Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study

Jukka S. Rahko; Virve A. Vuontela; Synnöve Carlson; Juha Nikkinen; Tuula M. Hurtig; Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin; Marja-Leena Mattila; Katja K. Jussila; Jukka J. Remes; Eira M. Jansson-Verkasalo; Eeva T. Aronen; David L. Pauls; Hanna E. Ebeling; Osmo Tervonen; Irma K. Moilanen; Vesa J. Kiviniemi

doi:10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study

Jukka S. Rahko^*, Virve A. Vuontela, Synnöve Carlson, Juha Nikkinen, Tuula M. Hurtig, Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin, Marja-Leena Mattila, Katja K. Jussila, Jukka J. Remes, Eira M. Jansson-Verkasalo, Eeva T. Aronen, David L. Pauls, Hanna E. Ebeling, Osmo Tervonen, Irma K. Moilanen, Vesa J. Kiviniemi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	503-517
Number of pages	15
Journal	Child Psychiatry and Human Development
Volume	47
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6
Publication status	Published - Jun 2016
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder
Attention
Default mode network
Working memory
Visuospatial
SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN
ASPERGER-SYNDROME
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION
BRAIN ACTIVATION
NEURAL SYSTEMS
BASE-LINE
METAANALYSIS
NETWORKS
FMRI
FACE

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Rahko, J. S., Vuontela, V. A., Carlson, S., Nikkinen, J., Hurtig, T. M., Kuusikko-Gauffin, S., Mattila, M.-L., Jussila, K. K., Remes, J. J., Jansson-Verkasalo, E. M., Aronen, E. T., Pauls, D. L., Ebeling, H. E., Tervonen, O., Moilanen, I. K., & Kiviniemi, V. J. (2016). Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 47(3), 503-517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

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title = "Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study",

abstract = "The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.",

keywords = "Autism spectrum disorder, Attention, Default mode network, Working memory, Visuospatial, SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN, ASPERGER-SYNDROME, EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, BRAIN ACTIVATION, NEURAL SYSTEMS, BASE-LINE, METAANALYSIS, NETWORKS, FMRI, FACE",

author = "Rahko, {Jukka S.} and Vuontela, {Virve A.} and Synn{\"o}ve Carlson and Juha Nikkinen and Hurtig, {Tuula M.} and Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin and Marja-Leena Mattila and Jussila, {Katja K.} and Remes, {Jukka J.} and Jansson-Verkasalo, {Eira M.} and Aronen, {Eeva T.} and Pauls, {David L.} and Ebeling, {Hanna E.} and Osmo Tervonen and Moilanen, {Irma K.} and Kiviniemi, {Vesa J.}",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

pages = "503--517",

journal = "Child Psychiatry and Human Development",

issn = "0009-398X",

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number = "3",

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Rahko, JS, Vuontela, VA , Carlson, S, Nikkinen, J, Hurtig, TM, Kuusikko-Gauffin, S, Mattila, M-L, Jussila, KK, Remes, JJ, Jansson-Verkasalo, EM, Aronen, ET, Pauls, DL, Ebeling, HE, Tervonen, O, Moilanen, IK & Kiviniemi, VJ 2016, 'Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study', Child Psychiatry and Human Development, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 503-517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

T2 - A Functional MRI Study

AU - Rahko, Jukka S.

AU - Vuontela, Virve A.

AU - Carlson, Synnöve

AU - Nikkinen, Juha

AU - Hurtig, Tuula M.

AU - Kuusikko-Gauffin, Sanna

AU - Mattila, Marja-Leena

AU - Jussila, Katja K.

AU - Remes, Jukka J.

AU - Jansson-Verkasalo, Eira M.

AU - Aronen, Eeva T.

AU - Pauls, David L.

AU - Ebeling, Hanna E.

AU - Tervonen, Osmo

AU - Moilanen, Irma K.

AU - Kiviniemi, Vesa J.

PY - 2016/6

Y1 - 2016/6

N2 - The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.

AB - The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.

KW - Autism spectrum disorder

KW - Attention

KW - Default mode network

KW - Working memory

KW - Visuospatial

KW - SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN

KW - ASPERGER-SYNDROME

KW - EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

KW - BRAIN ACTIVATION

KW - NEURAL SYSTEMS

KW - BASE-LINE

KW - METAANALYSIS

KW - NETWORKS

KW - FMRI

KW - FACE

U2 - 10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

DO - 10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

M3 - Article

SN - 0009-398X

VL - 47

SP - 503

EP - 517

JO - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

JF - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

IS - 3

ER -

Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study

Abstract

Keywords

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