Detection of visual perceptual characteristics in children with autism spectrum disorder using magnetoencephalography

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12728
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90030:Cognitive science-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Takashi 金沢大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 准教授 (80552687)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 脳磁図 / 自閉スペクトラム症 / 視覚野 / 色知覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known to have difficulties with interpersonal communication, and it has been suggested that this may be due to dysfunction at lower sensory and perceptual levels. In this study, we quantitatively assessed activation in the visual cortex using magnetoencephalography (MEG), which has high temporal and spatial resolution. We acquired MEG data from 45 children with ASD and 38 typically developing children around 6 years of age during a pattern reversal task using a checkerboard pattern as a stimulus. In the luminance contrast condition, significant group differences were found after 100 ms of stimulus presentation. Children with ASD showed a lower P1m amplitude and a faster decay of the P1m component from the right occipital to temporal regions.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、視覚刺激と神経活動との対応関係を定量的に評価して子どもの視覚野の活動を詳細に記述するという認知神経科学への貢献に加え、臨床現場におけるASD診断を補完しうる位置にあるといえよう。本研究課題が明らかにする視覚野の活動の特徴がMEGによって検出できるようになれば、その簡易検出手段として脳波による応用や、さらに低年齢を対象とした研究を進める中でASD特性の早期発見へとつながっていくことが期待される。