Attentive brain states in infants with and without later autism

This study investigated early difficulties in engaging attentive brain states in social settings and their potential impact on learning and social development in infants. Using EEG during a face/non-face paradigm in 8-month-old infants with and without a family history of ASD, researchers compared an ERP component (Nc) reflecting attention engagement. Results indicated that brain state timing correlated with categorical ASD outcome, while brain state strength correlated with dimensional measures of social functioning. Specifically, the FH-ASD group showed shorter Nc latency, and attentive microstate duration to faces predicted categorical outcome. Reduced Nc amplitude difference and attentive microstate strength to faces predicted dimensional variation in social skills. The study suggests atypical cortical activation precedes socialization difficulties and that analyzing spatiotemporal characteristics of whole-brain activation provides a valuable approach to understanding ASD's neurodevelopmental mechanisms.

Anna Gui, Giorgia Bussù, Charlotte Tye, Mayada Elsabbagh, Greg Pasco, Tony Charman, Mark H. Johnson, Emily J. H. Jones