Yang Yang, Chen Dandan, Cai Kelong, Zhu Lina, Shi Yifan, Dong Xiaoxiao, Sun Zhiyuan, Qiao Zhiyuan, Yang Yahui, Zhang Weike, Mao Haiyong, Chen Aiguo
College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Apr 24;16(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00885-7.
Social communication impairments (SCI) is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is marked by challenges in social interaction. Although physical exercise has been shown to improve SCI, this finding has not been supported by comprehensive scientific evidence. Existing research has established a strong link between the SCI in children with ASD and abnormalities in regional homogeneity (ReHo). Therefore, investigating the effects of physical exercise on SCI and Reho in patients with ASD may help to elucidate the neurological mechanisms involved.
The present study included 30 preschool children diagnosed with ASD, with 15 participants in each group (experimental and control). The experimental group underwent a 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) based on routine behavioral rehabilitation, while the control group only received routine behavioral rehabilitation. The Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) was employed to assess SCI in both groups. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging technology was used to evaluate ReHo in both groups.
After 12-week of MBTP, significant group × time interactions were observed between the experimental and control groups in total SRS-2 scores (F = 14.514, p < 0.001, η = 0.341), as well as in the domains of social cognition (F = 15.620, p < 0.001, η = 0.358), social communication (F = 12.460, p < 0.01, η = 0.308), and autistic mannerisms (F = 9.970, p < 0.01, η = 0.263). No statistical difference was found in the scores for the social awareness subscale and social motivation subscale in the group × time interaction (all p > 0.05). The experimental group exhibited increased ReHo in the right Cerebellum_Crus1 and right parahippocampal gyrus, coupled with decreased ReHo in the left middle frontal gyrus (orbital part), left superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral), left postcentral gyrus, and right superior parietal gyrus. Furthermore, a decrease in ReHo in the left postcentral gyrus positively correlated with changes in social communication scores in SCI behaviors (p < 0.05).
Our study underscores the effectiveness of a 12-week MBTP in ameliorating SCI and abnormalities in ReHo among preschool children with ASD.
The trial is retrospectively registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900024973; August 5, 2019).
社交沟通障碍（SCI）是自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的核心症状，其特征为社交互动存在困难。尽管体育锻炼已被证明可改善SCI，但这一发现尚未得到全面科学证据的支持。现有研究已证实ASD儿童的SCI与局部一致性（ReHo）异常之间存在紧密联系。因此，研究体育锻炼对ASD患者SCI和ReHo的影响可能有助于阐明其中涉及的神经机制。
本研究纳入30名被诊断为ASD的学龄前儿童，每组15名参与者（实验组和对照组）。实验组在常规行为康复的基础上接受为期12周的迷你篮球训练计划（MBTP），而对照组仅接受常规行为康复。采用社交反应量表第二版（SRS - 2）评估两组的SCI。使用静息态功能磁共振成像技术评估两组的ReHo。
经过12周的MBTP训练后，实验组和对照组在SRS - 2总分（F = 14.514，p < 0.001，η = 0.341）以及社会认知（F = 15.620，p < 0.001，η = 0.358）、社交沟通（F = 12.460，p < 0.01，η = 0.308）和自闭症行为习惯（F = 9.970，p < 0.01，η = 0.263）等领域存在显著的组×时间交互作用。在组×时间交互作用中，社会意识子量表和社会动机子量表的得分未发现统计学差异（所有p > 0.05）。实验组右侧小脑脚1区和右侧海马旁回的ReHo增加，同时左侧额中回（眶部）、左侧额上回（背外侧）、左侧中央后回和右侧顶上叶的ReHo降低。此外，左侧中央后回ReHo的降低与SCI行为中社交沟通得分的变化呈正相关（p < 0.05）。
我们的研究强调了为期12周的MBTP对改善ASD学龄前儿童的SCI和ReHo异常的有效性。
该试验已在中国临床试验注册中心进行回顾性注册（ChiCTR1900024973；2019年8月5日）。
