Nouvelles normalités Nouvelles pathologies Nouvelles ... - Psynem

6° 6éme Congresso Congrès Européen Europeo de di Psicopatologia Psychopathologie dell’Infanzia de l’Enfance e et dell’Adolescenza
de l’Adolescence
Nuove Nouvelles normalità normalités Nuove Nouvelles patologie pathologies Nuove pratiche Nouvelles pratiques
SATURDAY, May 7 SYMPOSIUMS
SYMPOSIUM 8 WAIMH. Multiple facets of infant psichopathology
EARLY BIOMARKERS OF AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER: A STUDY ON EARLY MOTOR AND
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Paola Venuti (1) , Gianluca Esposito (2)
(1) Observation and Functional Diagnosis Lab, DiSCoF, University of Trento (Trento - IT)
(2) Unit for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama (Saitama - JA)
In the absence of specific known biological markers,
ASD is defined using behavioral criteria
(DSM-IV-r or ICD-10). Several studies have
highlighted that early intensive treatments can
lead to a substantial improvement in the life conditions
of children with ASD. These studies have
shown that children with ASD, diagnosed within
the second year of life, have been able to reach a
satisfactory living standard, autonomy and to perform
cognitive skills with competency.
According to these evidences, one crucial challenge
for research in ASD is to identify the early
processes involved in this deficit, and intervene
so to prevent the developmental cascade that
leads from early developmental differences to a
profound learning disability later in life.
Aim of our studies is to discuss the possibility of
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distinguishing infants with ASD from those with
typical development (TD) or developmental delay
(DD) during the first two years of life. In particular,
we will present data on the: (i) identification of
neural and behavioral correlates associated with
motor anomalies in children with ASD; and (ii)
evaluation of behavioral correlates of the expression
of distress (cry) and identification through
fMRI of the neural correlates of the parental' perception
of the first emotional and communication
signals produced in children with ASD.
Results gained from our studies (Esposito et al.
2009, 2010) have suggested that different pattern
of social and motor functioning probably relate to
different neuronal pathways to ASD. Implications
of our results for diagnosis and treatment will be
discussed.