近日，英國(guó)一項(xiàng)最新研究表明,，對(duì)于幾個(gè)月大的嬰兒來(lái)說(shuō),，只要測(cè)量他們?cè)谀承┣樾蜗碌哪X電波變化情況，就能預(yù)知他們以后患孤獨(dú)癥的風(fēng)險(xiǎn),。這一發(fā)現(xiàn)有助于對(duì)孤獨(dú)癥高風(fēng)險(xiǎn)嬰兒及早進(jìn)行干預(yù)治療,。
英國(guó)倫敦大學(xué)伯克貝克學(xué)院等機(jī)構(gòu)研究人員在新一期美國(guó)《當(dāng)代生物學(xué)》雜志上報(bào)告說(shuō)，他們對(duì)100多名6個(gè)月到10個(gè)月大的嬰兒進(jìn)行測(cè)試,，在這些嬰兒眼前交替展示兩種圖片,。在嬰兒看來(lái)，一種圖片上的人是直接看著自己的,，而另一種圖片上的人是看著別處的,。同時(shí)進(jìn)行的腦電波測(cè)量顯示，在交替觀看這兩種圖片時(shí),，嬰兒們的腦電波會(huì)出現(xiàn)變化,，但不同嬰兒的變化幅度不盡相同。
對(duì)這些嬰兒的跟蹤研究一直持續(xù)到他們3歲的時(shí)候,，其中部分嬰兒后來(lái)出現(xiàn)了孤獨(dú)癥癥狀,。分析顯示，在測(cè)試時(shí)腦電波變化幅度較大的嬰兒,，后來(lái)患孤獨(dú)癥的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)較低,；而在測(cè)試時(shí)腦電波變化幅度很小的嬰兒，后來(lái)患孤獨(dú)癥的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)較高,。
進(jìn)行研究的馬克·約翰遜教授說(shuō),，患孤獨(dú)癥的孩子通常要到一兩歲時(shí)才在行為上顯示出某些跡象。有觀點(diǎn)認(rèn)為,，如果能更早識(shí)別出孤獨(dú)癥高風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的孩子,，通過(guò)專(zhuān)門(mén)的訓(xùn)練計(jì)劃來(lái)干預(yù)治療,，可以有效改善孤獨(dú)癥癥狀。他們的研究提供了一種早發(fā)現(xiàn),、早治療的手段,。(生物谷 Bioon.com)
doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.12.056
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Infant Neural Sensitivity to Dynamic Eye Gaze Is Associated with Later Emerging Autism
Mayada Elsabbagh, Evelyne Mercure, Kristelle Hudry, Susie Chandler, Greg Pasco, Tony Charman, Andrew Pickles, Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton, Mark H. Johnson
Autism spectrum disorders (henceforth autism) are diagnosed in around 1% of the population . Familial liability confers risk for a broad spectrum of difficulties including the broader autism phenotype (BAP). There are currently no reliable predictors of autism in infancy, but characteristic behaviors emerge during the second year, enabling diagnosis after this age . Because indicators of brain functioning may be sensitive predictors, and atypical eye contact is characteristic of the syndrome and the BAP , we examined whether neural sensitivity to eye gaze during infancy is associated with later autism outcomes . We undertook a prospective longitudinal study of infants with and without familial risk for autism. At 6–10 months, we recorded infants' event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to viewing faces with eye gaze directed toward versus away from the infant . Longitudinal analyses showed that characteristics of ERP components evoked in response to dynamic eye gaze shifts during infancy were associated with autism diagnosed at 36 months. ERP responses to eye gaze may help characterize developmental processes that lead to later emerging autism. Findings also elucidate the mechanisms driving the development of the social brain in infancy.
