The following is a list of abstracts from the Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders (JADD) that I found especially interested and
copied to here. -Heph.

Volume 34.

Journal of Autism and developmental disorders
http://www.springerlink.com/content/1573-3432/

Published online: 20 April 2006
Abstract This study assessed midsagittal corpus callosum cross sectional
areas in 3�4 year olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared
to typically developing (TD) and developmentally delayed (DD) children.
Though not different in absolute size compared to TD, ASD callosums
were disproportionately small adjusted for increased ASD cerebral volume.
ASD clinical subgroup analysis revealed greater proportional callosum
reduction in the more severely affected autistic disorder (AD) than
in pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
children. DD children had smaller absolute callosums than ASD and TD.
Subregion analysis revealed widely distributed callosum differences between
ASD and TD children. Results could reflect decreased
inter-hemispheric connectivity or cerebral enlargement due to increase
in tissues less represented in the corpus callosum in ASD.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/132r696m5v511771/?p=eca5dfb4ea20464381c01b3e974f7bbe&pi=3

Published online: 15 April 2006
Abstract Sleep patterns of 32 school-age children with Asperger syndrome
(AS) and high-functioning autism (HFA) were compared to those of 32
typically developing age- and gender-matched children, using parent survey
and one week of diary and actigraphic monitoring. Parents of children
with AS/HFA more commonly reported that their children had difficulty
falling asleep. One week of sleep recording with diary and actigraphy
confirmed that children in the AS/HFA group spent a longer time awake in
bed before falling asleep than children in the control group, possibly
because the children in the AS/HFA group had earlier bedtimes. Other
essential aspects of sleep patterns coincided between the groups. The
sleep patterns of children with AS and HFA did not differ.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/y877661n5835w341/?p=aa462c4fa5e14d5aa79d0b057e45eeb9&pi=1
pdf'd

Published online: 12 April 2006
Abstract The objective of this investigation was to examine the existence
of minor physical anomalies (MPA) in autism. The interorbital
and interlens distances were measured on MRI scans obtained from a sample of
40 non-mentally retarded individuals with autism and 41 healthy
controls. No differences were observed between the two groups on
any measurements. However, when the analysis was conducted using a split
median procedure, individuals with autism and either low FSIQ, PIQ, or VIQ
had shorter interorbital distances when compared to controls. Hypotelorism
is a MPA that may be present in a subgroup of individuals with
autism. Additional research is warranted using large sample sizes with a
wide range of intellectual functioning.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/c266787gh72831j5/fulltext.pdf
pdf'd and printed

Published online: 21 April 2006
Abstract Many researchers have suggested that temperament information could
be useful for understanding the behavioral variability within the
autism spectrum. The purpose of this brief report is to examine
temperament profiles of 110 children with ASD (ages 3�8 years, 61 with
Autistic Disorder, 42 with PDD-NOS; and 7 with Asperger Disorder) via
a commonly used parent report measure of child temperament.
Internal consistency of temperament dimensions, test�retest
reliability, descriptions of means and standard deviations are
examined, relative to previously published norms. Internal consistency of
the dimensions and test�retest reliability were comparable to published
norms; however, children with autism were rated as presenting with more
extreme scores than typically-developing children on several
dimensions. Limitations and implications for future work are discussed.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/712x870m257q8516/?p=aa462c4fa5e14d5aa79d0b057e45eeb9&pi=6
pdf"d
I have some problems with the validity of their constructs...
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Volume 36 number 4:
Published online: 7 April 2006
Abstract We explored the relationships between �autistic� traits as
measured by the AQ (Autism-Spectrum Quotient; Baron-Cohen et al., J.
Autism Develop. Disord. (2001b) 31 5) and various personality traits
or cognitive ability, which usually coincide with autistic symptoms,
for general populations. Results showed the AQ was associated with
tendencies toward an obsessional personality as defined by the TCI
(Temperament and Character Inventory), higher depression and anxiety,
and higher frequency of experience of being bullied. These results parallel
the patterns in autism and corroborate the validity of the AQ for
general populations. Contrary to our prediction, however, there was
no relationship between the AQ and cognitive ability, such as theory of
mind, executive functioning, and central coherence, suggesting the AQ does
not reflect autism-specific cognitive patterns in general populations.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/515617w24315k0g8/?p=b03d367df8064ef3a77f37d121c32e67&pi=9
pdf'd
Send to GM

For people who insist eye-gaze is easy to alter...
Published online: 23 March 2006
Abstract The effects of another person�s gaze on physiological arousal
were investigated by measuring skin conductance responses (SCR). Twelve
able children with autism and 12 control children were shown face stimuli
with straight gaze (eye contact) or averted gaze on a computer monitor.
In children with autism, the responses to straight gaze were stronger
than responses to averted gaze, whereas there was no difference in
the responses to these gaze conditions in normally developing children.
Thus, these results showed that eye gaze elicited differential pattern of
SCR in normally developing children and in children with autism. It is
possible that the enhanced arousal to eye contact may contribute to
the abnormal gaze behaviour frequently reported in the context of
autism.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/g2gm745543618gh2/?p=b03d367df8064ef3a77f37d121c32e67&pi=6

vol 36
Published online: 13 April 2006
Abstract One of the most consistent biological findings in autism is
elevated whole blood serotonin (5-HT) levels found in about 1/3 of
cases. Immune abnormalities are also commonly observed in this disorder.
Given 5-HT�s role as an immunomodulator, possible connections between 5-HT
and immune abnormalities in autism are explored in this review. Areas of
focus include hyperserotoninemia and cellular immune function,
autoantibodies to 5-HT receptors, and 5-HT�s role in autoimmunity.
Further research is needed to determine the interactions
between neuropsychiatric and immune dysfunction in autism and related
disorders.
pdf'd and printed

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Vol 36 number 2

Baron-Cohen's original cross-cultural Jpn study
Published online: 4 April 2006
Abstract The AQ (Autism-Spectrum Quotient) is a self-administered
instrument for measuring the degree to which an adult with normal
intelligence has the traits associated with the autistic spectrum. The AQ
was administered in Japan to test whether the UK results would generalize to
a very different culture. Three groups of subjects, adults with AS or
HFA (n=57), adult controls (n=194), and University students (n=1050)
were assessed. The adults with AS/HFA had a mean AQ score which
was significantly higher than both the controls and the University
students. Among the controls, males scored significantly higher than
females. The similarity of results in both the general population and
the clinical group across the two cultures was remarkable.
pdf'd
TO GM
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Vol 36
Number 3:
Published online: 22 March 2006
Abstract The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) quantifies autistic traits
in adults. This paper adapted the AQ for children (age 9.8�15.4 years).
Three groups of participants were assessed: Group 1: n=52 adolescents
with Asperger Syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA); Group 2:
n=79 adolescents with classic autism; and Group 3, n=50 controls.
The adolescents with AS/HFA did not differ significantly from the
adolescents with autism but both clinical groups scored higher than
controls. Approximately 90% of the adolescents with AS/HFA and autism
scored 30+, vs. none of the controls. Among the controls, boys scored
higher than girls. The AQ can rapidly quantify where an adolescent is
situated on the continuum from autism to
normality.

Published online: 31 March 2006
The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with
high-functioning autism (HFA), Asperger�s syndrome (AS), and
pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS) can
be ifferentiated from each other and from normal controls on
their neurocognitive executive functioning (EF) profile. Children with HFA
and AS showed the most EF deficits. The EF profile of the PDDNOS group was
more disturbed that the normal control group, but was less disturbed than
the profile of the HFA and AS groups. Little difference was found between
the three PDD subtypes with respect to EF. This study supports the view
that executive dysfunctioning plays an important role in autism. The
usefulness of a distinction between different PDD subtypes was not
demonstrated.
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