Cited by 155Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFace Recognition and PerceptionChild and Animal Learning Development

Atypical Face Versus Object Processing and Hemispheric Asymmetries in 10-Month-Old Infants at Risk for Autism

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McCleery, Joseph P., Akshoomoff, Natacha, Dobkins, Karen R., Carver, Leslie J.·2009·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Background Previous studies have documented atypicalities in face/object processing in children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). To investigate whether such atypicalities may reflect a genetically mediated risk factor present early in development, we measured face/object processing in 10-month-old high-risk infants who carry some of the genes associated with ASD because they have an older sibling diagnosed with the disorder.Methods We employed event-related potentials (ERPs) to measure cortical responses to pictures of faces and objects, the objects being toys. Latencies and amplitudes of four ERP components (P100, N290, P400, and Nc) were compared between 20 high-risk infants and 20 low-risk control subjects (infants with no family history of ASD).Results Responses to faces versus objects differed between high- and low-risk infants for the latencies of the N290 and P400. Differences were driven by faster responses to faces than objects in low-risk, but not high-risk, infants (P400) and, conversely, faster responses to objects than faces in high-risk, but not low-risk, infants (N290). Object responses were also faster in high-risk than low-risk infants (both N290 and P400). Left versus right hemisphere responses also differed between high- and low-risk infants for the amplitudes of the P100, N290, and P400; collapsed across faces/objects, low-risk, but not high-risk, infants exhibited hemisphere asymmetries.Conclusions Genetic risk for ASD is associated with atypical face versus object processing and an atypical lack of hemispheric asymmetry early in life. These atypicalities might contribute to development of the disorder.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.07.031

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  • Infants at high risk for ASD, regardless of whether they ultimately meet diagnostic criteria for ASD, have different developmental trajectories within the first year of life compared to low-risk infants.

    “There is now accumulating evidence from electroencephalographic (EEG) studies suggesting that infants at high risk for ASD, regardless of whether they ultimately meet diagnostic criteria for ASD, have different developmental trajectories within the first year of life compared to low-risk infants [10–20].”

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  1. [44]Gottesman I Shields T 1972 Schizophrenia and Genetics: A twin study vantage point New York Acadmic Press

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Authors
McCleery, J. P., Akshoomoff, N., Dobkins, K. R., & Carver, L. J.
Affiliations
University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Dobkins, Karen R.
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
66
Issue
10
Pages
950-957
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2012736922
Cited by
155
References
105
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 19
FWCI
5.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Autism Speaks (AS1695, AS1305)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH071796)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R21HD043739, R01HD052804)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, face processing, object processing, hemispheric lateralization, high-risk infants, genetic risk, event-related potentials, infant development, P400, P100, Nc component
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Autistic Disorder, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Child, Child, Preschool, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Face, Female, Fourier Analysis, Humans, Infant, Functional Laterality, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Risk

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