IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v11y2020i1d10.1038_s41467-020-16495-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Weaker neural suppression in autism

Author

Listed:
  • Michael-Paul Schallmo

    (University of Washington
    University of Minnesota)

  • Tamar Kolodny

    (University of Washington)

  • Alexander M. Kale

    (University of Washington)

  • Rachel Millin

    (University of Washington)

  • Anastasia V. Flevaris

    (University of Washington)

  • Richard A. E. Edden

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Jennifer Gerdts

    (University of Washington)

  • Raphael A. Bernier

    (University of Washington)

  • Scott O. Murray

    (University of Washington)

Abstract

Abnormal sensory processing has been observed in autism, including superior visual motion discrimination, but the neural basis for these sensory changes remains unknown. Leveraging well-characterized suppressive neural circuits in the visual system, we used behavioral and fMRI tasks to demonstrate a significant reduction in neural suppression in young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to neurotypical controls. MR spectroscopy measurements revealed no group differences in neurotransmitter signals. We show how a computational model that incorporates divisive normalization, as well as narrower top-down gain (that could result, for example, from a narrower window of attention), can explain our observations and divergent previous findings. Thus, weaker neural suppression is reflected in visual task performance and fMRI measures in ASD, and may be attributable to differences in top-down processing.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael-Paul Schallmo & Tamar Kolodny & Alexander M. Kale & Rachel Millin & Anastasia V. Flevaris & Richard A. E. Edden & Jennifer Gerdts & Raphael A. Bernier & Scott O. Murray, 2020. "Weaker neural suppression in autism," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16495-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16495-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16495-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-020-16495-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16495-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.