Plasma Oxytocin in Children with Autism and Its Correlations with Behavioral Parameters in Children and Parents

OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin (OT) has been implicated to play an important role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) etiology. We aimed to find out the differences in plasma OT levels between children with autism and healthy children, the associations of OT levels with particular autism symptoms and the associations of particular parental autistic traits with their ASD children OT levels. METHODS: We included 19 boys with autism and 44 healthy age-matched boys. OT levels were analyzed by ELISA method. Children with autism were scored by Childhood Autism Rating Scale and Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI), adjusted research version. Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Systemizing Quotient (SQ) and Empathizing Quotient were completed by parents of children with autism. RESULTS: Children with autism had significantly lower plasma OT levels than controls. OT levels positively correlated with ADI Reciprocal Interaction and Communication scores. AQ and SQ of fathers positively correlated with children plasma OT level. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis of OT deficiency in autism. The "paradoxical" associations of OT levels and social skills in children with autism indicate disturbances at various levels of OT system. We first reported associations of OT levels in children with autism and behavioral measures in fathers indicating that OT abnormalities stay between parental autistic traits and autism symptoms in their children.

Sexo, estilos cognitivos e mapas cognitivos: avaliando suas relações na população geral / Gender, systemizing style and cognitive maps: examining their links in the general population

Este artigo relata em que medida homens e mulheres se diferenciam quanto ao estilo cognitivo de sistematização e à habilidade de construção de mapas cognitivos. Participaram da pesquisa 214 pessoas (57% mulheres) de João Pessoa (PB), com idade média de 29,3 anos. Elas foram requeridas a listar as Unidades da Federação (UFs) e capitais brasileiras, indicar em mapa esquemático as UFs do país, estimar as distâncias entre capitais e responder o quociente de sistematização. Os resultados indicaram que homens e mulheres se diferenciam em relação ao número de acertos entre capitais e à pontuação em sistematização; em média, os homens apresentam mais acertos e são mais sistematizadores. Em relação à estimativa de distâncias, verificou-se uma configuração espacial mais adequada para as pessoas do sexo masculino. Concluindo, o sexo e o estilo cognitivo de sistematização influenciam a construção de mapas cognitivos.

This study examined the extent to which men and women differ regarding systemizing and construction of cognitive maps. Participants were 214 people (57% women) from João Pessoa (Brazil), with mean age of 29.3 years. They were asked to list the Brazilian Federation Unities (BFUs) and their capitals, to indicate in a sketch map the BFUs, to estimate the distances between capitals, and to answer the systemizing quotient test and demographic questions. Results showed that men and women differ with respect to the number of BFUs-capital correctly listed, and on the systemizing score, with men showing more right answers and being more systemizing than women. Men and women did not differ in locating the BFUs in the map, but men had more correct answers overall. In terms of distance estimation once again men showed better spatial representation than women. These findings indicate the influence of sex and systematizing on the representation of cognitive maps.

Systemizing effect study on obsessive-compulsive symptoms and autism-spectrum quotient among college students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the correlations between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and autism-spectrum quotient and explore if systemizing is the mediator between them. Methods With Padua Inventory (PZ) ,AQ and Systemizing Quotient (SQ), 1901 college students were assessed with stratified random sampling survey. Results Compared with the femal students, score of systemizing in male students had a significant increase ( (26. 773 ± 9.225 )vs (22.017 ± 7 ± 934), P ＜0.01 ). AQ total score was significantly positive correlated with PI total score( r=0. 336, P＜0.01 ),and correlation was also found among SQ,AQ and PI in different degrees. the mediating effect of systemizing was significant. The regression equation was AQ = 18. 942 +0. 064PI -0. 022SQ (P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion There are positive correlation between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and AQ in college students, and systemizing is the mediator between above symptoms.