近日,，英國一項最新研究表明,，對于幾個月大的嬰兒來說，只要測量他們在某些情形下的腦電波變化情況,，就能預(yù)知他們以后患孤獨癥的風(fēng)險,。這一發(fā)現(xiàn)有助于對孤獨癥高風(fēng)險嬰兒及早進行干預(yù)治療。
英國倫敦大學(xué)伯克貝克學(xué)院等機構(gòu)研究人員在新一期美國《當(dāng)代生物學(xué)》雜志上報告說,，他們對100多名6個月到10個月大的嬰兒進行測試,，在這些嬰兒眼前交替展示兩種圖片。在嬰兒看來,，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。同時進行的腦電波測量顯示,，在交替觀看這兩種圖片時,，嬰兒們的腦電波會出現(xiàn)變化，但不同嬰兒的變化幅度不盡相同,。
對這些嬰兒的跟蹤研究一直持續(xù)到他們3歲的時候,，其中部分嬰兒后來出現(xiàn)了孤獨癥癥狀。分析顯示,，在測試時腦電波變化幅度較大的嬰兒,，后來患孤獨癥的風(fēng)險較低；而在測試時腦電波變化幅度很小的嬰兒,，后來患孤獨癥的風(fēng)險較高,。
進行研究的馬克·約翰遜教授說,，患孤獨癥的孩子通常要到一兩歲時才在行為上顯示出某些跡象。有觀點認(rèn)為,，如果能更早識別出孤獨癥高風(fēng)險的孩子,，通過專門的訓(xùn)練計劃來干預(yù)治療，可以有效改善孤獨癥癥狀,。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.
