Recent ASD Findings and the Future of Care for Those with ASD

 In the seminar led by Dr. Guy, she presented her research on autism in a study titled, “Cortical Source Analysis of the Face Sensitive N290 ERP Component in Infants at High Risk for Autism”. The purpose of the study was to analyze infants at higher risk for autism and determine patterns of cortical activation during face processing. Her team investigated N290, which shows an atypical neurological pattern, event related potentials (ERP), in ASD children, as it is closely connected with infant face processing abilities (Guy et al, 2021). Children on the autism spectrum or those diagnosed with ASD already have impairments in processing faces, social information, and visual attention. Dr. Guy used the method of electrophysiology to measure cortical brain activity in infants who have siblings with autism or have fragile x syndrome and investigate the electrical patterns (Guy et al, 2021). Her study provides a great starting point for further tests on infants who are more likely to develop ASD in childhood by beginning the understanding of cortical development and social processing in these children.

Another study titled “Oxytocin for Autism Spectrum Disorder — Down, but Not Out” demonstrates the first trials of using the neuropeptide oxytocin as a means to increase the reward effects of social stimulation in children with ASD. The study published by New England Journal of Medicine shows the first attempts of finding new possible treatments for humans on the ASD spectrum (Geschwind, 2021). Although the experiment did not yield the conclusive results that were hoped for, it is a starting point for future investigates into treatments to improve the social deficit seen in those with ASD. Administration of oxytocin in mice with social and behavioral mutations, specifically at POGZ and CNTNAP2, showed the reversal of these social deficits, which is very promising for human studies (Geschwind, 2021). Implications of administering oxytocin to ASD children and adults is this under investigation.

Both Dr Guy's and Dr. Geschwind's studies pertaining to ASD provide real promise in treating social and face processing deficits in those with or at risk to develop Autism Spectrum Disorder. Applications of these still developing treatments in human subjects is still unclear, but there is hope precise technologies will allow researchers to target specific mutations that are common in those with ASD. There is more to be discovered regarding people with ASD and finding new therapies or treatments is an important field of study. 

Sources: 

Guy, Maggie W., et al. “Cortical Source Analysis of the Face Sensitive N290 ERP Component in Infants at High Risk for Autism.” Brain Sciences, vol. 12, no. 9, 2022, p. 1129., https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091129. 

Geschwind, Daniel H. “Oxytocin for Autism Spectrum Disorder — down, but Not Out.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 385, no. 16, 2021, pp. 1524–1525., https://doi.org/10.1056/nejme2110158.