Social visual preference mediates the effect of cortical thickness on symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder

Chen, Jierong1; Wei, Zhen1,2; Xu, Chuangyong1; Peng, Ziwen3; Yang, Junjie4; Wan, Guobin1; Chen, Bin1; Gong, Jianhua4; Zhou, Keying5

2023-06-16

10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1132284

FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY   影响因子和分区

1664-0640

BackgroundEvidence suggests that there is a robust relationship between altered neuroanatomy and autistic symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social visual preference, which is regulated by specific brain regions, is also related to symptom severity. However, there were a few studies explored the potential relationships among brain structure, symptom severity, and social visual preference. MethodsThe current study investigated relationships among brain structure, social visual preference, and symptom severity in 43 children with ASD and 26 typically developing (TD) children (aged 2-6 years). ResultsSignificant differences were found in social visual preference and cortical morphometry between the two groups. Decreased percentage of fixation time in digital social images (%DSI) was negatively related to not only the thickness of the left fusiform gyrus (FG) and right insula, but also the Calibrated Severity Scores for the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Social Affect (ADOS-SA-CSS). Mediation analysis showed that %DSI partially mediated the relationship between neuroanatomical alterations (specifically, thickness of the left FG and right insula) and symptom severity. ConclusionThese findings offer initial evidence that atypical neuroanatomical alterations may not only result in direct effects on symptom severity but also lead to indirect effects on symptom severity through social visual preference. This finding enhances our understanding of the multiple neural mechanisms implicated in ASD.

autism spectrum disorder social visual preference symptom severity neuroanatomy mediation

SCI ; SSCI

英语

通讯

Psychiatry

Psychiatry

WOS:001016508200001

FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

Web of Science

1.Southern Med Univ, Shenzhen Matern & Child Healthcare Hosp, Dept Child Psychiat & Rehabil, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
2.South China Normal Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Brain Cognit & Educ Sci, Guangzhou, Peoples R China
3.South China Normal Univ, Ctr Studies Psychol Applicat, Sch Psychol, Guangzhou, Peoples R China
4.Luohu Dist Maternal & Child Hlth Care Hosp, Dept Child Hlth Care, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Jinan Univ, Clin Med Coll 2, Dept Pediat,Shenzhen Peoples Hosp,Affiliated Hosp, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Chen, Jierong,Wei, Zhen,Xu, Chuangyong,et al. Social visual preference mediates the effect of cortical thickness on symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder[J]. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY,2023,14.

Chen, Jierong.,Wei, Zhen.,Xu, Chuangyong.,Peng, Ziwen.,Yang, Junjie.,...&Zhou, Keying.(2023).Social visual preference mediates the effect of cortical thickness on symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder.FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY,14.

Chen, Jierong,et al."Social visual preference mediates the effect of cortical thickness on symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder".FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY 14(2023).