scholarly journals Erroneous inference based on a lack of preference within one group: autism, mice, and the Social Approach Task

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla R. Nygaard ◽  
Susan E. Maloney ◽  
Joseph D. Dougherty

AbstractThe Social Approach Task is commonly used to identify sociability deficits when modeling liability factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in mice. It was developed to expand upon assays available to examine distinct aspects of social behavior in rodents and has become a standard component of mouse ASD-relevant phenotyping pipelines. However, there is variability in the statistical analysis and interpretation of results from this task. A common analytical approach is to conduct within-group comparisons only, and then interpret a difference in significance levels as if it were a group difference, without any direct comparison. As an efficient shorthand, we named this approach EWOCs:Erroneous Within-group Only Comparisons. Here we examined the prevalence of EWOCs and used simulations to test whether it could produce misleading inferences. Our review of Social Approach studies of high-confidence ASD genes revealed 45% of papers sampled used only this analytical approach. Through simulations, we then demonstrate how a lack of significant difference within one group often doesn’t correspond to a significant difference between groups, and show this erroneous interpretation increases the rate of false positives up to 25%. Finally, we define a simple solution: use an index, like a social preference score, with direct statistical comparisons between groups to identify significant differences. We also provide power calculations to guide sample size in future studies. Overall, elimination of EWOCs and adoption of direct comparisons should result in more accurate, reliable, and reproducible data interpretations from the Social Approach Task across ASD liability models.Lay SummaryThe Social Approach Task is widely used to assess social behavior in mice and is frequently used in studies modeling autism. However, reviewing published studies showed nearly half do not use correct comparisons to interpret the data. Using simulated and original data, we argue the correct statistical approach is a direct comparison of scores between groups. This simple solution should reduce false positives and improve consistency of results across studies.

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6424) ◽  
pp. eaav0581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Carta ◽  
Christopher H. Chen ◽  
Amanda L. Schott ◽  
Schnaude Dorizan ◽  
Kamran Khodakhah

The cerebellum has been implicated in a number of nonmotor mental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. However, its contribution to these disorders is not well understood. In mice, we found that the cerebellum sends direct excitatory projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), one of the brain regions that processes and encodes reward. Optogenetic activation of the cerebello-VTA projections was rewarding and, in a three-chamber social task, these projections were more active when the animal explored the social chamber. Intriguingly, activity in the cerebello-VTA pathway was required for the mice to show social preference in this task. Our data delineate a major, previously unappreciated role for the cerebellum in controlling the reward circuitry and social behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Lichtman ◽  
Eyal Bergmann ◽  
Alexandra Kavushansky ◽  
Nadav Cohen ◽  
Nina S. Levy ◽  
...  

AbstractIQSEC2 is an X-linked gene that is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, and epilepsy. IQSEC2 is a postsynaptic density protein, localized on excitatory synapses as part of the NMDA receptor complex and is suggested to play a role in AMPA receptor trafficking and mediation of long-term depression. Here, we present brain-wide structural volumetric and functional connectivity characterization in a novel mouse model with a missense mutation in the IQ domain of IQSEC2 (A350V). Using high-resolution structural and functional MRI, we show that animals with the A350V mutation display increased whole-brain volume which was further found to be specific to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, using a data-driven approach we identify putative alterations in structure–function relations of the frontal, auditory, and visual networks in A350V mice. Examination of these alterations revealed an increase in functional connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsomedial striatum. We also show that corticostriatal functional connectivity is correlated with individual variability in social behavior only in A350V mice, as assessed using the three-chamber social preference test. Our results at the systems-level bridge the impact of previously reported changes in AMPA receptor trafficking to network-level disruption and impaired social behavior. Further, the A350V mouse model recapitulates similarly reported brain-wide changes in other ASD mouse models, with substantially different cellular-level pathologies that nonetheless result in similar brain-wide alterations, suggesting that novel therapeutic approaches in ASD that result in systems-level rescue will be relevant to IQSEC2 mutations.


Author(s):  
Matthew C. Hocking ◽  
Robert T. Schultz ◽  
Jane E. Minturn ◽  
Cole Brodsky ◽  
May Albee ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: The neural mechanisms contributing to the social problems of pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are unknown. Face processing is important to social communication, social behavior, and peer acceptance. Research with other populations with social difficulties, namely autism spectrum disorder, suggests atypical brain activation in areas important for face processing. This case-controlled functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study compared brain activation during face processing in PBTS and typically developing (TD) youth. Methods: Participants included 36 age-, gender-, and IQ-matched youth (N = 18 per group). PBTS were at least 5 years from diagnosis and 2 years from the completion of tumor therapy. fMRI data were acquired during a face identity task and a control condition. Groups were compared on activation magnitude within the fusiform gyrus for the faces condition compared to the control condition. Correlational analyses evaluated associations between neuroimaging metrics and indices of social behavior for PBTS participants. Results: Both groups demonstrated face-specific activation within the social brain for the faces condition compared to the control condition. PBTS showed significantly decreased activation for faces in the medial portions of the fusiform gyrus bilaterally compared to TD youth, ps ≤ .004. Higher peak activity in the left fusiform gyrus was associated with better socialization (r = .53, p < .05). Conclusions: This study offers initial evidence of atypical activation in a key face processing area in PBTS. Such atypical activation may underlie some of the social difficulties of PBTS. Social cognitive neuroscience methodologies may elucidate the neurobiological bases for PBTS social behavior.


2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 628-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiko Satomoto ◽  
Yasushi Satoh ◽  
Katsuo Terui ◽  
Hideki Miyao ◽  
Kunio Takishima ◽  
...  

Background Neonatal exposure to anesthetics that block N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and/or hyperactivate gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor has been shown to cause neuronal degeneration in the developing brain, leading to functional deficits later in adulthood. The authors investigated whether exposure of neonatal mice to inhaled sevoflurane causes deficits in social behavior as well as learning disabilities. Methods Six-day-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 3% sevoflurane for 6 h. Activated cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining was used for detection of apoptosis. Cognitive functions were tested by pavlovian conditioned fear test. Social behavior was tested by social recognition and interaction tests. Results Neonatal exposure to sevoflurane significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells in the brain immediately after anesthesia. It caused persistent learning deficits later in adulthood as evidenced by decreased freezing response in both contextual and cued fear conditioning. The social recognition test demonstrated that mice with neonatal exposure to sevoflurane did not develop social memory. Furthermore, these mice showed decreased interactions with a social target compared with controls in the social interaction test, indicating a social interaction deficit. The authors did not attribute these abnormalities in social behavior to impairments of general interest in novelty or olfactory sensation, because they did not detect significant differences in the test for novel inanimate object interaction or for olfaction. Conclusions This study shows that exposure of neonatal mice to inhaled sevoflurane could cause not only learning deficits but also abnormal social behaviors resembling autism spectrum disorder.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (01) ◽  
pp. 91-107
Author(s):  
Dian Novita ◽  
Kenty Martiastuti

Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi fenomena nomophobia pada anak usia dini di wilayah perdesaan dan perkotaan, menganalisis perbedaan perilaku nomophobia dan perilaku sosial antara kedua wilayah, serta menganalisis hubungan perilaku nomophobia terhadap perilaku sosial. Penelitian ini dilakukan di dua wilayah yaitu di Kabupaten Kuningan (representatif wilayah perdesaan) dan Kota Depok (representatif wilayah perkotaan) dengan responden masing-masing sebanyak 50 orang, sehingga total responden adalah 100 orang. Data yang dikumpulkan dari penelitian ini adalah perilaku nomophobia yang menggunakan instrumen NMP-Q (Yildirim,2015) dan perilaku sosial diukur berdasarkan dimensi yang dikembangkan oleh Hurlock (1978) yang terdiri atas perilaku prososial dan antisosial. Melalui uji independent sample t-test, hasil penelitian menunjukkan tidak ada perbedaan signifikan pada perilaku nomophobia antara wilayah perdesaan dan perkotaan. Skor rata-rata perilaku nomophobia di perdesaan adalah 35,61 sedangkan di perkotaan adalah 35,72 yang termasuk kategori rendah. Perilaku sosial di kedua wilayah sebagian besar menunjukkan kategori tinggi (64%) dan tidak ada perbedaan perilaku sosial secara umum baik di perdesaan maupun perkotaan. Hasil uji korelasi menunjukkan tidak adanya hubungan signifikan antara perilaku nomophobia dan perilaku sosial namun koefisien korelasi negatif yaitu -0,085 menjadi indikasi bahwa semakin tinggi perilaku nomophobia maka akan semakin rendah perilaku sosial anak usia dini. Hal ini perlu mendapat perhatian bersama, mengingat dampak buruk yang dapat ditimbulkan dari adanya fenomena nomophobia terutama pada anak usia dini. Kata Kunci: anak usia dini, nomophobia, perilaku sosial   Nomophobia Phenomenons in Early Childhood based on Regional Typology and       Its Relationship to Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors Abstract This study aims to identify the phenomenon of nomophobia in early childhood in rural and urban areas, to analyze differences in nomophobic behavior and social behavior between the two regions and to analyze the relationship between nomophobic behavior and social behavior. This research was conducted in two areas, namely Kuningan District (rural area representative) and Depok City (urban area representative) with 50 respondents each, so that the total number of respondents was 100 people. The data collected from this study were nomophobic behavior using the NMP-Q instrument (Yildirim, 2015) and social behavior was measured based on the dimensions developed by Hurlock (1978) which consisted of prosocial and antisocial behavior. Through the independent samples t-test, it was found that the results of the study showed no significant difference in nomophobic behavior between rural and urban areas. The average score of nomophobic behavior in rural areas is 35,61, while in urban areas it is 35,72 which is in the low category. Most of the social behavior in the two regions shows the high category (64%) and there is no difference in social behavior in general, both in rural and urban areas. The results of the correlation test showed that there was no significant relationship between nomophobic behavior and social behavior, but the negative correlation coefficient, namely -0,085, is an indication that the higher the nomophobic behavior, the lower the social behavior of early childhood. This needs mutual attention, considering the bad effects that can be caused by the phenomenon of nomophobia, especially in early childhood. Keywords : early childhood, nomophobia, social behavior


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-93
Author(s):  
Endang Puspitasari

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the application of the smart egg puzzle game on the social behavior of early childhood. This research was conducted in TK intan Berlian Lamongan with a total sample of 35 children. This study uses a quantitative approach. The research design in this study uses a quasi-experimental research design, where this design has a control group but does not fully function to control external variables that affect the implementation of the experiment. In this study, a nonequivalent control group design was used, where the experimental group and the control group were not chosen randomly. The indicators of this research are being cooperative, expressing emotions according to existing conditions and sharing with others. The results showed that the smart egg puzzle game had a significant effect on understanding the concept of geometry and social behavior in children aged 5-6 years at Intan Berlian Kindergarten. The t-test proves that the value of sig. Levene's Test for Equality of Variances is 0.221, greater than 0.05, it means that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. Thus it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group


2015 ◽  
pp. 1430-1462
Author(s):  
Vivi Mandasari ◽  
Lau Bee Theng

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders caused by brain abnormalities which result in impaired social story. Research on treatment in helping children with ASD to improve social story is growing as the cases of children diagnosed with ASD are on the rise. Social story is one of the proven methods of treatment in helping children with ASD to acquire social story through scenarios written in the form of stories. However, the current approaches to present the social story lack interactivity, consuming more intensive efforts to acquire the social story. Learning is most effectual when motivated; thus, the purpose of this study is to discover a learning tool that children with ASD will be motivated to learn independently, and it is achievable by combining elements that they are interested in. This research utilizes the interactivity of multimedia as a medium to present an interactive pedagogical tool for children with ASD to acquire social story. This combination is anticipated to be an effective tool in teaching social story to children with ASD, as they are naturally drawn to computers and visual cues, combined with the fact that Social Story™ has been effective in changing the social behavior of children with ASD. Thus, this study has contributed to the emergent research of treatment for children with ASD in social story acquisition. The result of this study is important as it presents a novel assistance that can be used effectively in assisting children with ASD to improve their main deficit, social story.


ملخص: تعد “قصيدة الأرض” لمحمود درويش من القصائد المحورية التي تتواصل معها قضية الشاعر وشعبه وقضية انتفاضة الشعب في يوم الأرض؛ لإحياء مشكلة أمام الدنيا؛ لكي لا تنسى، فهي قضية حية متفجرة، وستظل كذلك؛ حتى تتحرر الأرض، ويعود الحق إلى أهله، وترجع فلسطين حرة أبية بإذن الله تعالى.فقد قرأت الباحثة هذه القصيدة قراءة عبر الحقول الدلالية من خلال الألفاظ الدالة على الأرض ومترادفاتها والألفاظ الدالة على الأمكنة، ومن ثم الألفاظ الدالة على الأزمنة، وقد استنتجت الباحثة أن الأرض من أكثر المفردات تكراراً وأهمية، فهي موضوعها الرئيس أولاً ومحور القصيدة ثانياً. وقد اعتمدت الباحثة المنهج الأسلوبي؛ مما يتناسب مع موضوع الأرض والقضية، علماً أن الباحثة استفادت من المنهج الوصفي التحليلي استفادة تتماشى مع المنهج الأسلوبي، وكذلك المنهج الإحصائي لتحديد أنواع الدلالة ، وتخدم الدراسة في الوقت نفسه. Abstract “The land poem” is considered as one of Mohmmad Darwish’s poems with the issue of the poet and his people and the uprising of the people contact, This is on land day for the sake of revival of a problem in full view of the world in order not to be forgotten, It is a live explosive issue and it will remain so until the land is free and liberated, people return their rights and Palestine returns free and proud by god willing. The researcher reads this poem through inductive reading, She hopes to present a modest service and usefulness. The reading was by using a table format upon which the table was a word review function based on the land and it’s synonyms. As well as vocabularies that indicates the places and the times. The researcher concluded that the land is one of the most frequent and important vocabularies first, it is the main theme. Second, it is the focus of the poem.The researcher depended on Social Approach so as to suit the subject of the land and the issue. Please note that she benefited from the Descriptive Analytical Approach in line with the Social .Approach. Moreover, it served the research.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2847-2851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira M. Ferguson ◽  
Roy G. Danzmann

We compared the social behavior of juvenile rainbow trout with a regulatory allele, Pgm-1-t(b), to their full-sibs without this allele. Other studies have shown that this gene has many pleiotropic effects in the Arlee strain, the most obvious being an increase in developmental rate at about the time of hatching. The frequencies of two agonistic action patterns, charge and lateral display, and two nonagonistic measures, yawn and forage, were used to describe early social behavior. Pgm-1-t(b) was associated with significantly higher frequencies of charge and larger size in fish from the Arlee strain. However, fish from the DeSmet strain with Pgm-1-t(b) were no more aggressive or longer than their full-sibs lacking this allele. Length was the primary determinant of dominance status in both strains, regardless of Pgm-1-t genotype. In both strains, there was no significant difference between genotypes in the frequency of lateral display and forage. Our results show that genetic differences at a single locus can have pleiotropic effects on behavior with potential adaptive significance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Aggarwal ◽  
Babita Prusty

The research titled “Effect of Social Stories on social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder” was aimed to study that how Social Stories as an intervention affect the social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In the study a sample of 4 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ranging from 4-8 years of age was taken using purposive sampling. The tool used to assess the social skills was Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition – Standard Version (CARS2-ST). The data was collected using Pre-Post Research Design and then analyzed using t-test as the statistical tool. There was significant difference between the scores of pre intervention and post intervention by Social Stories. The results hence generated proved that social skills including relating to people, adaptation to change, visual response, listening response and verbal communication can be enhanced and supported by the Social Stories.


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