Presented During:
Thursday, June 26, 2025: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Room:
M4 (Mezzanine Level)
Poster No:
300
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Yasuyo Minagawa1, Ei-ichi Hoshino2, Masahiro Hata2, Mingdi Xu2
Institutions:
1Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 2Center for Design of Future Symbiosis, Global Research Institute, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Ei-ichi Hoshino
Center for Design of Future Symbiosis, Global Research Institute, Keio University
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Masahiro Hata
Center for Design of Future Symbiosis, Global Research Institute, Keio University
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Mingdi Xu
Center for Design of Future Symbiosis, Global Research Institute, Keio University
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Introduction:
The development of infants' social and language skills is deeply influenced by interactions with caregivers, especially through maternal speech. From the prenatal stage, infants display a preference for their mother's voice, which aids in phoneme adjustment, word learning, and emotion recognition. This highlights its critical role in fostering sociality and language acquisition. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by social and language delays, may involve atypical responses to maternal voices, though little is known about this in infancy. This study focuses on brain responses to maternal versus unfamiliar voices in infants at Elevated Likelihood (EL) of ASD, compared to Low Likelihood (LL) infants, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Previous research suggests EL infants may show weaker preferences and altered neural connectivity to maternal voices, potentially impacting language development. By examining cortical activation and connectivity at 6 months and tracking later developmental outcomes until 36 months old, this study aims to elucidate early neural mechanisms underlying ASD-related differences.
Methods:
Participants: Twenty-five infants aged 6–7 months with elevated likelihood (EL) for ASD (siblings with ASD) and 26 low-likelihood (LL) infants (no family ASD history) were included. The study was approved by Keio University's ethical board, with parental written consent obtained.
Procedures: Infants listened to infant-directed speech (IDS) from their mother (familiar) or another mother (unfamiliar), using pre-recorded, prosodic sentences. Stimuli were presented in a pseudo-randomized block design in a sound-attenuated booth. Brain activity in frontotemporal regions was recorded using an fNIRS system. To explore the relationship between brain responses and subsequent development, developmental assessments using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development were conducted at 9, 12, 24, and 36 months of age. Additionally, parents completed the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (j-CDI) at the same age.
Analysis: fNIRS oxy-Hb signals were analyzed for cortical activation and functional connectivity (PLVs). Developmental assessments (Kyoto Scale, j-CDI) were linked to brain data via generalized linear models.
Results:
Distinct hemodynamic responses to speech stimuli were observed: LL infants showed gradual oxy-Hb increases, while EL infants exhibited declines or fluctuations. LL infants had significant cortical activation in broad regions (e.g., bilateral STGs, SMGs) during the mother condition, while EL infants showed minimal activation. Functional connectivity analyses revealed LL infants had stronger connectivity, particularly between STGs, OFCs, and frontal areas, with unique patterns in the mother condition. Brain activation and connectivity significantly predicted developmental outcomes in LL infants, while EL infants showed mixed associations. Specific connectivity patterns (e.g., STG-IFG) were linked to better language and social development.
Conclusions:
This study reveals distinct neural responses to maternal speech in 6-month-old infants at varying ASD likelihoods. LL infants exhibited widespread cortical activation and robust connectivity in regions associated with voice, reward, and language processing, while EL infants showed minimal activation and connectivity. LL infants demonstrated socio-emotional processing in the right STG, forming a reward-driven language network, including STG, IFG, and OFC. EL infants lacked these connections, suggesting reduced sensitivity to maternal speech as a socio-emotional and linguistic cue. These findings highlight potential early biomarkers for ASD and pathways underlying language delays.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism) 1
Language:
Language Acquisition 2
Speech Perception
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
NIRS
Keywords:
Autism
Development
Language
Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS)
PEDIATRIC
Perception
Other - Voice
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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