Circuits for social learning: A unified model and application to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Publication date: Available online 24 September 2019Source: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral ReviewsAuthor(s): Marilena M. DeMayo, Larry J. Young, Ian B. Hickie, Yun Ju C. Song, Adam J. GuastellaAbstractEarly life social experiences shape neural pathways in infants to develop lifelong social skills. This review presents the first unified circuit-based model of social learning that can be applied to early life social development, drawing together unique human developmental milestones, sensitive learning periods, and behavioral and neural scaffolds. Circuit domains for social learning are identified governing Activation, Integration, Discrimination, Response and Reward (AIDRR) to sculpt and drive human social learning. This unified model can be used to identify social delays earlier in development. We propose social impairments observed in Autism Spectrum Disorder are underpinned by early mistimed sensitive periods in brain development and alterations in amygdala development to disrupt the AIDRR circuits. This model directs how interventions can target neural circuits for social development and be applied early in life. To illustrate, the oxytocin intervention is explored in context of the AIDRR circuits. This model shifts the focus from applying possibly-related broad treatments, to specifying and targeting the relevant circuits, at the right time of development, to optimize social learning.
Source: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research