New findings in autistic children

Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland have just announced an important discovery, shedding light on the causes behind difficulties in social interaction in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

UNIGE's research contributes to opening up new opportunities for early diagnosis and more effective intervention for children with ASD syndrome. (Source: SciTechDaily)

According to the research team, a brain circuit involved in the ability to shift attention was disrupted, affecting the way children receive and respond to social cues. The research results were published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry.

From infancy, humans rely on social connections to develop life skills and cognition. However, in children with autism, attention to social cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, or vocalizations is often significantly impaired in the first year of life. This negatively affects the process of learning through social interaction, which is the foundation of intellectual development.

To understand the underlying biological mechanisms of this phenomenon, the UNIGE research team conducted parallel experiments on humans and animals. In a mouse model carrying a mutation in the Shank3 gene – a common cause of autism in humans – scientists found a marked reduction in orientation, which partly reflects the lack of interaction in autistic children.

Further analysis revealed that the disruption occurred in the connection between two brain regions: the superior colliculus and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The loss of synchrony in neural activity between these two regions caused delays in shifting attention, affecting the ability to follow and maintain social interactions.

To test this hypothesis in children, the team developed an MRI protocol that did not require anesthesia for children aged two to five. This allowed them to obtain high-quality brain images in more than 90% of the children. The results showed that changes in the children’s brain circuits were similar to those seen in the mouse model. In particular, the connectivity of these brain circuits predicted the children’s cognitive development over the following year.

Although there is currently no direct intervention method for this brain circuit, the above discovery helps guide behavioral interventions. An intensive treatment program implemented in Geneva, with a duration of 20 hours/week for 2 years, showed positive results: Children improved an average of 20 IQ points, 75% were able to attend school normally.

UNIGE's research contributes significantly to explaining the neurological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders, while opening up new opportunities for early diagnosis and effective intervention for children with this syndrome.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phat-hien-moi-o-tre-tu-ky-312268.html