Predictive coding in autism spectrum disorder: Electrophysiological alterations in early auditory predictive processing as potential markers for autistic symptomatology

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterScientificpeer-review

94 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that has been linked to a range of perceptual processing alterations, including hypo- and hyperresponsiveness to auditory stimulation. A recently proposed theory that attempts to account for these symptoms suggest that autistic individuals have a decreased ability to anticipate upcoming sensory stimulation.

ObjectivesIf the ability to anticipate upcoming sensory stimulation is indeed decreased in ASD, perception in ASD could be less affected by prior expectations and more driven by sensory input. Here, we tested this hypothesis with a series of event-related potential (ERP) studies in which we examined the neural correlates of motor-auditory prediction (N1 attenuation), visual-auditory prediction error (omission N1) and deviancy detection of auditory, visual and audiovisual speech (MMN).

MethodsIn a series of ERP studies, we first compared the electrophysiological brain response to self- versus externally-initiated tones between a group of individuals with ASD and a group of age matched individuals with typical development. Next, we assessed between-group differences in prediction error signaling by comparing ERPs evoked by unexpected auditory omissions in a sequence of audiovisual recordings of a handclap in which the visual motion reliably predicted the onset and content of the sound. Finally, we examined between group differences in deviancy detection of auditory, visual and audiovisual speech by applying a MMN paradigm.

ResultsThe results of our first ERP study showed that, unlike in age-matched participants with typical development, self-initiation of tones through a button press did not attenuate the auditory N1 in autistic individuals, indicating that the ability to anticipate the auditory sensory consequences of self-initiated motor actions might be decreased in ASD (van Laarhoven, Stekelenburg, Eussen, & Vroomen, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2087). The results of our second study showed that unexpected omissions of a sound of which the timing and content could be predicted by preceding visual anticipatory motion elicited an increased early auditory omission response (oN1) in the ASD group, indicating that violations of the prediction model produced larger prediction errors in autistic individuals when compared to their peers with typical development (van Laarhoven, Stekelenburg, Eussen, & Vroomen, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1362361320926061). Finally, the results of our third study showed that deviancy detection of auditory speech is reduced in autistic individuals, while deviancy detection of visual speech and incongruent audiovisual speech seems to be intact (van Laarhoven et al., in prep).

ConclusionsTaken together, our findings suggest that individuals with ASD may indeed experience difficulties in anticipating upcoming auditory stimulation. Importantly, these difficulties might be due to domain-specific alterations, rather than general impairments in predictive coding. This notion provides potential avenues for future research on electrophysiological markers for autistic symptomatology.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Event21st International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meeting - Austin, Texas, United States
Duration: 11 May 202214 May 2022
Conference number: 21
https://www.autism-insar.org/page/INSAR2022Archives

Conference

Conference21st International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meeting
Abbreviated titleINSAR 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin, Texas
Period11/05/2214/05/22
Internet address

Keywords

  • autism spectrum disorder
  • predictive coding
  • ERPs
  • event-related potentials
  • multisensory integration

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Predictive coding in autism spectrum disorder: Electrophysiological alterations in early auditory predictive processing as potential markers for autistic symptomatology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this