RESUMO
According to the Social Motivation model children with autism show deficits in social orienting (looking at faces and responding to name) at the end of their first year of life. In this model, those deficits are both the earliest behavioral consequences of an alteration in the dopamine reward system balance and the foundation of the social impairments that characterize this neurodevelopmental disorder. The current study tests two of the main predictions of this model: that social orienting deficits are the first behavioral manifestation of autism, and that they are developmentally related to joint attention deficits. We retrospectively analyzed family home movies of 9- to 12-month-old infants, 29 of whom were later diagnosed with autism and 16 of whom were typically developing. After confirming that the videotapes of both groups were similar in content of the scenes recorded (contexts, type of social activity, etc.), we compared their social orienting (social gaze and responding to name) and joint attention behaviors (gaze alternation and gestures). No significant differences between groups were found in looking at faces, but the group with autism showed deficits in responding to name and initiations of joint attention (IJA). Looking at people was not significantly correlated with IJA behaviors, but response to name was. The lack of group differences in looking at faces between 9 and 12 months, and the existence of IJA difficulties in the ASD group without concurrent impairment in looking at faces, do not support predictions of the Social Motivation model. LAY SUMMARY: Various theories have been proposed to explain the emergence of autism symptoms early in life. This study tested two key predictions of the Social Motivation model. Comparing family movies of children 9- to 12-months-old later diagnosed with autism or with typical development, we did not observe difficulties in looking at other people's faces but children with autism responded to name and used gaze and gestures to direct the adult's attention to events of interest less frequently. This absence of difficulties in looking at faces does not fit with what the Social Motivation model of autism predicts and therefore we must develop alternative explanations.
Assuntos
Transtorno do Espectro Autista , Transtorno Autístico , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/complicações , Criança , Humanos , Lactente , Filmes Cinematográficos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Comportamento SocialRESUMO
All the papers on autism published in journals by Spanish authors until 2007 were reviewed in order to identify changes and trends in studies, journals and authorship networks. A total of 567 works were analyzed. Results showed a continuous increase in the total number of publications and collaborative works (especially from 1999 onwards), as well as coincidence of the general framework of papers with the guidelines for research and treatment on autism that were published in the Anglo-Saxon arena for the same period. Some weak points were also identified, such as the low proportion of empirical and funded studies, low impact of the journals, and low author continuity, which have also been noted for other domains of research in Spain. We conclude that psychological and biomedical research on autism is currently a growing field in our country. However, important changes are needed, both in the way the authors conduct and communicate their studies, and in the commitment of some institutions (specially, universities and parent advocacy groups). Lastly, some proposals are suggested to improve the scientific quality of future studies and their usefulness for people with autism.
Assuntos
Autoria , Transtorno Autístico , Editoração/tendências , Bibliometria , Humanos , EspanhaRESUMO
Se revisaron todos los trabajos sobre autismo publicados en revistas por autores españoles hasta 2007 para analizar la evolución de los estudios, las revistas y las redes de coautoría en este ámbito. En total, se analizaron 567 trabajos. Se observó un incremento progresivo del total de artículos publicados y de los investigadores que trabajan en colaboración, especialmente en los últimos diez años, así como una notable coincidencia entre el enfoque general de los trabajos y las recomendaciones publicadas en el ámbito anglosajón sobre la investigación y el tratamiento del autismo para ese periodo. También se identificaron puntos débiles, como la baja proporción de trabajos empíricos y financiados, el bajo impacto de las revistas y la falta de continuidad de los autores, detectados también en otras áreas de investigación. Se concluye que los estudios psicológicos y biomédicos del autismo en España están actualmente en expansión, pero que se requerirían cambios importantes en el modo en que los autores desarrollan y comunican sus trabajos y una mayor implicación de las instituciones (especialmente, universidades y asociaciones de padres). Finalmente, se sugieren algunas propuestas para mejorar la calidad y visibilidad de los futuros estudios y su utilidad real para las personas afectadas(AU)
All the papers on autism published in journals by Spanish authors until 2007 were reviewed in order to identify changes and trends in studies, journals and authorship networks. A total of 567 works were analyzed. Results showed a continuous increase in the total number of publications and collaborative works (especially from 1999 onwards), as well as coincidence of the general framework of papers with the guidelines for research and treatment on autism that were published in the Anglo-Saxon arena for the same period. Some weak points were also identified, such as the low proportion of empirical and funded studies, low impact of the journals, and low author continuity, which have also been noted for other domains of research in Spain. We conclude that psychological and biomedical research on autism is currently a growing field in our country. However, important changes are needed, both in the way the authors conduct and communicate their studies, and in the commitment of some institutions (specially, universities and parent advocacy groups). Lastly, some proposals are suggested to improve the scientific quality of future studies and their usefulness for people with autism(AU)
