Brain Activity in College Students with the Broad Autism Phenotype

Abstract This study examined brain activity in college students with the broad autism phenotype (BAP) while viewing facial expressions. Quantitative Electroencephalogram assessments were conducted in the temporal lobe area in the brains of 38 college students declared as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors. Participants were divided into BAP+ versus BAP- groups based on their scores on the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ). Findings revealed that individuals categorized as BAP+ demonstrated a higher alpha relative power score and a higher T4 relative to T3 coherence Z score when looking at expressive faces than when looking at neutral faces when compared to the BAP- individuals. Also, participants classified as BAP+ had significantly lower social adjustment than those classified as BAP-. Findings discuss the possibility of using QEEG BAP+ brain markers as an objective measure of social impairments in at-risk college students. Keywords: Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Electroencephalography (EEG), alpha activity, face processin

Pragmatic Language and School Related Linguistic Abilities in Siblings of Children with Autism

Siblings of probands with autism spectrum disorders are at higher risk for developing the broad autism phenotype (BAP). We compared the linguistic abilities (i.e., pragmatic language, school achievements, and underling reading processes) of 35 school-age siblings of children with autism (SIBS-A) to those of 42 siblings of children with typical development. Results indicated lower pragmatic abilities in a subgroup of SIBS-A identified with BAP related difficulties (SIBS-A-BAP) whereas school achievements and reading processes were intact. Furthermore, among SIBS-A-BAP, significant negative correlations emerged between the severity scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and full and verbal IQ scores. These results are discussed in the context of the developmental trajectories of SIBS-A and in relation to the BAP

The Broad Autism Phenotype in Parents of Children with Autism

The Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) is a set of personality traits and linguistic characteristics that are seen in individuals related to those who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and can be measured using the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ). 30 parents were give this questionnaire looking at three areas, aloof personality, ridged personality and pragmatic language deficits. Each parent would assess themselves, asses their co-parent and then an overall score would be give. The results found that the scores of the parents of children with ASD were higher than those of the control group, as the parents of the children with ASD did test positively in each area. These scores allow us to have a better view into ASD

Aging with Elevated Autistic Traits: Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults with the Broad Autism Phenotype

Background: Little is known about the impact of aging with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on cognition. As a first step in addressing this gap in our knowledge, the current study examined cognitive functioning among older adults with elevated, but subclinical levels of autistic traits (i.e., the Broad Autism Phenotype; BAP) compared to older adults without the BAP. Method: Forty older adults (aged 60-91, M=73 years) were recruited and classified as meeting criteria for the BAP (n=20) or not (control older adults, COA; n=20). Different components of executive function as well as episodic memory were measured using standardized performance-based neuropsychological assessments in addition to a self-report questionnaire of executive function difficulties. Results: Despite no differences in age, sex ratio, educational history or IQ, the BAP group demonstrated poorer performance on measures of executive function and episodic memory compared to the COA group. The BAP group also self-reported more executive function difficulties in everyday settings. Moreover, differences in working memory and attentional shifting were maintained after accounting for the influences of IQ and both depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that aging with the BAP confers additional risk to cognitive function for older adults. As the BAP forms a bridge in the continuum from typical to atypical levels of autistic traits, these findings suggest that individuals with ASD might also incur cognitive costs as they age into older adulthood

Hope and Adjustment Among Typically Developing Siblings of Children with Autism

@font-face { font-family: Cambria ; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman ; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } The following is a proposal for a research study investigating the level hope in typically developing youth siblings of children with autism. Having a sibling with ASD has a unique impact on a child’s development and could potentially be seen as a risk factor. Literature on the nature of adjustment in this population is reviewed. Previous research has shown that hope is a construct that can be identified in young children and has lead to beneficial outcomes in children who are at risk. The current study intends assess the level of hope in typically developing siblings of children with ASD who are currently participating in an ABA program. Children without a sibling with ASD will be compared. Implications and future research are discussed

Broad Autism Phenotypic Traits and the Relationship to Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behavior

Individuals with higher levels of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) have some symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like individuals with ASD, people with higher-BAP may have fewer sexual experiences and may experience more same-sex attraction. This study measured BAP traits, sexual experiences, and sexual orientation in typically developing (TD) individuals to see if patterns of sexual behavior and sexual orientation in higher-BAP resemble those in ASD. Although BAP characteristics did not predict sexual experiences, one BAP measure significantly predicted sexual orientation, β = 0.22, t = 2.72, p = .007, controlling for demographic variables (R2 change = .04, F = 7.41, p = .007), showing individuals with higher-BAP also reported increased same-sex attraction. This finding supports the hypothesis that individuals with higher-BAP resemble ASD individuals in being more likely than TD individuals to experience same-sex attraction

Differences in Pragmatic Language Measures in Mothers of Children with Autism or Fragile X Syndrome

Mastery of pragmatics, which refers to the language used in different social interactions, is key to effective communication in daily life. However, studies have found that mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) are at an increased risk for impaired pragmatic language skills. Though many measures of pragmatic language exist for children, very few are available for these mothers. Two commonly used measures for the mothers include the Pragmatic Rating Scale (PRS) and the Pragmatic Language Subscale of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ). This study, unlike previous ones that only look at one measure, compares these two measures using cutoff scores. Subjects who score above a certain value are classified as “positive” for pragmatic language issues, and agreement refers to when the subject is classified positive by both measures. While high agreement was expected given the common purpose of the two measures, the results showed very low agreement. This was perhaps due to the small sample size and different testing methodologies used by the PRS and BAPQ. In the future, it may be helpful to conduct this study with a larger sample and/or bring in a third pragmatic language measure

Konstrukcija i psihometrijska evaluacija kratke forme Upitnika šireg autističkog fenotipa

Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) represents a group of personality traits expressed in limitations in social relations and pragmatic speech dimension, and rigid behavior. The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) measures personality traits which are crucial in defining the BAP. In the present research, three studies were conducted with the general aim to create a short form of the BAPQ. Study 1 was carried out to determine the factor structure of the BAPQ in a sample of 501 students and to select items for the short form. Obtained components: Aloofness, Rigidity, and Pragmatics, corresponding to the structure of the instrument proposed by authors, accounted for 26.61% of variance. Study 2 was conducted to examine factor structure of the BAPQ short form (BAPQ-SF), in a sample of 298 students. This solution explained 45.76% of the total variance. The aim of Study 3 was to determine psychometric characteristics of the BAPQ-SF in a sample of students (N = 294). Three-factor model of the BAPQ-SF was confirmed. Correlations of the BAPQ-SF with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Delta 10 suggest convergent and discriminant validity of the BAPQ-SF.Širi autistički fenotip (eng. Broad Autism Phenotype - BAP) predstavlja grupu crta ličnosti koje se manifestuju u vidu ograničenja u socijalnim odnosima, na dimenziji pragmatičnog govora i u rigidnom ponašanju. Upitnik šireg autističkog fenotipa (The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire - BAPQ) meri crte ličnosti koje su ključne u definisanju šireg autističkog fenotipa. U ovom istraživanju su sprovedene tri studije sa opštim ciljem da se napravi kratka forma BAPQ. Prva studija je sprovedena da bi se utvrdila faktorska struktura upitnika na uzorku od 501 studenta i da se izaberu ajtemi za kratku formu. Dobijene su komponente Povučenost, Rigidnost i Pragmatika. Ove komponente odgovaraju strukturi instrumenta koju su predložili autori i objašanjavaju 26.61% varijanse. Druga studija je sprovedena da bi se ispitala faktorska struktura kratke forme BAPQ (BAPQ-SF) na uzorku od 298 studenata. Ovo rešenje objašnjava 45.76% ukupne varijanse. Cilj treće studije bio je da se utvrde psihometrijske karakteristike BAPQ-SF na uzorku studenata (N = 294). Potvrđena je trofaktorska struktura upitnika. Korelacije mera BAPQ-SF sa količnikom autističkog spektra (AQ) i Delta 10 merama govore u prilog konvergentne i diskriminativne validnosti upitnika