15.4 identifying social brain biomarkers for clinical trials in asd

ASD is a disorder reflecting significant and persistent deficits in social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors. Early red flags for ASD are related to aspects of attention to the faces of social partners. The biomarkers of social processing are needed, because they represent objective indicators of social brain processes and may identify the altered circuitry that underlies social impairment. Several EEG variables show sensitization for social information: the Nc and N170 components are larger and faster to socially relevant information; and increased theta power/decreased alpha power reflects greater cortical activation to social stimuli.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research