Neural Correlates of Visuomotor Learning in Autism

Elizabeth Sharer; Deana Crocetti; John Muschelli; Anita D Barber; Mary Beth Nebel; Brian S Caffo; Jim J Pekar; Stewart H Mostofsky

doi:10.1177/0883073815600869

Neural Correlates of Visuomotor Learning in Autism

J Child Neurol. 2015 Dec;30(14):1877-86. doi: 10.1177/0883073815600869. Epub 2015 Sep 8.

Authors

Elizabeth Sharer¹, Deana Crocetti², John Muschelli³, Anita D Barber⁴, Mary Beth Nebel⁴, Brian S Caffo³, Jim J Pekar⁵, Stewart H Mostofsky⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA esharer@gmail.com.
² Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁵ Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA FM Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract

Motor impairments are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder. The Serial Reaction Time Task, a well-established visuomotor sequence learning probe, has produced inconsistent behavioral findings in individuals with autism. Moreover, it remains unclear how underlying neural processes for visuomotor learning in children with autism compare to processes for typically developing children. Neural activity differences were assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging during a modified version of the Serial Reaction Time Task in children with and without autism. Though there was no group difference in visuomotor sequence learning, underlying patterns of neural activation significantly differed when comparing sequence (i.e., learning) to random (i.e., nonlearning) blocks. Children with autism demonstrated decreased activity in brain regions implicated in visuomotor sequence learning: superior temporal sulcus and posterior cingulate cortex. The findings implicate differences in brain mechanisms that support initial sequence learning in autism and can help explain behavioral observations of autism-associated impairments in skill development (motor, social, communicative) reliant on visuomotor integration.

Keywords: autism; motor learning; procedural learning.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Autistic Disorder / physiopathology*
Brain / physiopathology*
Brain Mapping
Child
Female
Fingers / physiopathology*
Humans
Learning / physiology*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Motor Activity / physiology*
Neuropsychological Tests
Photic Stimulation
Reaction Time
Visual Perception / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding