Developmental changes of social cognitive impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder:Early diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K13247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Childhood science (childhood environment science)
• Research Institution: The University of Shimane Junior College (2018); Nagasaki University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: Kikuno Yuichiro 島根県立大学短期大学部, 保育学科, 講師 (10754723)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 発達 / 社会的認知機能障害 / NIRS / ASD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study was conducted to elucidate neurophysiological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder and was aimed to develop early diagnosis method of children with autism spectrum disorder by focusing on orbitofrontal cortex activity by gentle touch and behavioral indexes. Experiments using NIRS showed the synchronization of mother and infant orbitofrontal cortex activities may be a candidate index by applying the methodologies by Miyazaki et al. (2015) and Zhang et al. (2015) wavelet coherence analysis.

Free Research Field

発達認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

成果として、NIRSを用いた脳機能イメージングと行動指標の一致性の検証により、ASD に特徴的な社会的認知機能障害の神経生理学的理解が大きく進展することが期待される。また、脳機能イメージングと行動指標からのASD予測可能性を前向きコホート研究によって検証することで、客観的指標に基づく画期的なASD 早期診断方法開発への突破口を開く。