Laidi Charles, Neu Nathan, Watilliaux Aurélie, Martinez-Teruel Axelle, Razafinimanana Mihoby, Boisgontier Jennifer, Hotier Sevan, d'Albis Marc-Antoine, Delorme Richard, Amestoy Anouck, Holiga Štefan, Moal Myriam Ly-Le, Coupé Pierrick, Leboyer Marion, Houenou Josselin, Rondi-Reig Laure, Paradis Anne-Lise
Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Translational Neuro-Psychiatry, Créteil, France.
AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision en Psychiatrie (FHU ADAPT), Créteil, France.
Autism Res. 2023 Feb;16(2):280-293. doi: 10.1002/aur.2865. Epub 2022 Dec 9.
Cerebellar abnormalities have been reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Beyond its role in hallmark features of ASD, the cerebellum and its connectivity with forebrain structures also play a role in navigation. However, the current understanding of navigation abilities in ASD is equivocal, as is the impact of the disorder on the functional anatomy of the cerebellum. In the present study, we investigated the navigation behavior of a population of ASD and typically developing (TD) adults related to their brain anatomy as assessed by structural and functional MRI at rest. We used the Starmaze task, which permits assessing and distinguishing two complex navigation behaviors, one based on allocentric learning and the other on egocentric learning of a route with multiple decision points. Compared to TD controls, individuals with ASD showed similar exploration, learning, and strategy performance and preference. In addition, there was no difference in the structural or functional anatomy of the cerebellar circuits involved in navigation between the two groups. The findings of our work suggest that navigation abilities, spatio-temporal memory, and their underlying circuits are preserved in individuals with ASD.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者中曾有小脑异常的报告。除了在ASD标志性特征中发挥作用外，小脑及其与前脑结构的连接在导航中也起作用。然而，目前对ASD患者导航能力的理解并不明确，该疾病对小脑功能解剖结构的影响也是如此。在本研究中，我们通过静息态结构和功能磁共振成像评估了一组ASD成人和发育正常（TD）成人的导航行为与其脑解剖结构的关系。我们使用了星状迷宫任务，该任务允许评估和区分两种复杂的导航行为，一种基于空间学习，另一种基于对具有多个决策点的路线的自我中心学习。与TD对照组相比，ASD患者在探索、学习、策略表现和偏好方面表现相似。此外，两组之间参与导航的小脑回路的结构或功能解剖结构没有差异。我们的研究结果表明，ASD患者的导航能力、时空记忆及其潜在回路是保留的。
