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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by socio-communicative difficulties and restricted patterns of behavior. Despite these challenges, some individuals with ASD have preserved or even enhanced sensory skills, for example in the case of music. As such, music provides a key way to study sensory processing and individual differences in ASD. However, current studies of music perception in ASD have mixed results. This study sought to examine music perception in terms of melodic pitch, rhythm, and memory in school-age children with ASD compared to typically-developing (TD) children. Music perception was investigated as a function of verbal and non-verbal IQ, age, and ASD social symptom severity. Children with ASD performed similar to TD children on melodic pitch perception, rhythm perception and melodic memory. Melodic pitch perception in particular was strongly associated with non-verbal cognitive abilities in the ASD group. Similar effects of age on performance were observed in ASD and TD; in particular, rhythm discrimination increased with age in both groups. Music perception in ASD was not associated with ASD social symptom severity. These findings provide further evidence for intact melodic and rhythmic perception in children with ASD. In addition, music perception abilities were related to non-verbal cognitive ability and age in ASD, and not with ASD social symptom severity. This research provides a better understanding of individual differences in auditory processing, helps to better define phenotypes in ASD, and can guide future studies on the effects of music therapy in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Testing a comprehensive and longitudinal prediction model of quality of life after early mild TBI. • BDNF Val66Met polymorphism predicts better quality of life 6 months after early mild TBI. • Higher parental distress determines poorer quality of life 18 months after early mild TBI. • Genetic factors linked to neuroplasticity may be important to recovery in the early phase post-TBI. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in early childhood is prevalent, and some children may be at risk for short- and long-term difficulties that could affect quality of life (QoL). Despite growing efforts to understand associations between potential risk factors and outcomes after injury, prognosis is elusive and lacks the inclusion of genetic variables which may convey additional predictive power. This study assessed which factors contribute to pediatric QoL 6 and 18 months post-recruitment in 159 participants (mTBI = 52; orthopedic injury [OI] = 43; typically developing controls [TDC] = 64) aged 18 to 60 months at the time of injury (M = 37.50, SD = 11.69). Family environment, injury characteristics, and child cognitive-behavioral functioning were assessed at 6 months via parent questionnaires and socio-cognitive assessment. QoL was determined using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory at both time points. Genetic information (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] genotype) was collected using saliva samples. Hierarchical regression analyses testing biological, family-environmental, injury and cognitive-behavioral factors revealed that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was a significant independent predictor of better QoL 6 months post-injury in the mTBI group. Lower parental distress significantly and independently predicted higher QoL 18 months after mTBI, and 6 months post-recruitment in the TDC group. At 18 months, models were non-significant for both control groups. Genetic factors involved in neuroplasticity may play an important role in recovery 6 months after mTBI and contribute to outcome via their interplay with environmental factors. Over time, family factors appear to become the primary determinants of post-mTBI outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]