University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, and Research Center Julich, Julich, Germany.
Soc Neurosci. 2011;6(1):1-21. doi: 10.1080/17470911003708032. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
The present study aimed at identifying dysfunctions in brain networks that may underlie disturbed empathic behavior in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). During functional magnetic resonance imaging, subjects were asked to identify the emotional state observed in a facial stimulus (other-task) or to evaluate their own emotional response (self-task). Behaviorally, ASD subjects performed equally to the control group during the other-task, but showed less emotionally congruent responses in the self-task. Activations in brain regions related to theory of mind were observed in both groups. Activations of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) were located in dorsal subregions in ASD subjects and in ventral areas in control subjects. During the self-task, ASD subjects activated an additional network of frontal and inferior temporal areas. Frontal areas previously associated with the human mirror system were activated in both tasks in control subjects, while ASD subjects recruited these areas during the self-task only. Activations in the ventral MPFC may provide the basis for one's "emotional bond" with other persons' emotions. Such atypical patterns of activation may underlie disturbed empathy in individuals with ASD. Subjects with ASD may use an atypical cognitive strategy to gain access to their own emotional state in response to other people's emotions.
本研究旨在确定自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）中同理心行为障碍的大脑网络功能障碍。在功能磁共振成像期间，要求受试者识别在面部刺激中观察到的情绪状态（其他任务）或评估自己的情绪反应（自我任务）。行为上，ASD 受试者在其他任务中与对照组表现相当，但在自我任务中表现出较少的情感一致性反应。两组均观察到与心理理论相关的大脑区域的激活。ASD 受试者的内侧前额叶皮层（MPFC）的激活位于背侧亚区，而对照组的激活位于腹侧区。在自我任务期间，ASD 受试者激活了额前和颞下回的附加网络。在对照组中，与人类镜像系统相关的额前区域在前两个任务中均被激活，而 ASD 受试者仅在自我任务中招募这些区域。腹侧 MPFC 的激活可能为一个人与他人情绪的“情感纽带”提供基础。这种异常的激活模式可能是 ASD 个体同理心障碍的基础。ASD 患者可能会使用一种非典型的认知策略来获取自己对他人情绪的情绪状态。
