Positive Affect Processing and Joint Attention in Infants at High Risk for Autism: An Exploratory Study.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Positive Affect Processing and Joint Attention in Infants at High Risk for Autism: An Exploratory Study.
Authors:	Key, Alexandra, Ibanez, Lisa, Henderson, Heather, Warren, Zachary, Messinger, Daniel, Stone, Wendy
Source:	Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Dec2015, Vol. 45 Issue 12, p4051-4062. 12p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts, 3 Graphs.
Subjects:	Autism risk factors, Affect (Psychology), Analysis of variance, Attention in children, Chi-squared test, Electrodes, Electroencephalography, Evoked potentials (Electrophysiology), Projective techniques, Psychological tests, Research funding, Repeated measures design, Descriptive statistics, Children
Abstract:	Few behavioral indices of risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are present before 12 months, and potential biomarkers remain largely unexamined. This prospective study of infant siblings of children with ASD ( n = 16) and low-risk comparison infants ( n = 15) examined group differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) indexing processing of facial positive affect (N290/P400, Nc) at 9 months and their relation to joint attention at 15 months. Group differences were most pronounced for subtle facial expressions, in that the low-risk group exhibited relatively longer processing (P400 latency) and greater attention resource allocation (Nc amplitude). Exploratory analyses found associations between ERP responses and later joint attention, suggesting that attention to positive affect cues may support the development of other social competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	Few behavioral indices of risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are present before 12 months, and potential biomarkers remain largely unexamined. This prospective study of infant siblings of children with ASD ( n = 16) and low-risk comparison infants ( n = 15) examined group differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) indexing processing of facial positive affect (N290/P400, Nc) at 9 months and their relation to joint attention at 15 months. Group differences were most pronounced for subtle facial expressions, in that the low-risk group exhibited relatively longer processing (P400 latency) and greater attention resource allocation (Nc amplitude). Exploratory analyses found associations between ERP responses and later joint attention, suggesting that attention to positive affect cues may support the development of other social competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	01623257
DOI:	10.1007/s10803-014-2191-x