Saturday, November 23, 2024
11/23/2024
Project Summary/Abstract Although differences in auditory encoding and resting-state (RS) neural activity are often reported in children with typical development (TD) versus autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the pattern of findings across studies is inconsistent. The PI has sought to understand the above via studying the maturation of these processes, this work supported by his current R01 (locally referred to as the ‘Brains Change’ study). A consistent finding has been a pattern of brain development that indicates overly rapid followed by too slow brain maturation in ASD. The continuation R01 will demonstrate that this pattern of brain maturation in ASD continues through at least early adolescence as a basis for developing disease-stage-specific assessment and treatment methods. In addition to continuing to map the maturation of RS neural activity, two auditory cortex neural processes that emerge during late childhood are targeted. First is the auditory M100 response, with findings from the current R01 already suggesting that M100, reflecting higher-order auditory encoding, emerges too early in ASD. Second, a new 40 Hz auditory steady-state response exam will assess the emergence and development of cortical inhibitory interneuron and pyramidal cell excitation and inhibition processes. Maturation findings, expected to demonstrate early accelerated then later flat development in ASD, will show a process that repeats itself across childhood and thus leads to a patterned derailment of emerging neural processes in ASD that extends far beyond infancy and early childhood. Tied to the above are two additional goals. First, given group differences in brain maturation rates, studies that average findings across a large age range will miss effects, and cross-sectional comparisons will be complicated. The PI’s research identifies age-specific brain markers in order to provide a basis for developing disease-stage-specific assessment and treatment targets. Second, and building upon the PIs adult studies, analysis of simultaneously collected MEG and EEG is expected to demonstrate the advantage of obtaining regionally specific measures when assessing group differences as well as enable identification of EEG-only assessment methods that are routinely feasible in the clinic. Our intention is that Brains Change findings will change the way ASD research is conducted via demonstrations that the pattern of group differences changes across time (even across a 3-year period), and via identifying very specific brain abnormalities in ASD with respect to age, brain location, and brain process. The current project assesses brain function, structure, and clinical measures in children 6 to 8 years old, and then 18 and 36 months later. For the renewal R01, each child will be followed another 3 years (3 brain imaging exams with 18 months between exams). Allowing attrition of the current sample across time, the Time 3 sample (N = 35/group) will be increased by 65+/group to start the continuation with 100 ASD and 100 TD.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
