Affiliations: Institute of Education, Bunkyo University, Saitama, Japan | Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie
University, Mie, Japan | Department of Clinical Psychology, Japan Lutheran
College, Tokyo, Japan | Department of Neurological Surgery, Nihon University
School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Naoko Narita, Institute of Education, Bunkyo
University, 3337 Minamiogishima, 343-8511, Koshigaya-City, Saitama, Japan.
Tel.: +81 489 7488 11; Fax: +81 489 748 960; E-mail: nnarita@koshigaya.bunkyo.ac.jp
Abstract: Working memory (WM) performance is considered to change according to
the nature of the task by adequate and prompt activation of corresponding
functional connectivity in the brain. In the present study, we examined
continuous prefrontal hemodynamic changes depending on reciprocal disposition
of WM and non-WM tasks using two-channel near-infrared spectroscopy. To
investigate possible functional connectivity deficits in autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) during these tasks, relative concentration changes in oxygenated
hemoglobin (Hb), deoxygenated Hb, and total Hb were compared between
high-functioning ASD subjects (n=11) and controls (n=22). Instant evoked
cerebral blood oxygenation changes were observed in response to the task switch
in controls but not in ASD subjects, although the task performance rate was
almost equivalent. Delayed or altered response of functional connectivity to
incoming stimuli is considered a characteristic feature of ASD.
Keywords: Autism, executive function, working memory, default mode network
