ERP evidence of semantic processing in children with ASD

Charlotte DiStefano; Damla Senturk; Shafali Spurling Jeste

doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100640

ERP evidence of semantic processing in children with ASD

Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2019 Apr:36:100640. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100640. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Authors

Charlotte DiStefano¹, Damla Senturk², Shafali Spurling Jeste³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: cdistefano@mednet.ucla.edu.
² Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: dsenturk@mednet.ucla.edu.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Department of Neurology, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: sjeste@mednet.ucla.edu.

Abstract

25% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain minimally verbal (MV), despite intervention. Electroencephalography can reveal neural mechanisms underlying language impairment in ASD, potentially improving our ability to predict language outcomes and target interventions. Verbal (V) and MV children with ASD, along with an age-matched typically developing (TD) group participated in a semantic congruence ERP paradigm, during which pictures were displayed followed by the expected or unexpected word. An N400 effect was evident in all groups, with a shorter latency in the TD group. A late negative component (LNC) also differentiated conditions, with a group by condition by region interaction. Post hoc analyses revealed that the LNC was present across multiple regions in the TD group, in the mid-frontal region in MVASD, and not present in the VASD group. Cluster analysis identified subgroups within the ASD participants. Two subgroups showed markedly atypical patterns of processing, one with reversed but robust differentiation of conditions, and the other with initially reversed followed by typical differentiation. Findings indicate that children with ASD, including those with minimal language, showed EEG evidence of semantic processing, but it was characterized by delayed speed of processing and limited integration with mental representations.

Keywords: ASD; Autism; EEG; ERP; Language; Semantics.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Child
Electroencephalography / methods*
Female
Humans
Male
Semantics*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding