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  • Review

    Abstract：Social behaviors are fundamental and intricate functions in both humans and animals, governed by the interplay of social cognition and emotions. A noteworthy feature of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ), is a pronounced deficit in social functioning. Despite a burgeoning body of research on social behaviors, the precise neural circuit mechanisms underpinning these phenomena remain to be elucidated. In this paper, we review the pivotal role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in modulating social behaviors, as well as its functional alteration in social disorders in ASD or SCZ. We posit that PFC dysfunction may represent a critical hub in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders characterized by shared social deficits. Furthermore, we delve into the intricate connectivity of the medial PFC (mPFC) with other cortical areas and subcortical brain regions in rodents, which exerts a profound influence on social behaviors. Notably, a substantial body of evidence underscores the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and the proper functioning of parvalbumin-positive interneurons within the mPFC for social regulation. Our overarching goal is to furnish a comprehensive understanding of these intricate circuits and thereby contribute to the enhancement of both research endeavors and clinical practices concerning social behavior deficits.  

    Wei CAO,Huiyi LI,Jianhong LUO

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  • Review

    Abstract：Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by social dysfunction and stereotypic behaviors. The etiology of ASD remains largely unexplored, resulting in a diverse array of described clinical manifestations and varying degrees of severity. Currently, there are no drugs approved by a supervisory organization that can effectively treat the core symptoms of ASD. Childhood and adolescence are crucial stages for making significant achievements in ASD treatment, necessitating the development of drugs specifically for these periods. Based on the drug targets and mechanisms of action, it can be found that atypical psychotropic medications, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant medications, hormonal medications, ion channel medications, and gastrointestinal medications have shown significant improvement in treating the core symptoms of ASD in both children and adolescents. In addition, comparisons of drugs within the same category regarding efficacy and safety have been made to identify better alternatives and promote drug development. While further evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of these medications is needed, they hold great potential for widespread application in the clinical treatment of the principal symptoms of ASD.  

    Peiying TAN,Xiaolin SHEN,Lizhang ZENG,Xuchu WENG,Hongyan GENG

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：Complex brain diseases seriously endanger human health, and early diagnostic biomarkers and effective treatments are currently lacking. Due to ethical constraints on human research, establishing monkey models is crucial to address these issues. With the rapid development of technology, transgenic monkey models of a range of brain diseases, especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have been successfully established. However, to establish practical and effective brain disease models and subsequently apply them to disease mechanism and treatment studies, there is still a lack of a standard tool, i.e., a system for collecting and analyzing the daily behaviors of brain disease model monkeys. Therefore, with the goal of undertaking a comprehensive and quantitative study of behavioral phenotypes, we established a standard daily behavior collection and analysis system, including behavioral data collection protocols and a monkey daily behavior ethogram (MDBE) for rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, which are the most commonly used non-human primates in model construction. Then, we used ASD as an application example after referring to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), which is widely used in clinical disease diagnosis to obtain ASD core clinical symptoms. We then established a sub-ethogram (ASD monkey core behavior ethogram (MCBE-ASD)) specifically for quantitative assessment of the core clinical symptoms of an ASD monkey model based on MDBE. Subsequently, we demonstrated the high reproducibility of the system.  

    Xiaofeng REN,Huimin WANG,Xiaoman LV,Yi ZHOU,Yingyin FAN,Yanjun YU,Christoph W. TURCK,Yuhui CHEN,Longbao LV,Yingzhou HU,Hao LI,Wenchao WANG,Dongdong QIN,Xiaoli FENG,Xintian HU

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：Atypical sensory responsivity is widely reported in autistic individuals and is related to elevated functional difficulties. Dynamically, altered initial responses and/or habituation rates could underlie their atypical averaged responses to repeated sensory stimuli. In this study we aimed to measure the arousal level in response to different types of auditory stimuli and the dynamic change of atypical arousal level using pupillometry in autistic children. In Experiment 1, 43 autistic children and 49 neurotypical (NT) children were asked to passively listen to a mild sound and an aversive sound repeatedly. In Experiment 2, 39 autistic children and 44 NT children who went through Experiment 1 listened to a gradually emerging non-startling sound and a suddenly emerging startling sound in a random order. We found that the autistic group showed hyper-arousal in response to the aversive sound and the startling sound as reflected by their larger change in pupil area. In comparison, these autistic children demonstrated normal arousal in response to the mild sound and the non-startling sound. Dynamically, the autistic group had a larger peak pupil area change than the NT group in the first trial and a normal habituation rate to the aversive sound. In summary, our results suggest hyper-arousal to aversive and startling stimuli and the role of larger initial responses in hyper-arousal in autism. Minimizing aversive and startling sensory stimuli or gradually increasing the volume of aversive auditory stimuli to allow autistic children to adapt using the principle of habituation is recommended to reduce the arousal level and problematic behaviors of autistic children.  

    Ci SONG,Runsheng MA,Wei NI,Xinyue PENG,Xue LI,Ruoxi SHI,Yuanping ZHANG,Li YI

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：Intelligence quotient (IQ) and adaptive behavior are the influencing factors of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children entering mainstream schools. This study explored the association between parental education level, IQ, and adaptive behavior in ASD groups. A total of 257 school-age ASD children were enrolled in our study from January 2017 to June 2021. Their parents completed a standard demographic form, including age at autism diagnosis, gender, school placement, and parents’ educational background. The Chinese version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was completed by a certified assessor for each enrolled child. Parents were interviewed on adaptive behavior using the Chinese version of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II). The average IQ of school-age ASD children was 76.88 (standard deviation (SD)=22.62) and boys had higher IQ levels than girls. The IQ was positively correlated with age. The General Adaptive Composite (GAC) score was 82.47 (SD=15.86) and adaptive behavior did not increase with age. ASD children who attended mainstream schools had better adaptive behavior profiles than other children. The mother’s education level showed a significant correlation with the IQ and adaptive behavior of autistic children, while the father’s education level did not. Consequently, better training and support for parents may help autistic children enter mainstream schools, with adaptive training being the most urgently required skill for parents.  

    Wenhao LI,Chao SONG,Lifei HU,Lingling WU,Zhiwei ZHU

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：The rising demand for child care is putting a strain on parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly the mothers. This study investigated Chinese mothers of children with ASD and examined the factors associated with maternal mental health. An online national survey was completed by the parents of 5077 ASD children and adolescents aged 0‍‒‍17 years. A total of 28.0% of the mothers reported poor mental health status. Mothers with children aged 10‍‒‍13 years had a lower chance of having poor mental health status than mothers with children aged 0‒2 years (odds ratio (OR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43‍‒‍0.91). Mothers of children with high-functioning autism were less likely to have poor mental health status than those of children with low-functioning autism (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62‍‒‍0.94). Having children with comorbidities was related with a higher risk of poor mental status (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.35‒1.81), as were having conflicts with other family members (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22‍‒‍1.70) and providing full-time care (OR 1.22, CI 1.06‍‒‍1.41). A higher-than-average family income was associated with lower risk of having poor mental health status (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58‍‒‍0.82). Factors related to the children and family, and providing full-time care, have a significant effect on mothers’ mental health status. Reducing obstacles to work and social interaction, as well as tackling the financial burden of raising an ASD child, may help improve the well-being of mothers.  

    Yanan ZHAO,Huiyun FAN,Rong ZHANG,Xiaoying ZHENG

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  • Correspondence

    Abstract：孤独症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童的适应行为能力普遍受到损害，然而其与早期发展水平之间的关系尚不明确。深入开展二者间关系的研究，将有助于了解ASD儿童能力的发展规律，促进ASD儿童早期个体化干预的实施。本文回顾性选取了1656例在2019年1月至2022年3月期间在浙江大学医学院附属儿童医院发育行为科被诊断为ASD的儿童，汇总了《婴儿-初中学生社会生活能力量表》和《Gesell发育诊断量表》（GDS）的结果，并进行统计学分析。结果表明，年龄会影响ASD儿童的适应行为以及GDS中各能区的早期发展；同时，适应行为也会显著影响GDS各能区的发育商数，且呈正相关关系。综上所述，ASD儿童的适应行为和各方面能力相互影响，因此有必要对不同ASD个体能力进行全面评估，并采取个体化的综合干预模式。  

    Chao SONG,Ting HAN,Lifei HU,Ning SHAO,Zepeng WANG,Yan JIN,Tingting CHEN,Zhiwei ZHU

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