Neural Responses to Speech and Nonspeech Sounds and Language Impairment in Children with ASD
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1
Macquarie University, Cognitive Science, Australia
Language impairment is a defining feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but the degree of impairment varies widely across the spectrum. Although numerous ERP studies have investigated auditory discrimination as a possible cause of this impairment, results have been conflicting, and reasons for this variation in language are unknown. The current MEG study was designed to investigate the relationship between language and neural correlates of auditory discrimination, measured by the mismatch field (MMF). Brain responses to speech and nonspeech stimuli of 30 ASD and age-matched typically developing children (ages 7-13) were recorded using 160-channel MEG while the child watched a silent DVD. Speech stimuli were natural /a/ sounds, while nonspeech stimuli were complex tones consisting of sine waves that were carefully matched to the first three formants of /a/, but void of the fundamental frequency that would give it speechlike quality. All participants were also tested on tests of language and social communication. When compared to TD children, those with ASD showed larger MMF amplitudes and shorter MMF latencies to both speech and nonspeech sound changes. Individual differences in the MMF will be discussed in the context of degree and nature of language impairment. In ongoing research, we are using the Magnetic Acoustic Change Complex (mACC) as an alternative and potentially more reliable measurement of individual differences in auditory discrimination. Preliminary results of a pilot study comparing the efficiency of the mACC and the MMF will be presented.
Keywords:
MEG,
Autism Spectrum Disorders,
mismatch negativity (MMN),
Children,
Auditory Perception,
Language impairment,
Speech Perception
Conference:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Sensation and Perception
Citation:
Yau
SH,
Johnson
BW and
Brock
J
(2012). Neural Responses to Speech and Nonspeech Sounds and Language Impairment in Children with ASD.
Conference Abstract:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00160
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Received:
13 Oct 2012;
Published Online:
17 Nov 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Shu H Yau, Macquarie University, Cognitive Science, Sydney, Australia, shu.yau@mq.edu.au