Brain Mapping of Body Parts in Adults with Autism Mirrors That of Typically Developing Individuals

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and difficulties in interpreting body language and emotional expressions. Researchers have long believed that these social difficulties could stem from differences in how the brains of individuals with ASD perceive and represent body parts.

A recent study conducted in Japan and published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience has provided new insights into this assumption. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists examined the brain activity patterns of adults with autism when viewing images of various body parts, including hands, legs, face, and the whole body, along with control objects like chairs.

The study involved 23 adults with ASD and 23 neurotypical (TD) adults. During the scanning sessions, participants completed a task to maintain attention, and the researchers analyzed brain activation, particularly focusing on the lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC), a region known to process visual information about body parts. Results showed that both groups exhibited similar activation levels in the LOTC when viewing whole-body images, indicating comparable basic visual perception.

Further analysis revealed that the brain organized body parts into three categories across both groups: action effectors (hands, feet, arms, legs), non-effectors (chest, waist), and facial features. This suggests that adults with autism perceive visual body information in a manner similar to neurotypical adults, challenging previous ideas that differences in body perception contribute to social difficulties in ASD.

The research team also confirmed that the patterns of brain activity could distinguish between different body parts equally well in both groups. Additionally, the study explored potential links between brain activity and individual differences, such as severity of autism symptoms or sensory traits, but found no significant correlations.

Interestingly, earlier research involving autistic children has shown different brain response patterns in the LOTC. The authors suggest that these differences might diminish with age, highlighting a potential developmental change in how body-related information is processed in individuals with autism.

Overall, this study indicates that the core visual perception of body parts remains intact in adults with autism. The social challenges faced by individuals with ASD may therefore stem more from difficulties in interpreting emotional cues and gestures rather than perceiving visual information. These findings could inform future interventions that focus more on social cognition and communication skills, emphasizing that perceptual abilities are largely preserved.

This research underscores the brain’s capacity to adapt and learn over time, offering hope and avenues for improving support strategies for adults with autism.

Source: Medical Xpress