Project

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Name of Applicant : Lefebvre Aline
Date of application : 09-04-2021
Unit : Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions
Location : Fernbach, 1er etage
Phone : 0665572035
@ Mail : aline.lefebvre@pasteur.fr
@ PI-Mail : thomas.bourgeron@pasteur.fr

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Project context and summary :

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a disorder of social communication and restricted and stereotyped interests, represents a major societal challenge with its prevalence of 2.93% (Baio et al., 2018). Since genetic factors have been identified, their links with phenotypic expression (incl. neuroanatomical aspects) are being explored (Bourgeron et al., 2015). The first neuroanatomical studies are promising, and reinforced by the development of interaction neurosciences, notably with the high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG). Among different EEG markers, the alpha rhythm (AR), an indirect marker of neuronal synchronization (Hummel et al., 2002) is described differently in ASD; especially during social interaction tasks at the parietal level and the upper temporal sulcus, areas involved in the "mirror neuron system" (Rizzolatti & Craighero, 2004) – then, described as “broken” in ASD (Oberman et al., 2005). More specifically in a sub-band of the AR, at the frontal and parietal levels, AR anomalies suggest more visual attention implication (Dumas et al., 2014). Differences are also described over low and high EEG frequencies in ASD (Kozhushko et al., 2018). We hypothesize that, integrating spectral, spatial and dynamic (involving ASD symptoms) dimensions, would identify EEG markers, highlighting the underlying electrophysiological mechanism of ASD, but also providing an early and accurate diagnosis (Engeman et al., 2015, 2018), key to a favorable prognosis in ASD.

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