Background
Evidence for frontal abnormality in autism has accumulated in recent years. Our own
studies have shown abnormal activation in prefrontal cortex during finger tapping
and visuomotor coordination. Studies in healthy adults suggest reduced premotor and
increased prefrontal activity during advanced learning stages. We examined hemodynamic
changes during visuomotor learning in autistic patients.
Methods
We studied eight high-functioning autistic patients and eight control subjects during
learning of an 8-digit sequence over a period of 8 min, using functional magnetic
resonance imaging.
Results
Autistic patients showed overall less prefrontal activation during late visuomotor
learning; however, the main finding was a complementary one of enhanced activation
in right pericentral and premotor cortex. In the autism group, Brodmann areas 3, 4,
and 6 of the right hemisphere became more involved during late learning stages (trials
25–48), compared with early stages (trials 1–24). This effect was not seen in the
control group.
Conclusions
Our findings suggests that in autistic patients 1) primary sensorimotor and premotor
cortex, which is normally predominant in early stages of visuomotor learning, plays
an atypical role in later stages, even when learning is evident; and 2) handedness
and side of execution interact with asymmetry of visuomotor learning activations,
contrary to what is seen in normal adults.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 3,
2004
Received in revised form:
May 14,
2004
Received:
February 26,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
