Open AccessAbnormal activation of the social brain during face perception in autism
Author(s) -
Hadjikhani Nouchine,
Joseph Robert M.,
Snyder Josh,
TagerFlusberg Helen
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.20283
Subject(s) - fusiform gyrus , psychology , fusiform face area , superior temporal sulcus , neuroscience , mirror neuron , autism , premotor cortex , functional magnetic resonance imaging , face perception , sensory processing , somatosensory system , autism spectrum disorder , perception , developmental psychology , sensory system , medicine , anatomy , dorsum
ASD involves a fundamental impairment in processing social‐communicative information from faces. Several recent studies have challenged earlier findings that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have no activation of the fusiform gyrus (fusiform face area, FFA) when viewing faces. In this study, we examined activation to faces in the broader network of face‐processing modules that comprise what is known as the social brain. Using 3T functional resonance imaging, we measured BOLD signal changes in 10 ASD subjects and 7 healthy controls passively viewing nonemotional faces. We replicated our original findings of significant activation of face identity‐processing areas (FFA and inferior occipital gyrus, IOG) in ASD. However, in addition, we identified hypoactivation in a more widely distributed network of brain areas involved in face processing [including the right amygdala, inferior frontal cortex (IFC), superior temporal sulcus (STS), and face‐related somatosensory and premotor cortex]. In ASD, we found functional correlations between a subgroup of areas in the social brain that belong to the mirror neuron system (IFC, STS) and other face‐processing areas. The severity of the social symptoms measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule was correlated with the right IFC cortical thickness and with functional activation in that area. When viewing faces, adults with ASD show atypical patterns of activation in regions forming the broader face‐processing network and social brain, outside the core FFA and IOG regions. These patterns suggest that areas belonging to the mirror neuron system are involved in the face‐processing disturbances in ASD. Hum Brain Mapp, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.