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Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study

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Abstract

The present study examined attention and memory load-dependent differences in the brain activation and deactivation patterns between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Attentional (0-back) and working memory (WM; 2-back) processing and load differences (0 vs. 2-back) were analysed. WM-related areas activated and default mode network deactivated normally in ASDs as a function of task load. ASDs performed the attentional 0-back task similarly to TD controls but showed increased deactivation in cerebellum and right temporal cortical areas and weaker activation in other cerebellar areas. Increasing task load resulted in multiple responses in ASDs compared to TD and in inadequate modulation of brain activity in right insula, primary somatosensory, motor and auditory cortices. The changes during attentional task may reflect compensatory mechanisms enabling normal behavioral performance. The inadequate memory load-dependent modulation of activity suggests diminished compensatory potential in ASD.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

Anterior cinculate cortex

ADI-R:

Autism diagnostic interview-revised

ADOS:

Autism diagnostic observation schedule

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorder

ASSQ:

Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire

BET:

Brain extraction tool

BOLD:

Blood oxygenation level-dependent

DMN:

Default mode network

DSM-5:

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

DSM-IV-TR:

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

FLIRT:

FMRIB’s (Functional MRI of the Brain) linear image registration tool

FMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

K-SADS-PL:

Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children-present and lifetime version

MNI:

Montreal neurological institute

PCC:

Posterior cingulate cortex

PFC:

Prefrontal cortex

TD:

Typically developing

WISC-III:

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—third version

WM:

Working memory

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Acknowledgments

We thank the adolescents and their parents, who graciously gave their time to participate in this study. This study received financial support from the Alma and K. A. Snellman Foundation, Oulu, Finland; the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Finland; Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District; the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Finland; the Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Finland; the Lundbeck Foundation, Turku, Finland; the Rinnekoti Research Foundation, Espoo, Finland; the Child Psychiatric Research Foundation, Finland. This study was also funded by the Academy of Finland (Grants #117111, #123772, #214412, #259752, #273147)], the aivoAALTO project, the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation and Finnish Medical Foundation grants. The Graduate School of Circumpolar Wellbeing, Health and Adaptation is acknowledged for its support. We would also like to thank the National Alliance for Autism Research for financial support granted to David Pauls. For data collection we wish to thank Child Psychiatrist, Ph.D. Sirkka-Liisa Linna and Ph.D. Marko Kielinen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PEDEGO Research Unit, Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Jukka S. Rahko, Tuula M. Hurtig, Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin, Marja-Leena Mattila, Katja K. Jussila, Hanna E. Ebeling & Irma K. Moilanen

  2. Brain Research Unit, O. V. Lounasmaa Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland

    Virve A. Vuontela & Synnöve Carlson

  3. Neuroscience Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Virve A. Vuontela & Synnöve Carlson

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland

    Juha Nikkinen, Jukka J. Remes, Osmo Tervonen & Vesa J. Kiviniemi

  5. Institute of Health Sciences, Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Tuula M. Hurtig

  6. Neurocognitive Unit, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Eira M. Jansson-Verkasalo

  7. Children’s Hospital, Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum 2, Tukholmankatu 8 C 613, Helsinki, 00290, Finland

    Eeva T. Aronen

  8. Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    David L. Pauls

  9. Department of Behavioral Sciences and Philosophy, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (CCN), University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, Turku, 20017, Finland

    Eira M. Jansson-Verkasalo

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  1. Jukka S. Rahko
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Rahko, J.S., Vuontela, V.A., Carlson, S. et al. Attention and Working Memory in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Functional MRI Study. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 47, 503–517 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-015-0583-6

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