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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2012; 10(02): 087-094
DOI: 10.3233/JPN-2012-0541
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Impaired prefrontal cortical response by switching stimuli in autism spectrum disorders

Naoko Narita
a   Institute of Education, Bunkyo University, Saitama, Japan
,
Akiyuki Saotome
a   Institute of Education, Bunkyo University, Saitama, Japan
,
Hiroki Higuchi
a   Institute of Education, Bunkyo University, Saitama, Japan
,
Masaaki Narita
b   Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
,
Mami Tazoe
c   Department of Clinical Psychology, Japan Lutheran College, Tokyo, Japan
,
Kaoru Sakatani
d   Department of Neurological Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Publication History

02 May 2011

27 June 2011

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Working memory (WM) performance is considered to change according to the nature of the task by adequate and prompt activation of corresponding functional connectivity in the brain. In the present study, we examined continuous prefrontal hemodynamic changes depending on reciprocal disposition of WM and non-WM tasks using two-channel near-infrared spectroscopy. To investigate possible functional connectivity deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during these tasks, relative concentration changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (Hb), deoxygenated Hb, and total Hb were compared between high-functioning ASD subjects (n = 11) and controls (n = 22). Instant evoked cerebral blood oxygenation changes were observed in response to the task switch in controls but not in ASD subjects, although the task performance rate was almost equivalent. Delayed or altered response of functional connectivity to incoming stimuli is considered a characteristic feature of ASD.

Keywords

Autism - executive function - working memory - default mode network