Search

Visual disengagement has been hypothesized as an endophenotype for autism. In this study we used twin modelling to assess the role of genetics in basic measures of visual disengagement, and tested their putative association to autistic traits in the general population. We used the Gap Overlap task in a sample of 492 twins. Results showed that most of the covariance among eye movement latencies across conditions was shared and primarily genetic. Further, there were unique genetic contributions to the Gap condition, but not to the Overlap condition--i.e. the one theorized to capture visual disengagement. We found no phenotypic association between autistic traits and disengagement, thus not supporting the hypothesis of visual disengagement as an endophenotype for autistic traits.

Visual disengagement has been hypothesized as an endophenotype for autism. In this study we used twin modelling to assess the role of genetics in basic measures of visual disengagement, and tested their putative association to autistic traits in the general population. We used the Gap Overlap task in a sample of 492 twins. Results showed that most of the covariance among eye movement latencies across conditions was shared and primarily genetic. Further, there were unique genetic contributions to the Gap condition, but not to the Overlap condition-i.e. the one theorized to capture visual disengagement. We found no phenotypic association between autistic traits and disengagement, thus not supporting the hypothesis of visual disengagement as an endophenotype for autistic traits., Author(s): Monica Siqueiros Sanchez [sup.1] [sup.2] , Erik Pettersson [sup.3] , Daniel P. Kennedy [sup.4] , Sven Bölte [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.5] , Paul Lichtenstein [sup.3] , Brian M. D'Onofrio [sup.3] [...]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) problems, but the nature of this association is unclear. Parents to siblings, concordant or discordant for ASD (N = 217), participated in a web survey covering mother's weight gain during pregnancy, maternal viral/bacterial infection and use of antibiotics, duration of breastfeeding, mode of delivery, birth weight and child GI problems. ASD was associated with GI problems and perinatal environmental risk, based on a summation of maternal infection and antibiotic use during pregnancy and/or the breastfeeding period. The association between GI problems and ASD remained within the sibling pairs (ß = 1.23; p < 0.001) in the adjusted model. Our results indicate non-shared environmental effects on the ASD/GI association, but none of the factors examined explained the link.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) problems, but the nature of this association is unclear. Parents to siblings, concordant or discordant for ASD (N = 217), participated in a web survey covering mother's weight gain during pregnancy, maternal viral/bacterial infection and use of antibiotics, duration of breastfeeding, mode of delivery, birth weight and child GI problems. ASD was associated with GI problems and perinatal environmental risk, based on a summation of maternal infection and antibiotic use during pregnancy and/or the breastfeeding period. The association between GI problems and ASD remained within the sibling pairs ([beta] = 1.23; p < .001) in the adjusted model. Our results indicate non-shared environmental effects on the ASD/GI association, but none of the factors examined explained the link., Author(s): Johan Isaksson [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Erik Pettersson [sup.4] , Elzbieta Kostrzewa [sup.1] , Rochellys Diaz Heijtz [sup.5] , Sven Bölte [sup.1] [sup.6] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Women's [...]