CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 197Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Social “wanting” dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications

Open access
Kohls, Gregor, Chevallier, Coralie, Troiani, Vanessa, Schultz, Robert T·2012·Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
DOI 10.1186/1866-1955-4-10PMC PMC3436671
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Most behavioral training regimens in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) rely on reward-based reinforcement strategies. Although proven to significantly increase both cognitive and social outcomes and successfully reduce aberrant behaviors, this approach fails to benefit a substantial number of affected individuals. Given the enormous amount of clinical and financial resources devoted to behavioral interventions, there is a surprisingly large gap in our knowledge of the basic reward mechanisms of learning in ASD. Understanding the mechanisms for reward responsiveness and reinforcement-based learning is urgently needed to better inform modifications that might improve current treatments. The fundamental goal of this review is to present a fine-grained literature analysis of reward function in ASD with reference to a validated neurobiological model of reward: the 'wanting'/'liking' framework. Despite some inconsistencies within the available literature, the evaluation across three converging sets of neurobiological data (neuroimaging, electrophysiological recordings, and neurochemical measures) reveals good evidence for disrupted reward-seeking tendencies in ASD, particularly in social contexts. This is most likely caused by dysfunction of the dopaminergic-oxytocinergic 'wanting' circuitry, including the ventral striatum, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Such a conclusion is consistent with predictions derived from diagnostic criteria concerning the core social phenotype of ASD, which emphasize difficulties with spontaneous self-initiated seeking of social encounters (that is, social motivation). Existing studies suggest that social 'wanting' tendencies vary considerably between individuals with ASD, and that the degree of social motivation is both malleable and predictive of intervention response. Although the topic of reward responsiveness in ASD is very new, with much research still needed, the current data clearly point towards problems with incentive-based motivation and learning, with clear and important implications for treatment. Given the reliance of behavioral interventions on reinforcement-based learning principles, we believe that a systematic focus on the integrity of the reward system in ASD promises to yield many important clues, both to the underlying mechanisms causing ASD and to enhancing the efficacy of existing and new interventions.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review applies the Berridge ‘wanting’/‘liking’ framework to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and concludes that social reward ‘wanting’ is disrupted, most likely via dopaminergic–oxytocinergic circuitry including the ventral striatum, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, whereas evidence for compromised ‘liking’ is inconclusive. It argues that social motivation varies among individuals with ASD, is malleable, and predicts intervention response, with implications for reinforcement-based treatments.

Key findings

  • Across three converging neurobiological data sets (fMRI, electrophysiology, neurochemistry), the review finds good evidence for disrupted reward-seeking tendencies in ASD, particularly in social contexts; this is attributed to dysfunction of dopaminergic–oxytocinergic ‘wanting’ circuitry (ventral striatum, amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex).
  • Four out of five published fMRI studies reported diminished ventral striatum activation in ASD compared with typically developing controls when processing social or monetary reward versus non-reward; vmPFC (‘liking’) findings were mixed, with two studies reporting stronger and two reporting lower activation in ASD for monetary reward.
  • ERP evidence from only three reports suggested outcome-related responses (e.g., FRN/P3 to monetary gain/loss) were relatively intact in ASD, whereas anticipatory responses (e.g., cue-related P3, SPN) were atypical, especially for social reward.
  • The paper states that the percentage of affected children who profit from behavioral treatment, let alone reach optimal outcome, ranges from 3% to 50%, and that stronger social approach/‘wanting’ at treatment onset predicts better response to early intensive behavioral interventions.

Methods

  • Design: narrative literature review using the validated ‘wanting’/‘liking’ neurobiological model of reward as an analytic framework.
  • Data: published functional neuroimaging, electrophysiological (ERP/EEG), and neurochemical/neuropeptide studies of reward responsiveness in ASD, with emphasis on social versus non-social reward.
  • Analysis: qualitative synthesis evaluating whether findings support predicted disruptions in ‘wanting’ (ventral striatum, dopamine, anticipatory ERPs) versus ‘liking’ (vmPFC, opioids, outcome ERPs); no meta-analysis or systematic search strategy is reported.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the ASD reward literature is very new, with few studies and inconsistent findings, making firm conclusions premature; it also notes methodological shortcomings such as lack of research on biological rewards, neglected physiological/drive states, and low ecological validity of many reward stimuli.
  • The paper states that phenotypic heterogeneity, comorbid traits (e.g., depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity), sleep deficits, and temperament/intrinsic motivation differences can affect reward sensitivity and treatment response, and that laboratory-based measures quantifying reward responsiveness in ASD are lacking.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not report a systematic search strategy, formal risk-of-bias assessment, or quantitative synthesis, so the conclusions rest on a small and methodologically varied set of studies.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1866-1955-4-10

Cites

240 of 240 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 182 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    Blunted VS activity is a replicated phenomenon in children and adults with ASD.

    “Taken together, blunted VS activity is a replicated phenomenon in children and adults with ASD, and might represent a neurobiological marker for diminished incentive salience (‘wanting’) related to social and/or monetary reward.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: To date, little is known about reward function in ASD, and conflicting evidence comes from intervention programs versus experimental research.
  • Findingcitation

    Four out of five published fMRI studies reported diminished VS activation in individuals with ASD compared with TDC when processing either social or monetary reward versus non-reward.

    “Four out of five published fMRI studies reported diminished VS activation in individuals with ASD compared with TDC when processing either social or monetary reward versus non-reward [30,60-62].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [30] Kohls G, Schulte-Rüther M, Nehrkorn B, Müller K, Fink GR, Kamp-Becker I, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Schultz RT, Konrad K: Reward System Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012, in press

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [60] Dichter GS, Felder JN, Green SR, Rittenberg AM, Sasson NJ, Bodfish JW: Reward circuitry function in autism spectrum disorders. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012, 7: 160-172. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [61] Dichter GS, Richey JA, Rittenberg AM, Sabatino A, Bodfish JW: Reward circuitry function in autism during face anticipation and outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012, 42: 147-160. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [62] Scott-Van Zeeland AA, Dapretto M, Ghahremani DG, Poldrack RA, Bookheimer SY: Reward processing in autism. Autism Res. 2010, 3: 53-67. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    Dopamine is the neurotransmitter predominantly associated with reward processing.

    “Dopamine is the neurotransmitter predominately associated with reward processing [12].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Schultz W: Multiple dopamine functions at different time courses. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2007, 30: 259-288. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    Stimulus-reward association learning is an area of difficulty for children with ASD.

    “Stimulus–reward association learning has been repeatedly highlighted as an area of difficulty for children with ASD [34,35]”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [34] Dawson G, Osterling J, Rinaldi J, Carver L, McPartland J: Brief report: recognition memory and stimulus-reward associations: indirect support for the role of ventromedial prefrontal dysfunction in autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2001, 31: 337-341. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [35] Dawson G, Meltzoff AN, Osterling J, Rinaldi J: Neuropsychological correlates of early symptoms of autism. Child Dev. 1998, 69: 1276-1285. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    Phasic dopamine signals in the VS, potentially influenced by input from midbrain, amygdala, and vmPFC, underlie non-social and social reward-seeking behaviors.

    “Animal research using in vivo neurochemical methods indicates that phasic dopamine signals in the VS, potentially influenced by input from the midbrain, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), underlie non-social and social reward-seeking behaviors, including eating, drinking, reproduction, and other species-specific interactions [14].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] Robinson DL, Zitzman DL, Williams SK: Mesolimbic dopamine transients in motivated behaviors: focus on maternal behavior. Front. Psychiatry. 2011, 2: 23- source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. 49
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 8

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Dopamine is neither necessary nor sufficient for generating 'liking' responses, but plays a more important role in the motivational component ('wanting') of reward.

    “Although dopamine had long been thought to mediate ‘liking’, recent evidence indicates that dopamine is neither necessary nor sufficient for generating ‘liking’ responses, but plays a more important role in the motivational component (‘wanting’) of reward [8].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Berridge KC, Robinson TE: Parsing Reward. Trends Neurosci. 2003, 26: 507-513. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Behavior analytic intervention programs have been repeatedly found to improve socially appropriate behavior and cognitive skills while diminishing dysfunctional activities in ASD.

    “On the one hand, behavior analytic intervention programs, which place reward-based reinforcement at the heart of their treatment system, have been repeatedly found to improve socially appropriate behavior and cognitive skills while diminishing dysfunctional activities [32].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [32] Matson JL, Benavidez DA, Compton LS, Paclawskyj T, Baglio C: Behavioral treatment of autistic persons: a review of research from 1980 to the present. Res Dev Disabil. 1996, 17: 433-465. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The medial-lateral gradient interacts with a posterior-anterior gradient, which represents secondary reinforcers more anteriorly in the OFC than primary reinforcers.

    “This medial–lateral gradient interacts with a second hedonic gradient along the posterior–anterior axis, which represents secondary reinforcers (such as money), more anteriorly in the OFC than primary reinforcers (such as odors, food, touch, sexual pleasure, or drugs) [15,28,29].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [15] Berridge KC, Kringelbach ML: Building a neuroscience of pleasure and well-being.Psychology of Well-Being. Theory, Research and Practice. 2011, 1: 3-

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] Sescousse G, Redouté J, Dreher J-C: The architecture of reward value coding in the human orbitofrontal cortex. J Neurosci. 2010, 30: 13095-13104. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [29] Smith DV, Hayden BY, Truong T-K, Song AW, Platt ML, Huettel SA: Distinct value signals in anterior and posterior ventromedial prefrontal cortex. J Neurosci. 2010, 30: 2490-2495. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Reward is not a unitary construct but comprises different components that can be dissociated psychologically and neurobiologically.

    “Research has indeed shown that reward is not a unitary construct, but is actually comprised of different components, which can be dissociated both psychologically and neurobiologically [8].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Berridge KC, Robinson TE: Parsing Reward. Trends Neurosci. 2003, 26: 507-513. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Medial OFC activity is related to positive value of reinforcers, whereas lateral OFC is associated with evaluating unpleasant aspects of reinforcement.

    “Medial OFC activity is related to the positive value of reinforcers (for example, winning money), whereas the lateral OFC is associated with evaluating the unpleasant aspects of reinforcement (for example, losing money).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [27] Kringelbach ML, Rolls ET: The functional neuroanatomy of the human orbitofrontal cortex: evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychology. Prog Neurobiol. 2004, 72: 341-372. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    There is good evidence that reward 'wanting' is disrupted in ASD, particularly in the social domain, whereas available data for reward 'liking' are inconclusive.

    “As summarized in this paper, there is good evidence to suggest that reward ‘wanting’ is disrupted in ASD, particularly in the social domain, whereas the available data for reward ‘liking’ are inconclusive (see below for details).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: There are currently no data available to suggest that the ‘wanting’/’liking’ model would apply differently to social and non-social types of reward.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Rewards that are 'liked' are typically also 'wanted'.

    “Typically, rewards that are ‘liked’ are also ‘wanted’.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Berridge KC, Robinson TE, Aldridge JW: Dissecting components of reward: “liking”, “wanting”, and learning. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2009, 9: 65-73. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The deficit in reward learning and its link to social skills persists through adulthood, as evidenced by impairments in rapid formation of reward-stimulus associations and its correlation with clinical symptoms of social dysfunction.

    “Interestingly, the deficit in reward learning (and its link to social skills) seems to persist through to adulthood, as evidenced by impairments in the rapid formation of reward–stimulus associations and its correlation with clinical symptoms of social dysfunction [37-39].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [37] Zalla T, Sav A-M, Leboyer M: Stimulus-reward association and reversal learning in individuals with asperger syndrome. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2009, 3: 913-923. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [38] Solomon M, Smith AC, Frank MJ, Ly S, Carter CS: Probabilistic reinforcement learning in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res. 2011, 4: 109-120. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [39] Solomon M, Frank MJ, Smith AC, Ly S, Carter CS: Transitive inference in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2011, 11: 437-449. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cued anticipation of monetary gains consistently recruits the VS, including NAcc, with greater VS activity for more salient incentives.

    “Cued anticipation of monetary gains has been consistently found to recruit the VS, including the NAcc, with greater VS activity for more salient incentives (for example, $1 versus $5; [18]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [18] Knutson B, Taylor J, Kaufman M, Peterson R, Glover G: Distributed neural representation of expected value. J Neurosci. 2005, 25: 4806-4812. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Most dopaminergic neurons in the core reward circuitry, particularly in the VS, show short bursts of phasic activation in response to reward and, after learning, to conditioned cues signaling potential reward.

    “Most dopaminergic neurons within the core reward circuitry, particularly in the VS, show short bursts of phasic activation in response to reward and, after learning, in response to conditioned cues that signal a potential reward [13].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] Schultz W: Predictive reward signal of dopamine neurons. J Neurophysiol. 1998, 80: 1-27. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Reinforcement-based interventions significantly increase both cognitive and social outcomes and successfully reduce aberrant behaviors in ASD.

    “Accumulating evidence from over 40 years of research indicates that these reinforcement-based interventions significantly increase both cognitive and social outcomes, and successfully reduce aberrant behaviors [3].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Virués-Ortega J: Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose–response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010, 30: 387-399. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    'Wanting' is mainly driven by phasic dopaminergic neural firing in the ventral striatum, whereas 'liking' is largely influenced by the opioid system and recruits the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

    “Whereas ‘wanting’ is mainly driven by phasic dopaminergic neural firing in the ventral striatum (including the nucleus accumbens), ‘liking’ is largely influenced by the opioid system, and recruits the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Berridge KC, Robinson TE: Parsing Reward. Trends Neurosci. 2003, 26: 507-513. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Groen and colleagues found that participants with PDD-NOS did not differ from a TDC group in their outcome-evoked P3, suggesting that feedback processing was intact in this patient group.

    “The participants with PDD-NOS did not differ from a TDC group in their outcome-evoked P3, suggesting that feedback processing was intact in this patient group.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [101] Groen Y, Wijers AA, Mulder LJM, Waggeveld B, Minderaa RB, Althaus M: Error and feedback processing in children with ADHD and children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: an EEG event-related potential study. Clin Neurophysiol. 2008, 119: 2476-2493. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Dichter and colleagues found hyperactivation in the amygdala in adult participants with ASD while they were anticipating social reward, and this activation correlated positively with social symptom severity (ADOS-G).

    “The study by Dichter and colleagues [61] on reward processing revealed hyperactivation in the amygdala in adult participants with ASD while they were anticipating social reward. This activation correlated positively with social symptom severity (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic ADOS-G).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Dichter GS, Richey JA, Rittenberg AM, Sabatino A, Bodfish JW: Reward circuitry function in autism during face anticipation and outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012, 42: 147-160. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In an fMRI study, Grelotti and colleagues found weaker amygdala activation for faces than for cartoon characters in an autistic boy with a strong preoccupation with these characters, whereas a matched typical control boy showed the expected opposite neural activation pattern.

    “For instance, in an interesting fMRI study, Grelotti and colleagues [72] found weaker amygdala activation for faces than for cartoon characters (for example, Digimon ‘Digital Monsters’) in an autistic boy with a strong preoccupation with these characters, whereas a matched typical control boy showed the expected opposite neural activation pattern.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [72] Grelotti DJ, Klin AJ, Gauthier I, Skudlarski P, Cohen DJ, Gore JC, Volkmar FR, Schultz RT: fMRI activation of the fusiform gyrus and amygdala to cartoon characters but not to faces in a boy with autism. Neuropsychologia. 2005, 43: 373-385. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The vmPFC-VS-amygdala circuitry seems to be dysfunctional in ASD, and to form, at least partially, the basis for atypical reward responsiveness in individuals with ASD.

    “In summary, the vmPFC–VS–amygdala circuitry seems to be dysfunctional in ASD, and to form, at least partially, the basis for atypical reward responsiveness in individuals with ASD.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In Scott-Van Zeeland et al., VS activation to social reward predicted social capacities within the TDC group, but not the ASD group.

    “In addition, VS activation to social reward predicted social capacities (as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale) within the TDC group, but not the ASD group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [62] Scott-Van Zeeland AA, Dapretto M, Ghahremani DG, Poldrack RA, Bookheimer SY: Reward processing in autism. Autism Res. 2010, 3: 53-67. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The P3 has been found to be sensitive to reward magnitude and reward valence, whereas the FRN is modulated almost exclusively by reward valence, with more negative waveforms in response to non-reward outcome relative to reward gain.

    “However, whereas the P3 has been found to be sensitive to reward magnitude (that is, larger amplitudes for high versus low reward) and reward valence (that is, larger amplitudes for reward gain versus loss), the FRN is modulated almost exclusively by reward valence, with more negative waveforms in response to non-reward outcome relative to reward gain [90].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [90] Wu Y, Zhou X: The P300 and reward valence, magnitude, and expectancy in outcome evaluation. Brain Res. 2009, 1286: 114-122. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Money is imbued with social connotations and exerts a substantial influence on pro-social behavior.

    “Importantly, however, although monetary reinforcers have predominantly been operationalized and used as non-social stimuli, money is imbued with social connotations and exerts a substantial influence on pro-social behavior [64-66].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [64] Vohs KD, Mead NL, Goode MR: The psychological consequences of money. Science. 2006, 314: 1154-1156. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [65] Zhou X, Vohs KD, Baumeister RF: The symbolic power of money: reminders of money alter social distress and physical pain. Psychol Sci. 2009, 20: 700-706. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [66] Warneken F, Tomasello M: Extrinsic rewards undermine altruistic tendencies in 20-month-olds. Dev Psychol. 2008, 44: 1785-1788. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The combination of facial rewards with praise may represent a stronger social incentive with correspondingly greater reward system responsiveness, primarily in TDC, making it more probable that activation differences are detected between individuals with and without ASD within the VS.

    “It seems likely that the combination of facial rewards with praise may represent a stronger social incentive with correspondingly greater reward system responsiveness, primarily in TDC, making it more probably that activation differences are detected between individuals with and without ASD within the VS.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In Scott-Van Zeeland et al., the ASD group displayed diminished VS activation for social reward, but not for monetary reward.

    “In this study, the ASD group displayed diminished activation in the VS for social reward, but not for monetary reward.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [62] Scott-Van Zeeland AA, Dapretto M, Ghahremani DG, Poldrack RA, Bookheimer SY: Reward processing in autism. Autism Res. 2010, 3: 53-67. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The P3 is more closely related to reward-seeking behaviors ('wanting') and the FRN to reward consumption ('liking' or 'disliking').

    “However, research and theory suggests that the P3 is more closely related to reward-seeking behaviors (‘wanting’) and the FRN to reward consumption (‘liking’ or ’disliking’) [88,89].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [88] Holroyd CB, Coles MGH: The neural basis of human error processing: reinforcement learning, dopamine, and the error-related negativity. Psychol Rev. 2002, 109: 679-709. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [89] Nieuwenhuis S, Aston-Jones G, Cohen JD: Decision making, the p3, and the locus coeruleus–norepinephrine system. Psychol Bull. 2005, 131: 510-532. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In Dichter et al., adults with ASD showed decreased VS activation during periods of money anticipation and outcome, whereas VS activity was present for typical autism-specific objects of interest.

    “First, they tested brain responses to money and typical autism-specific objects of interest (for example, trains, cars, plastic bricks) and found decreased VS activation in ASD during periods of money anticipation and outcome, whereas VS activity was present for typical autism-specific objects of interest [60].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [60] Dichter GS, Felder JN, Green SR, Rittenberg AM, Sasson NJ, Bodfish JW: Reward circuitry function in autism spectrum disorders. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012, 7: 160-172. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In schizophrenia, the ability to experience pleasure is generally intact, whereas the capacity to pursue and achieve a pleasurable goal (wanting) is significantly disrupted.

    “However, recent studies using a range of pleasant stimuli, including positive words, faces, sounds, film clips, erotic pictures, and sweet drinks, have highlighted that the ability to experience pleasure is generally intact in individuals with schizophrenia, whereas the capacity to pursue and achieve a pleasurable goal (that is, the ‘wanting’ component of reward), is significantly disrupted [50].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [50] Cohen AS, Minor KS: Emotional experience in patients with schizophrenia revisited: meta-analysis of laboratory studies. Schizophr Bull. 2010, 36: 143-150. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In a follow-up study, adults with ASD showed lower VS activation during money anticipation but did not reveal VS hypoactivation for face rewards.

    “In a follow-up study applying the same paradigm but with a focus on social (for example, faces) versus monetary reward, adults with ASD again showed lower brain activation in the VS during money anticipation, but did not reveal VS hypoactivation for face rewards [61].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Dichter GS, Richey JA, Rittenberg AM, Sabatino A, Bodfish JW: Reward circuitry function in autism during face anticipation and outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012, 42: 147-160. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Children with ASD who showed left frontal EEG asymmetry were reported by their parents to have fewer symptoms of social impairment compared with children with right frontal asymmetry; however, the former was accompanied by greater levels of social anxiety and stress.

    “Children with ASD who showed left frontal EEG asymmetry were reported by their parents to have fewer symptoms of social impairment compared with children with right frontal asymmetry; however, the former was accompanied by greater levels of social anxiety and stress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [110] Sutton SK, Burnette CP, Mundy PC, Meyer J, Vaughan A, Sanders C, Yale M: Resting cortical brain activity and social behavior in higher functioning children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2005, 46: 211-222. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin, relative to placebo, increases cooperative behaviors, trust, and attention to socially informative stimuli (e.g., eyes) in individuals with ASD.

    “increases cooperative behaviors, trust, and attention to socially informative stimuli (for example, eyes) [166]”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [166] Andari E, Duhamel J-R, Zalla T, Herbrecht E, Leboyer M, Sirigu A: Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. PNAS. 2010, 107: 4389-4394. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Both the dopamine-mediated 'wanting' system and particularly the oxytocin system are promising candidates for contribution to atypical reward-related behaviors in ASD.

    “both the dopamine-mediated ‘wanting’ system and particularly the oxytocin system are promising candidates for contribution to atypical reward-related behaviors in ASD.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The authors concluded that social attention as expressed by direct eye contact may not be socially rewarding for children with ASD, and thus, does not properly activate their approach-related brain mechanisms.

    “The authors concluded that social attention as expressed by direct eye contact may not be socially rewarding for children with ASD, and thus, does not properly activate their approach-related brain mechanisms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [115] Kylliäinen A, Wallace S, Coutanche MN, Leppänen JM, Cusack J, Bailey AJ, Hietanen JK: Affective-motivational brain responses to direct gaze in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2012, in press

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    This reduction fundamentally alters how individuals with ASD attend to and interact with the world, depriving them of crucial social perceptual and social cognitive learning opportunities.

    “This reduction fundamentally alters how individuals with ASD attend to and interact with the world, depriving them of crucial social perceptual and social cognitive learning opportunities [2,4,40,41,54,183]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [2] Chevallier C, Kohls G, Troiani V, Brodkin ES, Schultz RT: The social motivation theory of autism. Trends Cogn Sci. 2012, 16: 231-239. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Helt M, Kelley E, Kinsbourne M, Pandey J, Boorstein H, Herbert M, Fein D: Can children with autism recover? If so, How?. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008, 18: 339-366. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [40] Dawson G, Webb SJ, Wijsman E, Schellenberg G, Estes A, Munson J, Faja S: Neurocognitive and electrophysiological evidence of altered face processing in parents of children with autism: implications for a model of abnormal development of social brain circuitry in autism. Dev Psychopathol. 2005, 17: 679-697. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Schultz RT: Developmental deficits in social perception in autism: the role of the amygdala and fusiform face area. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2005, 23: 125-141. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [54] Mundy P: Joint attention and social-emotional approach behavior in children with autism. Dev Psychopathol. 1995, 7: 63-82. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [183] O’Connor K, Kirk I: Brief report: atypical social cognition and social behaviours in autism spectrum disorder: a different way of processing rather than an impairment. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008, 38: 1989-1997. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Reward-predicting signals and behaviorally important events (e.g., novel stimuli) elicit brief, phasic, bursts of dopamine impulses, which last less than 500 ms, and prompt reward anticipation.

    “Indeed, reward-predicting signals and behaviorally important events (for example, novel stimuli) elicit brief, phasic, bursts of dopamine impulses, which last less than 500 ms, and prompt reward anticipation [12].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Schultz W: Multiple dopamine functions at different time courses. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2007, 30: 259-288. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Considering that endogenous opioids mediate the hedonic aspect of reward, this conclusion is in line with the neurophysiological findings that reward 'liking' is less compromised than 'wanting' in affected individuals.

    “Considering that endogenous opioids mediate the hedonic aspect of reward, this conclusion is in line with the neurophysiological findings that reward ‘liking’ is less compromised than ‘wanting’ in affected individuals.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Some striatal cell groups encode primary reinforcers (e.g., water, food, sexual intercourse), whereas others are thought to be 'idle' and modifiable through reward-based learning (e.g., drug conditioning).

    “It has been shown that some striatal cell groups encode primary reinforcers (for example, water, food, sexual intercourse), whereas others are thought to be ‘idle’ and modifiable through reward-based learning (for example, drug conditioning [131]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [131] Grigson PS: Like drugs for chocolate: separate rewards modulated by common mechanisms?. Physiol Behav. 2002, 76: 389-395. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    This could indicate that greater social interest ('wanting') may obscure social symptom presentation in young children, resulting in delayed identification.

    “This could indicate that greater social interest (‘wanting’) may obscure social symptom presentation in young children, resulting in delayed identification.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Postmortem brain analyses found a specific decrease in oxytocin mRNA in the temporal cortex in ASD, associated with hypermethylation.

    “postmortem brain analyses were found to have a specific decrease in oxytocin mRNA in the temporal cortex in ASD, which was associated with hypermethylation [171].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [171] Gregory S, Connelly J, Towers A, Johnson J, Biscocho D, Markunas C, Lintas C, Abramson R, Wright H, Ellis P: others: Genomic and epigenetic evidence for oxytocin receptor deficiency in autism. BMC Med. 2009, 7: 62- source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Kohls and colleagues found that the outcome-related P3 did not differentiate between ASD and TDC participants, but whereas the TDC group exhibited an increased P3 in response to cues that signaled a potential social or monetary reward relative to non-reward, the ASD group did not show this enhancement effect, and even showed diminished P3 activity in response to cues that triggered a phase of社会奖励的

    “Consistent with the findings of Groen et al. [102] and Larson et al. [103], the outcome-related P3 did not differentiate between ASD and TDC participants. However, whereas the TDC group exhibited an increased P3 in response to cues that signaled a potential social or monetary reward, relative to non-reward, the ASD group did not show this enhancement effect, and even showed diminished P3 activity”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [92] Kohls G, Peltzer J, Schulte-Rüther M, Kamp-Becker I, Remschmidt H, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Konrad K: Atypical brain responses to reward cues in autism as revealed by event-related potentials. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011, 41: 1523-1533. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The social motivation theory of ASD posits that ASD can be construed as an extreme case of reduced social interest.

    “the social motivation theory of ASD posits that ASD can be construed as an extreme case of reduced social interest.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [2] Chevallier C, Kohls G, Troiani V, Brodkin ES, Schultz RT: The social motivation theory of autism. Trends Cogn Sci. 2012, 16: 231-239. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Helt M, Kelley E, Kinsbourne M, Pandey J, Boorstein H, Herbert M, Fein D: Can children with autism recover? If so, How?. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008, 18: 339-366. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [40] Dawson G, Webb SJ, Wijsman E, Schellenberg G, Estes A, Munson J, Faja S: Neurocognitive and electrophysiological evidence of altered face processing in parents of children with autism: implications for a model of abnormal development of social brain circuitry in autism. Dev Psychopathol. 2005, 17: 679-697. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Schultz RT: Developmental deficits in social perception in autism: the role of the amygdala and fusiform face area. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2005, 23: 125-141. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [54] Mundy P: Joint attention and social-emotional approach behavior in children with autism. Dev Psychopathol. 1995, 7: 63-82. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [183] O’Connor K, Kirk I: Brief report: atypical social cognition and social behaviours in autism spectrum disorder: a different way of processing rather than an impairment. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008, 38: 1989-1997. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Conflicting results have been found in studies measuring peripheral or central levels of dopamine and its metabolites, with some studies reporting atypical dopamine turnover in patients.

    “However, conflicting results have been found in studies measuring peripheral (for example, blood, urine) or central (for example, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)) levels of dopamine and its metabolites, with some studies reporting atypical dopamine turnover in patients [121].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [121] Lam KSL, Aman MG, Arnold LE: Neurochemical correlates of autistic disorder: a review of the literature. Res Dev Disabil. 2006, 27: 254-289. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Although it is premature to draw conclusions from only three ERP reports, the evidence suggests that outcome-related neural responses are less impaired in ASD (reflective of relatively intact 'liking') than are brain potentials related to the anticipatory period preceding reward consumption (reflective of disrupted 'wanting'), based on the incentives used to date.

    “Although it is premature to draw conclusions from only three ERP reports, the evidence suggests that outcome-related neural responses are less impaired in ASD (reflective of relatively intact ‘liking’) than are brain potentials related to the anticipatory period preceding reward consumption (reflective of disrupted ‘wanting’), based on the incentives used to date.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This raises the possibility of a dysfunction in the phasic rather than the tonic dopamine metabolism in ASD, which would be more consistent with the neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings of atypical reward 'wanting'.

    “This raises the possibility of a dysfunction in the phasic rather than the tonic dopamine metabolism in ASD, which would be more consistent with the neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings of atypical reward ‘wanting’.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Genetic associations between ASD and the oxytocin receptor gene and the vasopressin gene have been reported.

    “Genetic associations between ASD and the oxytocin receptor gene, and with the closely related vasopressin gene, have also been reported [170].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [170] Campbell DB, Datta D, Jones ST, Batey Lee E, Sutcliffe JS, Hammock EAD, Levitt P: Association of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variants with multiple phenotype domains of autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2011, 1: 12-

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The idea that dopaminergic cell activity tracks different reward types might offer a simplistic, although plausible, explanation as to why some incentives (e.g., objects of circumscribed interest) induce goal-directed approach behavior in individuals with ASD, whereas others (e.g., social reward) do not.

    “The idea that dopaminergic cell activity tracks different reward types is intriguing, because it might offer a simplistic, although plausible, explanation as to why some incentives (for example, objects of circumscribed interest) induce goal-directed approach behavior in individuals with ASD, whereas others (for example, social reward) do not.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings suggest that children with ASD with left frontal asymmetry might be more motivated to participate in social interactions, possibly because of stronger 'wanting' tendencies.

    “These findings suggest that children with ASD with left frontal asymmetry might be more motivated to participate in social interactions, possibly because of stronger ‘wanting’ tendencies.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Larson and colleagues found that ERPs evoked by reward outcome did not differ between children with and without ASD, and concluded that the neural response to concrete, external feedback, that is, monetary gain ('liking') and loss ('disliking'), is intact in ASD, reflected in normal FRN and P3 effects.

    “Similar to the findings by Groen [101], the ERPs evoked by reward outcome did not differ between the experimental groups. The authors concluded that the neural response to concrete, external feedback, that is, monetary gain (‘liking’) and loss (‘disliking’), is intact in ASD, reflected in normal FRN and P3 effects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [103] Larson MJ, South M, Krauskopf E, Clawson A, Crowley MJ: Feedback and reward processing in high-functioning autism. Psychiatry Res. 2011, 187: 198-203. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This neural dysfunction involves both social and non-social (e.g., monetary) reward, with a more pronounced deficit for social incentives.

    “This neural dysfunction involves both social and non-social (for example, monetary) reward, with a more pronounced deficit for social incentives.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Children with greater inherent social interest engage more actively and constructively in intervention procedures, which results in greater benefits.

    “It seems that children with greater inherent social interest engage more actively and constructively in the intervention procedures, which results in greater benefits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Impaired social motivation, a core deficit with considerable variation among individuals with ASD, is malleable, and its successful treatment contributes to better functional outcome.

    “Taken together, impaired social motivation, a core deficit with considerable variation among individuals with ASD, is malleable, and its successful treatment contributes to better functional outcome.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Social anxiety, as opposed to diminished social motivation, contributes to social avoidance behaviors in ASD.

    “An alternative, but not mutually exclusive explanation is that social anxiety, as opposed to diminished social motivation, contributes to social avoidance behaviors in ASD [185].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [185] Wood JJ, Gadow KD: Exploring the nature and function of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders, exploring the nature and function of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2010, 17: 281-292. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Co-morbid traits such as depression, anxiety, or inattention/hyperactivity are often associated with ASD and affect general reward processing and intervention response.

    “co-morbid traits, such as depression, anxiety, or inattention/hyperactivity, are often associated with ASD [212], and are known to affect general reward processing [213,214] and intervention response [215].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [212] Levy SE, Mandell DS, Schultz RT: Autism. Lancet. 2009, 374: 1627-1638. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [213] Treadway MT, Zald DH: Reconsidering anhedonia in depression: lessons from translational neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011, 35: 537-555. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [214] Luman M, Tripp G, Scheres A: Identifying the neurobiology of altered reinforcement sensitivity in adhd: a review and research agenda. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2010, 34: 744-754. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [215] Antshel KM, Polacek C, McMahon M, Dygert K, Spenceley L, Dygert L, Miller L, Faisal F: Comorbid ADHD and anxiety affect social skills group intervention treatment efficacy in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2011, 32 (6): 439-446. 32 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Unpredictability elicits anxiety-like behavior in humans and mice, reflected in amygdala involvement at the brain level.

    “unpredictability has recently been reported to elicit anxiety-like behavior in humans and mice, reflected in amygdala involvement at the brain level [70,187].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [70] Adolphs R: What does the amygdala contribute to social cognition?. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010, 1191: 42-61. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [187] Herry C, Bach DR, Esposito F, Di Salle F, Perrig WJ, Scheffler K, Lüthi A, Seifritz E: Processing of temporal unpredictability in human and animal amygdala. J Neurosci. 2007, 27: 5958-5966. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The unpredictable nature inherent in social encounters might be particularly challenging for individuals with ASD and could promote symptoms of anxiety and withdrawal.

    “The unpredictable nature inherent in social encounters might be particularly challenging for individuals with ASD [186], and could promote symptoms of anxiety and withdrawal.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [186] Klin A, Lin DJ, Gorrindo P, Ramsay G, Jones W: Two-year-olds with autism orient to nonsocial contingencies rather than biological motion. Nature. 2009, 459: 257- source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Data published to date indicate the importance of social motivation ('wanting') and of the forces that propel social striving as crucial to understanding and treating autism.

    “the data published to date indicate the importance of social motivation (‘wanting’) and of the forces that propel social striving as crucial to understanding and treating autism.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Individual differences in temperament and achievement/intrinsic motivation tendencies have been documented in ASD and can result in differential responsiveness to reward.

    “individual differences in temperament and achievement/intrinsic motivation tendencies have been documented in ASD [220,221], and can result in differential responsiveness to reward [222,223].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [220] Garon N, Bryson SE, Zwaigenbaum L, Smith IM, Brian J, Roberts W, Szatmari P: Temperament and its relationship to autistic symptoms in a high-risk infant sib cohort. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008, 37: 59-78. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [221] Joosten AV, Bundy AC, Einfeld SL: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for stereotypic and repetitive behavior. J Autism Dev Disord. 2009, 39: 521-531. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [222] Yacubian J, Büchel C: The genetic basis of individual differences in reward processing and the link to addictive behavior and social cognition. Neuroscience. 2009, 164: 55-71. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [223] Murayama K, Matsumoto M, Izuma K, Matsumoto K: Neural basis of the undermining effect of monetary reward on intrinsic motivation. PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2010, 107: 20911-20916. source

      Not checked in the free run.

53 of 53

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most behavioral training regimens in ASD rely on reward-based reinforcement strategies.

    “Most behavioral training regimens in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) rely on reward-based reinforcement strategies.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is a surprisingly large gap in knowledge concerning basic reward mechanisms in ASD.

    “Given the enormous amount of clinical and financial resources devoted to behavioral interventions, there is a surprisingly large gap in our knowledge of the basic reward mechanisms of learning in ASD.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Current ASD research lacks a clear reference to any validated neurobiological model of reward.

    “Because current ASD research lacks a clear reference to any validated neurobiological model of reward, we introduce a well-established framework of reward responsiveness formulated by Berridge and colleagues: the ‘wanting’/’liking’ model [7,8].”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are currently no data available to suggest that the ‘wanting’/’liking’ model would apply differently to social and non-social types of reward.

    “To our knowledge, there are currently no data available to suggest that the ‘wanting’/’liking’ model would apply differently to social and non-social types of reward.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    To date, little is known about reward function in ASD, and conflicting evidence comes from intervention programs versus experimental research.

    “To date, little is known about reward function in ASD, and conflicting evidence comes from intervention programs versus experimental research.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The paradoxical finding of efficacious treatments rooted in reinforcement strategies in combination with weaker reward systems in ASD has received little attention.

    “To date, the paradoxical finding of efficacious treatments rooted in reinforcement strategies in combination with weaker reward systems in ASD has received little attention in the field.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Current experimental and intervention research in ASD tends to construe reward as a unitary phenomenon, lacking a clear reference to any validated neurobiological model.

    “In particular, a potentially important limitation of current experimental and intervention research in ASD is that it tends to construe reward as a unitary phenomenon, lacking a clear reference to any validated neurobiological model of reward; however, a critical examination of reward function in ASD requires a more fine-grained analytic approach.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are currently no objective behavioral markers of ‘liking’ and ‘wanting’, so it is necessary to draw on neurobiological measures.

    “Given that there are currently no objective behavioral markers of ‘liking’ and ‘wanting’, it is necessary to draw on neurobiological measures.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It is not yet understood how and why behavioral approaches work well for some people with ASD but not for others.

    “It is not yet understood how and why behavioral approaches work well for some people with ASD but not for others.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The social motivation impairment in ASD is attributable, at least partially, to dysfunction of the dopaminergic–oxytocinergic vmPFC–VS–amygdala brain network.

    “The theory assumes that the social motivation impairment is attributable, at least partially, to dysfunction of the dopaminergic–oxytocinergic vmPFC–VS–amygdala brain network [2,40].”
10 of 10

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Deficits in social play in ASD are likely due to disrupted reward-seeking tendencies, especially in social contexts.

    “Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show deficits in social play (Mundy, 1995;Jordan, 2003) which are likely due to disrupted reward-seeking tendencies, especially in social contexts (Chevallier et al., 2012;Kohls et al., 2012Kohls et al., , 2013)).”

    From Vasopressin regulates social play behavior in sex-specific ways through glutamate modulation in the lateral septum (2025) · cites this paper as Kohls et al., 2012

    The Discussion’s “Social motivation theory of ASD” section proposes that impaired social ‘wanting’ causes reduced social-seeking behavior, particularly in social contexts. That supports the proposed mechanism, but the passage does not specifically connect it to deficits in social play. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Aberrant ventral striatum reactivity for monetary reward is not necessarily at odds with the core ASD social phenotype.

    “In this regard, aberrant ventral striatum reactivity for monetary reward is not necessarily at odds with the core ASD social phenotype (Kohls et al., 2012).”

    From Differentiating neural reward responsiveness in autism versus ADHD (2014) · cites this paper as Kohls et al., 2012

  • In ASD, core social-communicative symptoms are closely linked to an under-responsiveness to social incentives, apparent as lack of motivation to attend to social stimuli and to seek and enjoy reciprocal social interactions.

    “In the field of ASD, it has been suggested that the core social-communicative symptoms in affected individuals are closely linked to an under-responsiveness to social incentives, apparent as a lack of motivation to attend to social stimuli, and to seek and enjoy reciprocal social interactions and relationships (Chevallier et al., 2012, Dawson et al., 2005, Kohls et al., 2012, Mundy, 1995, Schultz,”

    From Differentiating neural reward responsiveness in autism versus ADHD (2014) · cites this paper as Kohls et al., 2012

  • The specificity of reward dysfunction for social rewards in ASD has been questioned given behavioral and neural evidence in support of a more generalized reward processing deficit comprising social and nonsocial types of reward.

    “However, the specificity of reward dysfunction for social rewards has also been questioned given behavioral and neural evidences in support of a more generalized reward processing deficit comprising social as well as nonsocial types of reward (Kohls et al., 2012).”

    From Differentiating neural reward responsiveness in autism versus ADHD (2014) · cites this paper as Kohls et al., 2012

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Groen study is assigned two different reference numbers

    Minor

    The paper identifies the Groen study as reference [101], but later cites Groen et al. as [102].

  • Oxytocin mRNA finding is recast as an oxytocin-receptor finding

    Minor

    The postmortem finding is described as decreased oxytocin mRNA, but the next sentence calls it reduced expression of oxytocin receptors. Oxytocin and its receptor are different molecules.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Kohls, G., Chevallier, C., Troiani, V., & Schultz, R. T.
Affiliations
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
Corresponding author
Kohls, Gregor
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2012-06-27
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
10-10
ISSN
  • 1866-1947 (ISSN-L)
  • 1866-1955
DOI
10.1186/1866-1955-4-10
PMC
PMC3436671
OpenAlex
W2164121118
Cited by
197
References
240
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
FWCI
8.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (66727)
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health (4100042728, 4100047863)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH073084)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, reward processing, social motivation, ventral striatum, amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, behavioral interventions, individual differences in treatment response

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review