Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often involves dysfunction in general motor control and motor coordination, in addition to core symptoms. However, the neural mechanisms underlying motor dysfunction in ASD are poorly understood. To elucidate this issue, we focused on brain oscillations and their coupling in the primary motor cortex (M1). We recorded magnetoencephalography in 18 children with ASD, aged 5 to 7 years, and 19 age- and IQ-matched typically-developing children while they pressed a button during a video-game-like motor task. The motor-related gamma (70 to 90 Hz) and pre-movement beta oscillations (15 to 25 Hz) were analyzed in the primary motor cortex using an inverse method. To determine the coupling between beta and gamma oscillations, we applied phase-amplitude coupling to calculate the statistical dependence between the amplitude of fast oscillations and the phase of slow oscillations. We observed a motor-related gamma increase and a pre-movement beta decrease in both groups. The ASD group exhibited a reduced motor-related gamma increase and enhanced pre-movement beta decrease in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex. We found phase-amplitude coupling, in which high-gamma activity was modulated by the beta rhythm in the primary motor cortex. Phase-amplitude coupling in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex was reduced in the ASD group compared with the control group. Using oscillatory changes and their couplings, linear discriminant analysis classified the ASD and control groups with high accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 97.1%). The current findings revealed alterations in oscillations and oscillatory coupling, reflecting the dysregulation of motor gating mechanisms in ASD. These results may be helpful for elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying motor dysfunction in ASD, suggesting the possibility of developing a biomarker for ASD diagnosis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102560

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuroimage Clin

Publication Date

2021

Volume

29

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder, Brain oscillations, Magnetoencephalography, Motor cortex, Phase-amplitude coupling, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Beta Rhythm, Brain, Child, Humans, Magnetoencephalography, Motor Cortex