Yonsei Med J.  2018 Sep;59(7):897-903. 10.3349/ymj.2018.59.7.897.

Aberrant Neural Activation Underlying Idiom Comprehension in Korean Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Kim N
• Choi US
• Ha S
• Lee SB
• Song SH
• Song DH
• Cheon KA

• KMID: 2428917
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2018.59.7.897

Abstract

PURPOSE
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. Impaired pragmatic language comprehension is a universal feature in individuals with ASD. However, the underlying neural basis of pragmatic language is poorly understood. In the present study, we examined neural activation patterns associated with impaired pragmatic language comprehension in ASD, compared to typically developing children (TDC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was applied to 15 children with ASD and 18 TDC using the Korean pragmatic language task.
RESULTS
Children with ASD were less accurate than TDC at comprehending idioms, particularly when they were required to interpret idioms with mismatched images (mismatched condition). Children with ASD also showed different patterns of neural activity than TDC in all three conditions (neutral, matched, and mismatched). Specifically, children with ASD showed decreased activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (Brodmann area 47) in the mismatched condition, compared with TDC (IFG; t(31)=3.17, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that children with ASD face difficulties in comprehending pragmatic expressions and apply different pragmatic language processes at the neural level.

Keyword

Autism spectrum disorder; fMRI; pragmatics; idiom comprehension; Korean Autism Social Language Task

MeSH Terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Autistic Disorder*
Child*
Comprehension*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Prefrontal Cortex

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Paradigm design and example of the stimuli used in the KASLAT task. (A) This smells weird. This sentence has a similar meaning to the English expression, “I smell a rat.” Literally, these expressions indicate an awkward smell. However, we understand that something suspicious or unreliable is going on in the social context. (B) Father became a pickled onion. This metaphorically implies an exhausted person. (C) He is digging his own grave. This is a Korean proverb that is used when someone refers to doing something stupid or making mistakes. (D) Crying fist. It refers to a person suffering from extreme anger or frustration. (E) Sit with your two legs stretched forward. (F) She shouted from the top of the mountain. s, sec; KASLAT, Korean Autism Social Language Task. N, neutral; M, matched; MM, mismatched.

• 

  Fig. 2 Mean RT and accuracy for KASLAT task in the ASD and TDC groups. (A) The RTs (ms) and (B) the percentage of the accuracy of behavior responses were calculated from recorded answers in each condition. Differences were considered statistically significant for *p<0.01, †p<0.05. RT, reaction time; ASD, autism spectrum disorder; TDC, typically developing children; N, neutral; M, matched; MM, mismatched; KASLAT, Korean Autism Social Language Task.

• 

  Fig. 3 Different brain activation maps of ASD and TDC with a KASLAT task. ASD, autism spectrum disorder; TDC, typically developing children; N, neutral; M, matched; MM, mismatched; KASLAT, Korean Autism Social Language Task.

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