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A recent study has demonstrated that adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit similar brain mapping for body parts as typically developing adults, challenging previous assumptions about differences in body perception between the two groups.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Previous research has indicated that individuals with ASD often struggle to interpret non-verbal cues such as body language and facial expressions, which can hinder their social interactions.
Researchers have long speculated that these difficulties may stem from differences in how the brains of individuals with ASD process visual information related to body parts. However, until now, there has been insufficient evidence to clarify these brain mappings.
A team of scientists from Waseda University in Japan conducted a comprehensive neuroimaging study to explore how adults with autism represent body parts in their brains. The findings were published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers compared brain activity in 23 adults diagnosed with ASD and 23 typically developing adults as they viewed grayscale images of various body parts, including hands, legs, and faces, alongside whole-body images and control images of chairs.
Lead researcher Assistant Professor Yuto Kurihara explained that the study aimed to investigate the functioning of the lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC), a brain region known to process visual information about body parts. The results indicated that both groups activated the LOTC in response to whole-body images, with no significant differences in activation size or strength between the two groups.
The research team further analyzed how the LOTC organizes information about body parts. They found that both groups categorized body parts into three distinct groups: action effectors (such as hands and legs), non-effectors (including the chest and waist), and facial features. These results suggest that adults with autism perceive visual body information similarly to their neurotypical counterparts, which contradicts the notion that differences in body perception contribute to social difficulties associated with ASD.
Additionally, the researchers assessed whether brain activity patterns could differentiate between various body parts. They found that both groups performed comparably in this task, and there was no strong correlation between brain patterns and individual differences, such as the severity of autism symptoms or sensory traits.
Interestingly, previous studies involving autistic children indicated different brain responses in the LOTC, leading the researchers to propose that these differences may diminish as individuals with autism age. Kurihara noted that while autistic children might process body-related information differently, these distinctions appear to lessen in adulthood.
The study ultimately indicates that while individuals with autism may find it challenging to interpret emotions or intentions conveyed through gestures or expressions, the difficulty may be rooted in the interpretation process rather than in their ability to perceive these signals. This insight could inform the development of more effective interventions aimed at enhancing social understanding and imitation skills for adults with autism.
As Kurihara emphasized, the human brain is capable of continual learning, and this research offers hope for improving support for individuals with autism throughout their lives.
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