This study examined the frequency of personality, language, and social-behavioral characteristics believed to comprise broad autism phenotype (BAP), across families differing in genetic liability autism. We hypothesized that within this unique sample comprised multiple-incidence (MIAF), single-incidence (SIAF), control Down syndrome (DWNS), a graded expression would be observed for principal conferring susceptibility autism, which such features express most profoundly among parents from...

Context: Multiple articles describe a constellation of language, personality, and social-behavioral features present in relatives that mirror the symptom domains autism, but are much milder expression.Studies this broad autism phenotype (BAP) may provide potentially important complementary approach for detecting genes causing defining associated neural circuitry by identifying more refined phenotypes can be measured quantitatively both affected unaffected individuals tied to functioning...

In this study, the authors investigate emotional understanding in autism through a discourse analytic framework to provide window into children's strategies for interpreting versus nonemotional encounters and consider implications mechanisms underlying typical development. Accounts were analyzed thematic content structure. Whereas high-functioning children with able discuss contextually appropriate accounts of simple emotions, their all types (but not nonemotional) experiences differed from...

Individuals with schizophrenia and individuals high-functioning autism (HFA) seem to share some social, behavioral biological features. Although marked impairments in social cognition have been documented both groups, little empirical work has compared the cognitive functioning of these two clinical groups.Forty-four schizophrenia, 36 HFA 41 non-clinical controls completed a battery measures that linked previously specific brain regions.The results indicate were impaired on variety tasks...

Strong evidence from twin and family studies suggests that the genetic liability to autism may be expressed through personality language characteristics qualitatively similar, but more subtly than those defining full syndrome. This study examined behavioral features of this 'broad phenotype' (BAP) in relation performance on a measure social-cognition an attempt tease out complex clinical picture identify markers underlying neuropsychological systems significance autism. We hypothesized mild...

Abstract Background Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and Down (DS) are the two leading genetic causes of intellectual disability, FXS is most common known condition associated with autism. Both DS significant language impairment, but little about expressive across domains over time or role autism in development FXS. Aims To compare three production (vocabulary, syntax, pragmatics) within groups boys without spectrum disorder (FXS‐ASD, FXS‐O), DS, typically developing (TD) boys. Methods &...

Purpose Impaired pragmatic language (i.e., use for social interaction) is a hallmark feature of both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common known monogenic associated with ASD. However, few cross-population comparisons ASD FXS have been conducted, it unclear whether profiles in these conditions overlap. Method The authors used seminaturalistic standardized assessment methods to characterize abilities 29 school-aged boys idiopathic ASD, 38 comorbid 16...

Abstract Background Prior research suggests that 60–74% of males and 16–45% females with fragile X syndrome ( FXS ) meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder ASD in settings. However, relatively little is known about the rates clinical diagnoses whether such are consistent those performed a setting using gold standard diagnostic tools. Method This study explored boys girls met A utism D iagnostic O bservation S chedule ADOS I nterview‐ R evised ADI ‐ ), then compared these data frequency...

Impairments in the social use of language, or pragmatics, constitute a core characteristic autism. Problems with pragmatic language have also been documented fragile X syndrome, monogenic condition that is most common known genetic cause Evidence suggests cognitive ability, theory mind, may be impaired both conditions, and autism, importantly relate to ability. Given substantial overlap observed autism FXS, this study aimed better define those social-communicative phenotypes these two...

Targeting overlapping behavioral phenotypes in neurogenetic disorders can help elucidate gene-behavior relationships. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been studied as a model for this approach, important areas of phenotypic overlap divergence documented. However, few studies examined how the manifestation ASD-related FXS may change over development, question which has implications conceptualizing shared etiologies these their constituent phenotypes. The goal...

Abstract Substantial phenotypic overlap exists between fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism, suggesting that FMR1 (the gene causing FXS) poses a significant risk for autism. Cross‐population comparisons of FXS autism therefore offer potentially valuable method refining the range phenotypes associated with variation in . This study adopted broader phenotype approach, focusing on parents who are at increased genetic liability or FXS. Women were carriers its premutation state compared mothers...

Abstract Background Social attention differences, expressed through gaze patterns, have been documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with subtle differences also reported among first-degree relatives, suggesting a shared genetic link. Findings mostly derived from standard eye-tracking methods (total fixation count or total duration). Given the dynamics of visual attention, these may obscure subtle, yet core, mechanisms, particularly those presenting sub-clinically. This study applied...

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental of complex etiology. Although strong evidence supports the causal role genetic factors, environmental risk factors have also been implicated. This study used co-twin–control design to investigate low birth weight as factor for ASD. Method We studied population-based sample 3715 same-sex twin pairs participating in Child and Adolescent Twin Study Sweden (CATSS). ASD was assessed using structured parent interview screening...

Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that pragmatic (i.e., social) language impairment is linked to arousal dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS). Forty boys with ASD, 39 FXS, 27 typical development (TD), aged 4–15 years, participated. Boys FXS were hyperaroused compared TD but did not differ from ASD. Dampened vagal tone predicted associations emerged between cardiac activity receptive/expressive vocabulary across groups. Findings support...