Project Summary/Abstract
Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from depression at up to four times the rate of the general
population. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a standardized 8-week intervention, is effective in
treating mood comorbidities in ASD. In our data, MBSR participation elicited increased middle cingulate cortex
activity during self-reflection, which correlated with depression reduction. Further, MBSR appears to modulate a
neurophysiological marker of emotion regulation implicated in depression. The long-term goal of this research is
to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms driving MBSR’s therapeutic effects in adults with ASD. The specific
aims of this proposal are to characterize MBSR-induced changes to 1) self-reflection neurocircuitry via effective
connectivity and 2) emotional regulation neurophysiology. Significance: This study will identify multimodal brain
dynamics underlying MBSR’s therapeutic effects in adults with ASD. Findings will inform biologically-based
interventions for integrative health. Methods: Aim 1 leverages state-of-the-art effective connectivity brain
mapping of self-reflection functional MRI; Aim 2 utilizes emotional regulation EEG data to capture
neurophysiological event-related potentials. Exploratory Aim 3 will identify the combination of brain measures
that best predicts depression reduction.
Mr. Pagni aspires to become a leader in using multimodal neural imaging techniques to identify neural network
properties that support long-term therapeutic and cognitive outcomes. His long-term goal is to lead an
interdisciplinary clinical laboratory dedicated to understanding the brain basis of integrative health practices. As
a behavioral technician, he provided applied behavioral therapy for children with ASD. Early in his Ph.D. program,
he performed behavioral pharmacology research, equipping him with a foundation in cellular and molecular
mechanisms driving depressive phenotypes. In his current lab, he has gained expertise in mindfulness-based
therapies; fMRI analyses in ASD; and EEG data collection. The training plan will fulfill the following goals to
complement his current expertise: 1) advanced fMRI analysis (effective connectivity); 2) EEG analysis (event-
related potential); 3) brain-behavior relationships (partial least squares) and 4) ASD therapies and clinical trials.
Training in neuroimaging methods and clinical trials will occur primarily at Arizona State University (ASU). ASU
is a well-regarded, R1 institution with collaborations at Barrow Neurological Institute’s top-notch neuroimaging
facilities. Mr. Pagni will receive additional state-of-the-art neuroimaging analysis training at Banner Alzheimer’s
Institute. ASU’s Psychology Department also affords Mr. Pagni an optimal environment for implementing EEG
techniques and learning best practices in clinical trial research. Together these institutes provide a supportive
environment for Mr. Pagni to excel in multimodal brain analyses. In addition to the proposed goals, training will
focus on professional development and dissemination of findings to the broader community.