Brain cells that help with face recognition work differently in people with autism

Neurons, in the part of the brain that deals with emotional memory and facial recognition, operate differently in people with autism, according to research published November 20. 

Neuron Structure by US Gov.

Scientists, for the first time, listened and recorded the actual operation of neurons as patients viewed pictures of whole faces and parts of faces. The neurons in the two patients with high functioning autism responded differently to the pictures than the neurons in the other patients who did not have autism.  

"Many studies have found that people who have autism fail to focus on the eye region of others to gather social cues and process information about emotions," said Ueli Rutishauser, Ph.D., first author of the research article. "The amygdala – which is critical for face recognition and processing of emotions – is thought to be one of the principal areas where dysfunction occurs, but this is the first time single neurons in the structure have been recorded and analyzed in patients with autism."

Credit: Wikimedia GNU Free Documentation License

The amygdala contains a mass of cells.  It is located in a part of the brain called the temporal lobe.  The amygdala is part of the limbic system that deals with emotions and memories. Neurons are cells in the brain that have electrochemical properties.  Neurons transmit messages and information.  

In this study, the researchers were able to record the activity of neurons in the amygdala as it happened.  When the patients with autism saw pictures of whole faces, the neurons operated normally. When they were shown pictures with parts of faces, the neurons were more active than normal.

"A subpopulation of neurons in these patients with autism spectrum disorder showed abnormal sensitivity to the mouth region. The amygdala neurons appeared normal from an electrical point of view, and the whole- face-sensitive neurons responded normally. Thus, the subset of face-part-sensitive neurons was specifically abnormal in autism," Rutishauser said.

The article's senior author, Ralph Adolphs, Ph.D., said the study presents new insights into mechanisms underlying the symptoms of autism and opens the door for further studies. "Are there genetic mutations that lead to changes in this one population of neurons? Do the cell abnormalities originate in the amygdala or are they the result of processing abnormalities elsewhere in the brain? There are many questions yet to be answered, but this study points us in a specific direction that we believe will help understand autism," he said.

The case study, Single-Neuron Correlates of Atypical Face Processing in Autism, is published in the journal Neuron.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action