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Absence of Contagious Yawning in ASD

Absence of Contagious Yawning in ASD. Laura Pynn 18/03/08. Research Question. Is the capacity for empathy related to deficits in contagious yawning? Deficits in capacity for empathy known to exist in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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Absence of Contagious Yawning in ASD

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  1. Absence of Contagious Yawning in ASD Laura Pynn 18/03/08

  2. Research Question • Is the capacity for empathy related to deficits in contagious yawning? • Deficits in capacity for empathy known to exist in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) • Contagious yawning known to activate the superior temporal sulcus and periamygdalar region • Structural abnormalities have been reported in these areas in individuals with ASD

  3. ASD children N = 24 20 males, 4 females Mean=11.6 yrs 7.0-15.9 IQ = 82.1 46-127 TD children N = 25 14 males, 11 females Mean = 11.0 8.0-14.9 IQ = 106.9 85-142 Participants

  4. Yawn Condition 6 video clips - yawning faces, 7s each 1 minute inter-stimulus interval Silent cartoon animation Participants asked to count # of female faces to ensure they attended to the display Control Condition 6 video clips - open mouth faces, 7s each 1 minute inter-stimulus interval Silent cartoon animation Participants asked to count # of female faces to ensure they attended to the display Procedure

  5. Results • Between Groups • Yawn videos elicited more yawns from the TD group than the ASD group • No difference between yawning rates for control videos; therefore rates of spontaneous yawning do not differ between groups • Within Groups • No difference between yawn and control condition in ASD children • Significant differences between the yawn and control conditions for TD children

  6. Further Analysis • Analysis of male participants only: • Results remained significant • IQ matched subgroups: • 16 TD children, 16 ASD children • TD children still showed more yawning than ASD children in the yawn condition

  7. Discussion • Demonstrates neuropathology can specifically impair contagious yawning without effecting spontaneous yawning • “…current results support the claim that contagious yawning and the capacity for empathy share common neural and cognitive mechanisms.”

  8. Discussion • Why? • Possible dysfunction of the mirror neuron system (MNS) • However, previous fMRI studies found no selective activation of Broca’s area during contagious yawning http://www.baillement.com/f.mri-article.html • Atypical patterns of face fixation - perception of the eye regions is most important for eliciting yawns • Future studies with eye tracking?

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