Using a Functional Analysis Followed by Differential Reinforcement and Extinction to Reduce Challenging Behaviors in Children With Smith-Magenis Syndrome.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a genetic disorder, commonly caused by a 17p11.2 deletion, affecting the Retinoic Acid Induced 1 gene. It affects approximately 1 in 25,000 individuals, with over 90% engaging in challenging behaviors.

Topology of the Structural Social Brain Network in Typical Adults.

Although a large body of research has identified discrete neuroanatomical regions involved in social cognition and behavior (the "social brain"), the existing findings are based largely on studies of specific brain structures defined within the context of particular tasks or for specific types of social behavior. The objective of the current work was to view these regions as nodes of a larger collective network and to quantitatively characterize both the topology of that network and the relative criticality of its many nodes. Large-scale data mining was performed to generate seed regions of the social brain.

Walking Ability is Associated with Social Communication Skills in Infants at High Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Achievement of early motor milestones in infancy affords new opportunities for social interaction and communication. Research has shown that both motor and social deficits are observed in infants who later develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study examined associations between motor and social-communication skills in 12-month-old infant siblings of children with ASD who are at heightened risk for developmental delays (N=86) and low-risk, typically developing infants (N=113).

The Use of Matrix Training to Teach Color-Shape Tacts to Children with Autism.

Matrix training consists of preplanning instruction by arranging components of desired skills across a minimum of two axes. In the current study, three matrices were developed for each participant (e.g.

Optimization of macaque brain DMRI connectome by neuron tracing and myelin stain data.

Accurate assessment of connectional anatomy of primate brains can be an important avenue to better understand the structural and functional organization of brains. To this end, numerous connectome projects have been initiated to create a comprehensive map of the connectional anatomy over a large spatial expanse. Tractography based on diffusion MRI (dMRI) data has been used as a tool by many connectome projects in that it is widely used to visualize axonal pathways and reveal microstructural features on living brains.

White matter network topology relates to cognitive flexibility and cumulative neurological risk in adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors.

Adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors exhibit deficits in executive functioning. Given that brain tumors and medical treatments for brain tumors result in disruptions to white matter, a network analysis was used to explore the topological properties of white matter networks. This study used diffusion tensor imaging and deterministic tractography in 38 adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors (mean age in years = 23.

Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Profiles of Children Who Are Missed.

Objective: To characterize children presenting with concerns for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) missed by parent-report screeners and to examine benefits of a combined screening approach with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3).

Methods: Participants included were 154 children aged 16 to 42 months presenting for an evaluation at an autism center. Caregivers completed the M-CHAT-R, ASQ-3, and a demographic questionnaire.

Enhancing Instruction via Instructive Feedback for a Child With Autism Using a Speech-Generating Device.

Instructive feedback (IF) is a procedure in which secondary targets are presented to a learner during instruction for primary skills. Previous research has demonstrated that students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may acquire at least a portion of skills presented via IF. Although it is a promising instructional methodology for learners with ASD, few studies focus on learners who use an augmentative device for communication purposes.

An experimental demonstration of AAB renewal in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Operant renewal is a return of extinguished behavior due to changes in contextual stimuli that control the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a response. Well-established in classical conditioning and operant research, renewal presents itself in three forms-ABA, ABC, and AAB-and poses threats to treatment maintenance where extinction procedures are utilized. As AAB renewal may be less likely to occur than ABA or ABC renewal, the current study sought to determine if AAB renewal would occur with three participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder who were taught a simple lever pull response.

Study protocol for The Emory 3q29 Project: evaluation of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and medical symptoms in 3q29 deletion syndrome.

Background: 3q29 deletion syndrome is caused by a recurrent hemizygous 1.6 Mb deletion on the long arm of chromosome 3. The syndrome is rare (1 in 30,000 individuals) and is associated with mild to moderate intellectual disability, increased risk for autism and anxiety, and a 40-fold increased risk for schizophrenia, along with a host of physical manifestations.

Self-esteem in adults with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders: The roles of tic severity, treatment, and comorbidity.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorders (CTD) are stigmatizing disorders that may significantly impact self-esteem. Alternatively, comorbid psychiatric illnesses may affect self-esteem more than tics themselves. Extant research on self-esteem in TS/CTD is limited, has inconsistently examined the effect of comorbidities on self-esteem, and yields mixed findings.

Longitudinal Anthropometric Assessment of Rhesus Macaque () Model of Huntington Disease.

The neurodegeneration associated with Huntington disease (HD) leads to the onset of motor and cognitive impairment and their advancement with increased age in humans. In children at risk for HD, body measurement growth abnormalities include a reduction in BMI, weight, height, and head circumference. The transgenic HD NHP model was first reported in 2008, and progressive decline in cognitive behaviors and motor impairment have been reported.

A multicenter examination and strategic revisions of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale.

Objective: To examine the internal consistency and distribution of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores to inform modification of the measure.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 617 participants with a tic disorder (516 children and 101 adults), who completed an age-appropriate diagnostic interview and the YGTSS to evaluate tic symptom severity. The distributions of scores on YGTSS dimensions were evaluated for normality and skewness.

A consecutive case series analysis of a behavioral intervention for enuresis in children with developmental disabilities.

Children with developmental disabilities (DD) are more likely than typically developing peers to have issues with enuresis. Past research has shown the success of behavioral treatments consisting of scheduled sits and reinforcement for continent voids. However, this research has included small sample sizes, while studies with larger numbers have lacked key information (i.

Neonatal Transitions in Social Behavior and Their Implications for Autism.

Within the context of early infant-caregiver interaction, we review a series of pivotal transitions that occur within the first 6 months of typical infancy, with emphasis on behavior and brain mechanisms involved in preferential orientation towards, and interaction with, other people. Our goal in reviewing these transitions is to better understand how they may lay a necessary and/or sufficient groundwork for subsequent phases of development, and also to understand how the breakdown thereof, when development is atypical and those transitions become derailed, may instead yield disability. We review these developmental processes in light of recent studies documenting disruptions to early-emerging brain and behavior mechanisms in infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, shedding light on the brain-behavior pathogenesis of autism.

Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges, Advances, and the Need for Biomarkers of Relevance to Public Health.

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most strongly genetic of all complex neuropsychiatric disorders, it is still defined and diagnosed behaviorally. The vast genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity of the condition necessitate a vigorous search for biological markers capable of aiding in diagnosis, identifying more homogeneous subgroups for biological study, individualizing treatment, and measuring treatment response. Many candidate biomarkers are available, spanning genetic, metabolic, electroencephalographic, magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological methods.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of extended-release guanfacine in children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD symptoms: an analysis of secondary outcome measures.

In a prior report, we showed that extended-release guanfacine (GEXR) is safe and effective for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) accompanied by ADHD symptoms. Here, we examine the impact of GEXR on oppositional behavior, anxiety, repetitive behavior, and sleep disturbance. Sixty-two subjects with ASD (53 boys, 9 girls; ages 5-14 years) were randomly assigned to GEXR (n = 30) or placebo (n = 32) for 8 weeks.

Exploring sleep quality of young children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behaviors.

Background And Purpose: Sleep disturbances in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common and may impair daytime functioning as well as add to parental burden. In this well characterized sample of young children with ASD and disruptive behaviors, we examine the association of age and IQ in sleep disturbances using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire modified for ASD (CSHQ-ASD). We also test whether children with poor sleep have greater daytime behavioral problems than those with better sleep.

Teaching children with autism to explain how: A case for problem solving?

Few studies have applied Skinner's (1953) conceptualization of problem solving to teach socially significant behaviors to individuals with developmental disabilities. The current study used a multiple probe design across behavior (sets) to evaluate the effects of problem-solving strategy training (PSST) on the target behavior of explaining how to complete familiar activities. During baseline, none of the three participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could respond to the problems presented to them (i.

Using caregiver report on the impact of challenging behavior exhibited by children with autism spectrum disorder to guide treatment development and outcomes.

Evaluations of treatments using applied behavior analysis (ABA) for challenging behavior have relied mostly on direct behavioral observation. While observation is crucial, qualitative information can also be beneficial. In this study, we describe methods for using qualitative information in ABA treatments for challenging behavior.

Modification of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and adversely impact daytime functioning. Although no questionnaires have been developed to assess sleep in children with ASD, the 33-item Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) is widely used in this population. We examined the factor structure of the CSHQ in 2872 children (age 4-10 years) enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network.

An evaluation of delay to reinforcement and mand variability during functional communication training.

Children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities often exhibit invariant responding (i.e., restricted behavioral repertoires), deficits in communication, and challenging behavior.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Preferential Attention to Biological Motion in 2- to 24-Month-Old Infants.

Preferential attention to biological motion is an early-emerging mechanism of adaptive action that plays a critical role in social development. The present study provides a comprehensive longitudinal mapping of developmental change in preferential attention to biological motion in 116 infants at 7 longitudinal time points. Tested repeatedly from 2 until 24 months of age, results reveal that preferential attention to biological motion changes considerably during the first months of life.

Rapport Building and Instructional Fading Prior to Discrete Trial Instruction: Moving From Child-Led Play to Intensive Teaching.

Discrete trial instruction (DTI) is effective for teaching skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although effective, instructional settings can become aversive resulting in avoidant and escape-related behaviors. Given the significant social impairments associated with ASD, interventions that promote social approach and reduce avoidance are warranted.

Assessing Risk of Bias in Randomized Controlled Trials for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Aim: To determine construct validity and reliability indicators of the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool in the context of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate a unidimensional model consisting of 9 RoB categorical indicators evaluated across 94 RCTs addressing interventions for ASD.

Results: Only five of the nine original RoB items returned good fit indices and so were retained in the analysis.