Skip navigation
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01zp38wc78v
Title: Compensatory Neural Mechanisms in Unaffected Siblings of Those with Autism: An fMRI Study
Authors: Sharp, Dillon
Advisors: Kastner, Sabine
Contributors: Hasson, Uri
Department: Psychology
Class Year: 2014
Abstract: Recent studies of siblings of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have led to the emergence of a compensatory mechanism hypothesis wherein siblings, while showing no behavioral abnormalities, exhibit minor hypo-activations in brain areas implicated in ASD while simultaneously showing hyper-activations in other brain areas compensating for the lowered activity. We explore this theory by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate brain activity during a Theory of Mind (ToM) task in 18 subjects. To date, this is the first known study to investigate ToM with unaffected siblings using fMRI. Compared to age-matched controls, siblings exhibited lower activation in the lingual gyri and a trend towards higher activation in the right superior temporal sulcus (STS). This suggests that for unaffected siblings, the STS may be recruited to compensate for potential deficits in the lingual gyri during the processing of complex social stimuli.
Extent: 52 pages
URI: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01zp38wc78v
Type of Material: Princeton University Senior Theses
Language: en_US
Appears in Collections:Psychology, 1930-2023

Files in This Item:
File SizeFormat 
Sharp_Dillon.pdf1.31 MBAdobe PDF    Request a copy


Items in Dataspace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.