulties (including planning, inhibition, working memory).

Question 15

(lecture):

Describe what the psychosocial profile that people with Turner syndrome (TS) usually present.

Answer 15

(lecture) :
- Fewer friends, engage in fewer social activities, more social withdrawal.
- Delay in reaching adult sexual and social developmental milestones.
- Vulnerability for depression, anxiety and poor self-image.
- Good educational and employment outcomes.

Question 16

(lecture):

Describe the social responsiveness scale.

Answer 16

(lecture):

See slide 29

Question 17

(lecture):

Describe the social cognition in people with Turner syndrome (TS).

Answer 17

(lecture) :
- The physical differences that women with TS face are likely to contribute to difficulties with peer relationships, social withdrawal, and late onset of sexual relationships.
- However, can fundamental differences in social cognition also contribute to these psychosocial outcomes?

Question 18

(lecture):

Describe the emotion recognition in people with Turner syndrome (TS).

Answer 18

(lecture):

See slide 31-32

Question 19

(lecture):

Describe the Theory of Mind (ToM) in people with Turner syndrome (TS).

Answer 19

(lecture):

See slide 33

Question 20

(lecture):

See slide 34

Answer 20

(lecture):