Neural correlates of socio-emotional perception in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Social impairments are described as a common feature of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). However, the neural correlates underlying these impairments are largely unknown in this population. In this study, we investigated neural substrates of socio-emotional perception. METHODS: We used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore neural activity in individuals with 22q11DS and healthy controls during the visualization of stimuli varying in social (social or non-social) or emotional (positive or negative valence) content. RESULTS: Neural hyporesponsiveness in regions of the default mode network (inferior parietal lobule, precuneus, posterior and anterior cingulate cortex and frontal regions) in response to social versus non-social images was found in the 22q11DS population compared to controls. A similar pattern of activation for positive and negative emotional processing was observed in the two groups. No correlation between neural activation and social functioning was observed in patients with the 22q11DS. Finally, no social × valence interaction impairment was found in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate atypical neural correlates of social perception in 22q11DS that appear to be independent of valence processing. Abnormalities in the social perception network may lead to social impairments observed in 22q11DS individuals

Mechanisms underlying negative symptoms in the 22q11 .2 deletion syndrome: behavioral and brain substrates

La microdélétion 22q1 1 .2 (del22qll) est un syndrome neurogénétique considéré comme un modèle génétique de la schizophrénie. Comme dans la schizophrénie, le syndrome est caractérisé par la présence de symptômes positifs (ex. hallucinations, délires) et négatifs (anhédonie, retrait social) distincts. Dans ce projet, nous proposons d'examiner les facteurs de risques en lien avec les symptômes négatifs ainsi que leurs réseaux cérébraux sous­ jacents selon deux axes principaux : les processus liés aux récompense et la cognition sociale. Au travers de ce projet nous avons montré des altérations spécifiques aux traitements des informations sociales dans la del22q11. Au niveau cérébraL les différentes études pointent le rôle du cortex cingulaire postérieur dans les déficits à la fois des processus liés aux récompenses et de perception sociale. Basé sur ces résultats, nous avons proposé un modèle théorique permettant de rendre compte des déficits de motivation sociale dans la del22qll

Present and future selves in Parkinson’s disease

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Visual processing of complex social scenes in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Relevance for negative symptoms

Current explanatory models of negative symptoms in schizophrenia have suggested the role of social cognition in symptom formation and maintenance. This study examined a core aspect of social cognition, namely social perception, and its association with clinical manifestations in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a genetic model of schizophrenia. We used an eye-tracking device to analyze developmental trajectories of complex and dynamic social scenes exploration in 58 participants with 22q11DS compared to 79 typically developing controls. Participants with 22q11DS showed divergent patterns of social scene exploration compared to healthy individuals from childhood to adulthood. We evidenced a more scattered gaze pattern and a lower number of shared gaze foci compared to healthy controls. Associations with negative symptoms, anxiety level, and face recognition were observed. Findings reveal abnormal visual exploration of complex social information from childhood to adulthood in 22q11DS. Atypical gaze patterns appear related to clinical manifestations in this syndrome

Goal-Directed-Behavior in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Implication for Social Dysfunctions and the Emergence of Negative Symptoms

Negative symptoms and social dysfunction are core features of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). Negative symptoms have been conceptualized as pathology of goal-directed-behaviors. Moreover, goal-directed-behaviors also appear to be a crucial step of social interactions. However, in 22q11DS, the extent to which goal-directed-behavior could be linked to social functioning difficulties and negative symptoms has never been examined

Implication of reward alterations in the expression of negative symptoms in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a behavioural and DTI study

Alterations of the reward system have been proposed as one of the core mechanisms underlying the expression of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Specifically, deficits in specific reward components and white matter (WM) integrity of the reward system have been highlighted. The putative link between negative symptoms and the hedonic experience, or structural connectivity of the reward system has never been examined in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a condition with increased risk for psychosis

Memory Improvement in clinical groups using Life-Logging Technologies

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SenseCam: A new tool for memory rehabilitation?

International audienceThe emergence of life-logging technologies has led neuropsychologist to focus on understanding how this new technology could help patients with memory disorders. Despite the growing number of studies using life-logging technologies, a theoretical framework supporting its effectiveness is lacking. This review focuses on the use of life-logging in the context of memory rehabilitation, particularly the use of SenseCam, a wearable camera allowing passive image capture. In our opinion, reviewing SenseCam images can be effective for memory rehabilitation only if it provides more than an assessment of prior occurrence in ways that reinstates previous thoughts, feelings and sensory information, thus stimulating recollection. Considering the fact that, in memory impairment, self-initiated processes are impaired, we propose that the environmental support hypothesis can explain the value of SenseCam for memory retrieval. Twenty-five research studies were selected for this review and despite the general acceptance of the value of SenseCam as a memory technique, only a small number of studies focused on recollection. We discuss the usability of this tool to improve episodic memory and in particular, recollection

Time-based prospective memory in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

International audienceObjective: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic disorder caused by a microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2 and characterized by marked impairment in visual attention and executive function. The present study examined if this cognitive deficit extends to prospective memory (the type of memory involved in remembering to perform actions in the future). Method: 20 participants with 22q11.2DS aged between 6 and 14 were included in the study as well as 22 typically developing individuals (TDC) aged 6–12. To measure prospective memory, participants were asked to play a driving game (the Dresden Cruiser). This time-based prospective memory task required children to remember to refuel their car when the fuel level was low by pressing a refuel button while driving. Results and discussion: Participants with 22q11.2DS remembered less often to refuel the car. Furthermore, participants with 22q11.2DS checked the fuel gage significantly less often than the controls. Conclusions: Participants with 22q11.2DS therefore demonstrate difficulties completing a time-based prospective memory task. This can be explained by a generally less frequent time checking behavior in comparison to TDC

Additional file 1: of Neural correlates of socio-emotional perception in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Table S1. Characteristic of the IAPS images selected. (DOCX 15 kb