ID | 111242 |
Author |
Mori, Kenji
Tokushima University
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Toda, Yoshihiro
Tokushima University
Mori, Tatsuo
Tokushima University
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Goji, Aya
Tokushima University
Hashimoto, Hiroko
Tokushima University
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Miyazaki, Masahito
Tokushima University
Harada, Masafumi
Tokushima University
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Kagami, Shoji
Tokushima University
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|
Keywords | autism
proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS)
amygdala
near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
mirror neuron
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Content Type |
Journal Article
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Description | Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we measured chemical metabolites in the left amygdala and the bilateral orbito-frontal cortex (OFC) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in these regions of ASD were significantly decreased compared to those in the control group. In the autistic patients, the NAA concentrations in these regions correlated with their social quotient. These findings suggest the presence of neuronal dysfunction in the amygdala and OFC in ASD. Dysfunction in the amygdala and OFCmay contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD.We performed a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) study to evaluate the mirror neuron system in children with ASD. The concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) were measured with frontal probes using a 34-channel NIRS machine while the subjects imitated emotional facial expressions. The increments in the concentration of oxy-Hb in the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus in autistic subjects were significantly lower than those in the controls. However, the concentrations of oxy-Hb in this area were significantly elevated in autistic subjects after they were trained to imitate emotional facial expressions. The results suggest that mirror neurons could be activated by repeated imitation in children with ASD.
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Journal Title |
The Journal of Medical Investigation
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ISSN | 13496867
13431420
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NCID | AA11166929
AA12022913
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Publisher | Faculty of Medicine Tokushima University
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Volume | 62
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Issue | 1-2
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Start Page | 29
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End Page | 36
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Sort Key | 29
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Published Date | 2015-02
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EDB ID | |
DOI (Published Version) | |
URL ( Publisher's Version ) | |
FullText File | |
language |
eng
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TextVersion |
Publisher
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departments |
Medical Sciences
University Hospital
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