Absence of Contagious Yawning in ASD

Laura Pynn18/03/08

Research Question Is the capacity for empathy related to

deficits in contagious yawning? Deficits in capacity for empathy known to

exist in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Contagious yawning known to activate the superior temporal sulcus and periamygdalar region Structural abnormalities have been reported

in these areas in individuals with ASD

ParticipantsASD children

N = 24 20 males, 4

females Mean=11.6 yrs

7.0-15.9 IQ = 82.1

46-127

TD children N = 25

14 males, 11 females

Mean = 11.0 8.0-14.9

IQ = 106.9 85-142

ProcedureYawn Condition

6 video clips - yawning faces, 7s each

1 minute inter-stimulus interval Silent cartoon

animation Participants asked to

count # of female faces to ensure they attended to the display

Control Condition 6 video clips - open

mouth faces, 7s each 1 minute inter-

stimulus interval Silent cartoon

animation Participants asked to

count # of female faces to ensure they attended to the display

Results Between Groups

Yawn videos elicited more yawns from the TD group than the ASD group

No difference between yawning rates for control videos; therefore rates of spontaneous yawning do not differ between groups

Within Groups No difference between yawn

and control condition in ASD children

Significant differences between the yawn and control conditions for TD children

Further Analysis Analysis of male participants only:

Results remained significant IQ matched subgroups:

16 TD children, 16 ASD children TD children still showed more

yawning than ASD children in the yawn condition

Discussion Demonstrates neuropathology can

specifically impair contagious yawning without effecting spontaneous yawning

“…current results support the claim that contagious yawning and the capacity for empathy share common neural and cognitive mechanisms.”

Discussion Why?

Possible dysfunction of the mirror neuron system (MNS) However, previous fMRI studies found no selective

activation of Broca’s area during contagious yawning http://www.baillement.com/f.mri-article.html

Atypical patterns of face fixation - perception of the eye regions is most important for eliciting yawns Future studies with eye tracking?