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Differential Olfactory Identification in Children with Autism and Asperger’s Disorder: A Comparative and Longitudinal Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 41, pages 837–847 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Key theories of autism implicate orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) compromise, while olfactory identification (OI) deficits are associated with OFC dysfunction. This study aimed to complete a 5-year follow-up of children with high-functioning autism (HFA) who previously lacked the normal age-OI association; and compare unirhinal-OI in children with HFA, Asperger’s disorder (ASP), and controls. While both HFA and controls had improved birhinal-OI at follow-up, reduced OI in some HFA participants suggested OFC deterioration and heterogeneous OFC development. Unirhinal-OI was impaired in HFA but not ASP relative to controls, suggesting orbitofrontal compromise in HFA but integrity in ASP. Differing IQ-OI relationships existed between HFA and ASP. Findings support the hypothesis of separate neurobiological underpinnings in ASP and HFA, specifically differential orbitofrontal functioning.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to provide our thanks to the children and their families who gave up their time to make this work possible. We would also like to thank Nicole Papadopoulos, Dr. Ashwini Nayate, and Samantha Speirs for their assistance with participant recruitment and testing. Associate Professor Brewer is supported by a National Health & Medical Council Career Development Award and the Colonial Foundation. Dr. Enticott is supported by a National Health & Medical Council Training Fellowship.

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Affiliations

  1. Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Tamara May, Peter G. Enticott, Avril V. Brereton & Bruce J. Tonge

  2. ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, Parkville, 3052, VIC, Australia

    Warrick J. Brewer

  3. Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia

    Nicole J. Rinehart

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  1. Tamara May
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  2. Warrick J. Brewer
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  6. Bruce J. Tonge
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Correspondence to Warrick J. Brewer.

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May, T., Brewer, W.J., Rinehart, N.J. et al. Differential Olfactory Identification in Children with Autism and Asperger’s Disorder: A Comparative and Longitudinal Study. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 837–847 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1101-0

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Keywords

  • High-functioning autism
  • Asperger’s disorder
  • Olfactory identification
  • UPSIT