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Functional Evaluation of Hidden Figures Object Analysis in Children with Autistic Disorder

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Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of a hidden figures task (HFT) was used to compare differences in brain function in children diagnosed with autism disorder (AD) compared to children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and typical controls (TC). Overall greater functional MRI activity was observed in the two control groups compared to children with AD. Laterality differences were also evident, with AD subjects preferentially showing activity in the right medial temporal region while controls tended to activate the left medial temporal cortex. Reduced fMRI activity was observed in the parietal, ventral-temporal and hippocampal regions in the AD group, suggesting differences in the way that children with AD process the HFT.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Dr. S. Smith for helpful discussions regarding the appropriate statistical analysis of the data. This work was supported by the Winnipeg Foundation and Health Sciences Foundation, and the Canadian National Autism Foundation. Additional support was provided through Grant # RT-43820 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Interdisciplinary Health Research Team Program (awarded to J. Holden).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Institute for Biodiagnostics, 435 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1Y6, Canada

    Krisztina L. Malisza, Deborah Shiloff, Derek Foreman, Cheryl Jones, K. Paulson & Randy Summers

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Krisztina L. Malisza

  3. Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA

    Christine Clancy

  4. Department of Psychiatry & Physiology, Queen’s University & Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Program Ongwanada, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Jeanette Holden

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba & St. Amant Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    C. T. Yu

  6. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba & Children’s Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Albert E. Chudley

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  1. Krisztina L. Malisza
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  2. Christine Clancy
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  3. Deborah Shiloff
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  7. K. Paulson
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  10. Albert E. Chudley
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Correspondence to Krisztina L. Malisza.

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K. Paulson is currently at the University of Manitoba.

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Malisza, K.L., Clancy, C., Shiloff, D. et al. Functional Evaluation of Hidden Figures Object Analysis in Children with Autistic Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 13–22 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1013-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1013-z

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