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Preserved Self-other Distinction During Empathy in Autism is Linked to Network Integrity of Right Supramarginal Gyrus

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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows deficits in self-other distinction during theory of mind (ToM). Here we investigated whether ASD patients also show difficulties in self-other distinction during empathy and if potential deficits are linked to dysfunctional resting-state connectivity patterns. In a first study, ASD patients and controls performed an emotional egocentricity paradigm and a ToM task. In the second study, resting-state connectivity of right temporo-parietal junction and right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG) were analysed using a large-scale fMRI data set. ASD patients exhibited deficient ToM but normal emotional egocentricity, which was paralleled by reduced connectivity of regions of the ToM network and unimpaired rSMG network connectivity. These results suggest spared self-other distinction during empathy and an intact rSMG network in ASD.

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Author Contributions

FH, SK, NS, ID and TS were involved in the conception, design and interpretation of the data. FH and SK acquired and analyzed the data. FH, SK, NS, ID and TS were involved in drafting the article or revisiting it critically for important intellectual content. FH, SK, NS, ID and TS approved the final version to be published.

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    1. Department of Social Neuroscience, Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, 04105, Leipzig, Germany

      Ferdinand Hoffmann, Nikolaus Steinbeis & Tania Singer

    2. Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany

      Svenja Koehne & Isabel Dziobek

    3. Cluster of Excellence Languages of Emotion, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany

      Svenja Koehne & Isabel Dziobek

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    Correspondence to Ferdinand Hoffmann.

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    Ferdinand Hoffmann and Svenja Koehne have contributed equally to this work.

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    Hoffmann, F., Koehne, S., Steinbeis, N. et al. Preserved Self-other Distinction During Empathy in Autism is Linked to Network Integrity of Right Supramarginal Gyrus. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 637–648 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2609-0

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