Selective Change Of Attentional Networks In Normal Individuals With Autistic Traits And The Underlying Neuromachanism

Background Normal individuals with autistic traits refer to the typical individuals that represent similar cognitive features of patients with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).However,there is no study have investigated whether the normal individuals with autistic traits have a global or the selective changes of attentional networks and there is no study have investigated the underlying neuromechaism.To investigate the attention change of normal individuals with autistic traits can help us understand the pathogenesis and the spectrum feature of attention deficits presented in ASD patients.And it is significant to investigate the typical attention change of normal individuals with autistic traits.Objective We intend to explore whether there is selective change of attention networks in normal individuals with autistic traits the underling neuromechanism.Method 220 undergraduate students were recruited randomly and measured by Autism Spectrum quotient(AQ).We got a group of individuals with self-reported high AQ and a group of individuals with self-reported low AQ.Then we used a battery of cognitive neuropsychological assessment and attention network test(ANT)to evaluate the neuropsychological characteristics and three independent attention network function of these two groups.After that,all these individuals of two groups accept structural MRI scans and their cortical thickness were evaluated.Results In attentional network test,the mean alerting,orienting and executive control attentional networks efficiencies of the group of self-reported high AQ were(43.71 ±17.28),(57.92 ± 15.09)and(110.83 ± 27.64)respectively,and the mean alerting,orienting and executive control attentional networks efficiencies of the group of self-reported low AQ were(41.70 ± 15.19),(42.80 ± 11.29)and(98.60 ± 19.82)respectively.The results of present study show a difference in the efficiency of orienting attentional network,the differences were statistically significant(p<0.01).There were no significant differences in the mean alerting,orienting and executive control attentional networks efficiencies of two group(p>0.05).the whole reaction time and accuracy of the group of self-reported high AQ was(538.83 ± 72.56),(0.970 ±0.018)respectively,the whole reaction time and accuracy of the group of self-reported low AQ was(513.30 ± 53.13),(0.970 ± 0.019)respectively.The differences were not significant statistically(p<0.05).In cognitive neuropsychological task,A significant difference were found in trail making test A(Z=-2.538,p<0.05)and verbal fluency test(Z=-5.915,p<0.01;Z=-8.773,p<0.01).We found significant positive correlations of efficiency of orienting network and cortical thickness in right middlefrontal,right lateraloccipital and left lateraloccipital(P<0.01)in the group of self-reported high AQ.Similar results was not found in the group of self-reported low AQ.Conclusions The present study shows that autistic traits impact the orienting attentional networks of normal neurotypical individuals.Furthermore,present study indicate the right middlefrontal,right lateraloccipital and left lateraloccipital play a core role in orienting attention.