Investigating Mirror System (MS) Activity in Adults with ASD When Inferring Others’ Intentions Using Both TMS and EEG

ASD is associated with mentalizing deficits that may correspond with atypical mirror system (MS) activation. We investigated MS activity in adults with and without ASD when inferring others’ intentions using TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and mu suppression measured by EEG. Autistic trai...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2018-07, Vol.48 (7), p.2350-2367
Main Authors: Cole, Eleanor J., Barraclough, Nick E., Enticott, Peter G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Asperger Syndrome
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Care and treatment
Child and School Psychology
Cognitive Processes
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Tests
Electroencephalography
Evoked potentials
Evoked Potentials, Motor
Eye Movements
Female
Foreign Countries
Health aspects
Humans
Inferences
Intention
Male
Measurement Equipment
Motor evoked potentials
Multivariate Analysis
Neurosciences
Observation
Original Paper
Pediatrics
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Psychology
Public Health
Schemata (Cognition)
Social Cognition
Theory of Mind
Tracking
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
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Description
Summary:ASD is associated with mentalizing deficits that may correspond with atypical mirror system (MS) activation. We investigated MS activity in adults with and without ASD when inferring others’ intentions using TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and mu suppression measured by EEG. Autistic traits were measured for all participants. Our EEG data show, high levels of autistic traits predicted reduced right mu (8–10 Hz) suppression when mentalizing. Higher left mu (8–10 Hz) suppression was associated with superior mentalizing performances. Eye-tracking and TMS data showed no differences associated with autistic traits. Our data suggest ASD is associated with reduced right MS activity when mentalizing, TMS-induced MEPs and mu suppression measure different aspects of MS functioning and the MS is directly involved in inferring intentions.
ISSN:0162-3257
1573-3432
DOI:10.1007/s10803-018-3492-2