Des troubles moteurs ont été décrits dans les Troubles du Spectre Autistiques (TSA), toutefois tous les enfants atteints de TSA ne montrent pas de diminution des performances motrices. La nature et l'origine des perturbations motrices dans les TSA ne sont pas claires. Les processus neuro-développementaux, en lien avec la maturation du système nerveux central, sont peu explorés dans les TSA, or ces processus sous-tendent les performances motrices. Peu d'études portent sur l'analyse fine de la sémiologie des fonctions neuro-psychomotrices dans les TSA et l'existence d'une trajectoire neuro-développementale de ces fonctions n'est pas connue chez les enfants avec TSA. L'objectif de cette étude est de mettre en évidence la sémiologie des troubles psychomoteurs auprès d'enfants avec TSA, à l'aide d'une batterie standardisée Française d'évaluation développementale des fonctions neuro-psychomotrices de l'enfant (NP-MOT) (Vaivre-Douret, 2006). L'évaluation neuro-psychomotrice complète les évaluations de premières instances (psychiatrique; psychologique; compréhension; psychomotrice). L'identification d'un profil clinique neuro-psychomoteur, l'identification de troubles ou décalages par rapport à une norme de référence, la mise en évidence de fonctions cérébrales éventuellement touchées dans les TSA devraient permettre de mieux comprendre l'origine et la nature des troubles observés dans les TSA. Les résultats de plus en plus nombreux concernant la motricité chez ces enfants doivent pouvoir également être analysés au regard des évaluations cognitives et neuro-cognitives, afin d'affiner le profil de développement et permettre ainsi de mieux comprendre la nature des troubles autistiques parmi une comorbidité d'éventuels autres dysfonctionnements. / Motor disorders have been described in the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), however all children with ASD show no decrease in motor performances. The nature and origin of motor disturbances in ASD are unclear. Neurodevelopmental processes linked to the maturation of the central nervous system, are not really explored in ASD, but these processes underlie motor performances. Few studies trat of an acute semiology of motor abnormalities in ASD and the existence of a neuro-developmental trajectory of neuro-psychomotor functions is not known in children with ASD. The aim of this study is to highlight the semiology of psychomotor disorders among children with ASD, using a French standardized neurodevelopmental assessment tool (NP-MOT) (Vaivre-Douret, 2006). Evaluations of the first instances (psychiatric; psychological; understanding; psychomotor) were supplemented by a standardized assessment battery of neuro-developmental psychomotor functions (NP-MOT). The identification of a neuro-psychomotor clinical profile, identification of problems or discrepancies compared to a standard reference, the identification of potentially affected brain functions in ASD should provide a better understanding of the origin and nature the observed disorders in ASD. The results, more and more numerous concerning motor skills in these children, should be able to be analyzed in light of cognitive or neuro-cognitive assessments and should allow to refine the profile of development and thereby enable a better understanding of the nature of autism among a comorbidity other possible malfunctions.

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known to have feeding difficulties. This study gathered information from parents/caregivers with children diagnosed with ASD. The following aspects were investigated: early feeding history, food preferences, sensory issues, current dietary practices and the use of nutritional supplements and special diets. The study also gathered information regarding these families’ experience with dietitians in supporting them with advice related to dietary problems. Methodology: An online questionnaire was used and the link to the study was placed on the National Autistic Society (NAS) of the United Kingdom’s website to recruit participants. Parents/ caregivers of children aged between 3-16 years and diagnosed with ASD, who resided in England, could take part in the study. Results: Three hundred and twenty five parents/ caregivers participated in the study. The mean age of children was 9.5 years. The majority of children were male (85%). The most common feeding problem was the transition from stage 1 weaning foods to more textured food (55.6%). Sensory problems played a large role in food acceptance. Clear preferences were made for crunchy (81.5%) or dry foods (79%), followed by food with a smooth consistency (69.8%) such as yogurt. Food appearance and presentation (64%) was the main determinant of food acceptance and specific brands and packaging played a major role. Habitual food intake and continually choosing the same foods for meals were present in the majority of children (75.6%). Specific preference was given to the following foods: starchy vegetables (62.6%), refined carbohydrates (81%), processed meat products (69.2%) and dairy products (68.6%). The use of ‘special’ and exclusion diets were not popular. However, where specifically gluten and/ or casein were excluded (19%, n=55), it was generally excluded for more than one year. Reported observations with these exclusions were: improvement in bowel habits, sleep, concentration, behaviour and social communication. The use of nutritional supplements were significantly higher (p<0.5) where exclusion diets were used. A large number of children (43.4%, n=23) on exclusion diets, have not been consulted by a dietitian. Most parents /caregivers (58.1%) had the perception that dietitians were lacking knowledge of ASD and had inadequate knowledge of current dietary interventions for children with ASD (61.7%). However, parents felt that it was reassuring to consult a dietitian, that practical advice was given to improve dietary intake and that generally it reduced their concern regarding their child’s dietary intake. Conclusion: The study highlights the complexity of ASD and the variable effect it has on eating, behaviour and dietary intake. The use of the gluten and casein free (GFCF) diet may improve general wellbeing in some children with ASD when used appropriately and warrants further investigation. It is concerning that only a minority of children on exclusion diets are consulted by dietitians to ensure nutritional adequacy. Due to the complexity of ASD and in the absence of clear guidance for dietary interventions, dietitians who work with children with ASD need to be supported by continued training opportunities in order to enhance their competencies and optimise their service delivery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doelwitte: Kinders wat aan Outismespektrum-steuring (OSS) lei is geneig om voedingsprobleme te hê. Die studie het inligting ingesamel van ouers en versorgers met kinders wat met OSS gediagnoseer is. Die volgende aspekte is ondersoek: vroeë voedingsgeskiedenis, voedsel voorkeure, sensoriese probleme, huidige eetgewoontes en die gebruik van nutriëntaanvullings en spesiale diëte. Die studie het ook inligting ingesamel aangaande gesinne se ondervinding met dieetkundiges en ondersteuning met dieetprobleme. Metodologie: ‘n Elektroniese vraellys is gebruik en die skakel na die studie was op die webwerf van die National Autistic Society (NAS) van die Verenigde Koninkryk geplaas om deelnemers te werf. Ouers/ versorgers van kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 3-16 jaar, met ‘n diagnose van OSS en woonagtig in Engeland, kon deelneem aan die studie. Resultate: Drie honderd vyf en twintig ouers/ versorgers het deelgeneem aan die studie. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die kinders was 9.5 jaar en 85% was manlik. Die mees algemene voedingsprobleem vir kinders met OSS was die oorgangsfase van gladde speningsvoedsel na growwer voedsel (55.6%). Sensoriese probleme het ‘n groot rol gespeel in voedselaanvaarding. Daar was duidelike voorkeure vir bros (81.5%) en droë voedsel (79%), gevolg deur voedsel met ‘n gladde tekstuur soos jogurt (69.8%). Die voorkoms en aanbieding van voedsel het grootliks bepaal of voedsel aanvaarbaar (64%) is. Spesifieke handelsmerke of verpakkings het ‘n groot rol gespeel (64.7%). Die meeste van die kinders (75.6%) het vaste eetgewoontes gehad en dieselfde kos tydens maaltye gekies. Die volgende voedselsoorte was verkies: styselryke groente (62.6%), verfynde koolhidrate (81%), geprosesseerde vleis produkte (69.2%) en suiwel produkte (68.6%). Die gebruik van spesiale en uitsluitingsdiëte was ongewild. Waar gluten- en kaseïen-uitsluitingsdiëte (19%, n=55) gebruik is, is dit meestal vir langer as een jaar gebruik. Met die gebruik van uitsluitingsdiëte is verbeteringe waargeneem in stoelgang gewoontes, slaap, konsentrasie, gedrag en sosiale kommunikasie. Die gebruik van nutriëntsupplemente was beduidend hoër (p<0.5) in die groep waar uitsluitingsdiëte gebruik is. ‘n Hoë persentasie kinders (43.4%, n=23) wat op uitsluitingsdiëte was, is nie deur dieetkundiges gekonsulteer nie. Die meeste ouers /versorgers (58.1%) het gevoel dat dieetkundiges gebrekkige kennis oor OSS en dieetverwante probleme het, asook onvoldoende kennis van huidige dieet intervensies vir kinders met OSS (61.7%). Ouers het wel gevoel dat dit gerusstellend was om dieetkundiges te gaan spreek vir praktiese raad om dieet inname te verbeter. Dit het ook hul kommer veminder aangaande kinders se diëte. Gevolgtrekking: Die studie benadruk die kompleksiteit van OSS en die wisselende effek wat dit op eetgewoontes, gedrag en voedsel inname het. Die gebruik van die gluten- en kaseïenvrye diëte kan moontlik die gesondheid en welsyn van sommige kinders met outisme verbeter mits dit reg gebruik word, maar vereis verdere navorsing. Dit was kommerwekkend dat ‘n minderheid van die kinders op uitsluitingsdiëte deur dieetkundiges gekonsulteer word om voldoende nutriëntinname te verseker. Aangesien OSS ‘n komplekse toestand is en daar ‘n gebrek is aan duidelike riglyne vir dieet intervensies, word dit aanbeveel dat dieetkundiges wat met kinders met OSS werk ondersteun word deur opleidingsgeleenthede om hul vaardighede te verbeter en dienslewering te optimaliseer.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSDO.pdf: 583517 bytes, checksum: b554029a0300ceef3bc4fe8b2681fca5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neuropsychology is a science that allows one to draw the profile of cognitive impairment and skills preserved in order to design possible treatments and appropriate educational practices, aiming for better quality of life of the individual. Among the cognitive abilities investigated by neuropsychology, executive functions refers to a system that manages the cognitivebehavioral resources, with the purpose of behavior planning and regulation. This study is a correlational basic research aimed to verify whether the results found in neuropsychological evaluations of executive functions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are predictive of or show any correlation with the performance of these children in conditional discrimination via identity matching-to-sample (MTS) tasks. A battery of neuropsychological tests were used to evaluate executive function to identify participants’ existing and missing skills, with possible quantification and qualification of the results. The tests used were Wisconsin, Test Tracks Pre-School, Corsi blocks and Attention Test for Cancellation. A portable microcomputer and the Master computer program were used to present MTS tasks. The participants were 13 children with ASD, aged 4 to 12 years, regularly enrolled in a Special Institution / Regular Education School. The correlations revealed significant associations between neuropsychological tests and MTS tasks performance. In general, it was observed that the lower the performance in Test Wisconsin, more perseverative responses were presented and higher correlation was found with the MTS tasks. It was also observed that the better the performance in the Cancellation and trails tests, better performance on MTS tasks. The attention and cognitive flexibility may be pre-requisites for better performances in MTS tasks. Future research could further explore the MTS tasks for evaluation of cognitive and attentional flexibility and intervention of individuals with ASD. Another possibility is to check whether training with several exemplars of identity MTS would improve performance on neuropsychological tests. / A neuropsicologia trata-se de uma ciência que permite traçar o perfil dos comprometimentos cognitivos e das habilidades preservadas afim de possível delineamento de tratamentos e práticas educativas adequadas, almejando melhor qualidade de vida do indivíduo. Assim essa é uma pesquisa básica correlacional, cujo objetivo foi verificar se os resultados encontrados em avaliações neuropsicológicas das funções executivas em crianças com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) são preditivas de ou tem alguma correlação com o desempenho dessas crianças em discriminação condicional por meio de tarefas de escolha de acordo com o modelo (MTS) de identidade. Para isso foi utilizado uma bateria de testes neuropsicológicos para avaliação das funções executivas para identificar habilidades preservadas e comprometidas dos participantes, com possível quantificação e qualificação dos resultados. Os testes utilizados foram: Wisconsin, Teste de Trilhas para Pré-Escolares, Blocos de Corsi e Teste de Atenção por Cancelamento. Foram utilizados também um microcomputador portátil e o programa computacional Mestre para apresentar as tarefas de MTS. Os participantes da pesquisa foram 13 crianças com Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo, com idade entre 4 e 12 anos, regularmente matriculadas em uma Instituição Especial/ Escola Regular de Ensino. As correlações revelaram associações significativas entre os testes neuropsicológicos e as tarefas de MTS. De maneira geral, foi possível observar que quanto menor o desempenho no Teste Wisconsin, mais respostas perseverativas foram apresentadas e maior a correlação com as tarefas de MTS e que quanto melhor foi o desempenho nos testes de Cancelamento e de Trilhas, melhor o desempenho nas tarefas de MTS. Esses resultados sugerem que a atenção e a flexibilidade cognitiva são quesitos para o melhor cumprimento das tarefas de MTS. Pesquisas futuras poderão explorar melhor as tarefas de MTS para avaliação de flexibilidade cognitiva e atencional e intervenção de indivíduos com TEA. Outra possibilidade é verificar se treinos com vários exemplares de relações de identidade em tarefas de MTS melhorariam o desempenho nos testes neuropsicológicos.

Autismspektrumtillstånd kännetecknas av kärnsymtomen stereotypa, repetitiva beteenden samt nedsatt förmåga att kunna hantera sociala relationer. Diagnostisering försvåras dock av att inga biomarkörer finns tillgängliga än. Forskning pågår för att få klarhet i patofysiologiska mekanismer, där funna defekta gener ger en bild av ökade svårigheter för nervcellen att reglera signaler efter behov. Behandling som riktar sig mot kärnsymtomen vid autismspektrumtillstånd finns ej, men forskning pågår för att hitta lämpliga läkemedel. Syftet med detta arbete var att sammanställa senaste forskningen inom detta område, via sökning efter dubbelblinda randomiserade kontrollerade studier, för att utvärdera om något läkemedel kommer finnas på marknaden inom en snar framtid. Studier med D-vitamin, bumetanid (diuretikum), suramin (antipurinergt), memantin ”extended release” (mot Alzheimers sjukdom), metylerad vitamin B12 och celecoxib (anti-inflammatoriskt) som adjuvans till risperidon (neuroleptikum) utvärderades för effekten på kärnsymtom vid autismspektrumtillstånd. Bumetanid, som är ett loop-diuretikum, var det läkemedel som kommit längre än övriga. Om även fas 3 ger positiva resultat så finns möjligheten att detta kan släppas på europeiska marknaden om några år för behandling av kärnsymtom vid autismspektrumtillstånd. Övriga substanser var i ett mycket tidigt utvecklingsstadium. / Autism spectrum disorder is characterised by the core symptoms stereotypic, repetitive behaviors and impaired ability to handle social relationships. Diagnostics, however, is complicated by the fact that no biomarkers are available yet, i.e. one cannot take a blood test to decide if the individual can be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Research, however, is ongoing in this field hopefully also leading to markers that can be used when evaluating degree of severity during clinical research where potential pharmaceuticals are evaluated in humans. Research is ongoing to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms. Identified clusters of defective genes suggest increased difficulties of nerve cells to regulate signals as needed. For example, excitation or inhibition of nerve cells can be enhanced. Treatment aimed at the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is not available, but research is ongoing to find suitable drugs. The purpose of this work was to compile the latest research in this area through a search for doubleblinded randomized controlled studies to evaluate whether any drug will be available on the market in the near future. Studies with vitamin D, bumetanide (diuretic), suramin (antipurinergic), memantine “extended release” formulation (Alzheimer’s disease drug), methylated vitamin B12 and celecoxib (anti-inflammatory) as adjuvant to risperidone (neuroleptic) were evaluated for the effect on core symptoms in autism spectrum disorder. Bumetanide, which is a loop-diuretic, is the drug that has come further than the rest. If the continued development of this drug also gives positive results, there is the possibility that this drug can be released on the European market in a few years, for treatment of core symtoms. The other substances evaluated were at a very early stage of development. Some of these, however, can be of extra interest. For example D‑vitamin which can have some potential effect. Also it gives minimal side effects.

No description available.

No description available.

L’autisme est un syndrome neuro-développemental caractérisé par des anomalies qualitatives des interactions sociales, de la communication et un répertoire restreint, répétitif et stéréotypé de comportements, d’activités et d’intérêts. Des anomalies motrices, cardio-respiratoires et autonomiques ont été décrites chez les enfants autistes et pourraient les limiter dans la réalisation d’un effort physique. Ce travail avait pour objectifs d’évaluer la condition physique d’enfants autistes comparés à des enfants témoins au regard de plusieurs déterminants physiologiques et environnementaux. Quarante garçons âgés de 8 à 13 ans ont participé à l’étude : 20 enfants témoins (TEM : 10,0±1,6 ans) et 20 enfants autistes (AUT : 10,7±1,3 ans ; QI>70). Une épreuve d’effort maximal sur tapis a permis de mesurer le débit de consommation maximale d’oxygène (VO2max). De plus, le système nerveux autonome a été évalué sur un test orthostatique par une analyse de variabilité de fréquence cardiaque et des enregistrements nocturnes. Enfin, les capacités motrices ont été déterminées à l’aide de trois batteries de tests moteurs complémentaires (EUROFIT, M-ABC et PANESS) ; et des mesures du sommeil et de l’activité physique ont été recueillies par actimétrie et questionnaires, et mises en lien avec la condition physique. A l’issue de l’épreuve d’effort maximal, les enfants autistes ont des valeurs de VO2pic inférieures ainsi qu’une vitesse maximale et une durée d’effort plus courte. Les évaluations du système nerveux autonome montrent une variabilité de fréquence cardiaque supérieure chez les autistes, avec notamment un tonus parasympathique significativement élevé par rapport aux témoins. Les tests moteurs mettent en évidence des altérations motrices significatives chez les autistes en comparaison aux témoins sur l’ensemble des capacités motrices et plus particulièrement sur l’équilibre statique, l’équilibre dynamique et la force musculaire. Enfin, le niveau d’activité physique des autistes est inférieur alors que les indices du sommeil sont similaires entre les deux groupes. Ces résultats montrent que la condition physique des enfants autistes présente des spécificités qui pourraient les limiter dans la réalisation d’un exercice physique. Cependant dans notre étude, tous les enfants ont montré une aptitude à réaliser une épreuve d’effort maximal. Les enfants autistes seraient davantage limités dans le maintien de cet effort par les caractéristiques propres au handicap autistique (motivation, intérêts restreints…) qui entraîneraient une difficulté à s’engager dans une activité. Les barrières rencontrées par les enfants autistes doivent être levées pour adapter l’activité physique à leurs besoins et capacités et ainsi favoriser leur insertion. / Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication impairments, with abnormal repetitive and stereotypic behaviors. Cardio-respiratory, motor and autonomic disorders are found on autistic children and may limit them in a physical effort. This work has been done to evaluate the physical condition of children with autism compared to control children. Forty boys aged from 8 to 13 had participated in the study: 20 control children (CONT: 10.0±1.6 years) and 20 children with autism (AUT: 10.7±1.3 years; IQ> 70). A maximal effort on treadmill had measured the maximum oxygen consumption rate (VO2max). The autonomic nervous system had been assessed by heart rate variability on an orthostatic test and nocturnal recordings. Motor abilities had been determined by using three batteries of additional motor tests (EUROFIT, M-ABC and PANESS). Sleep and physical activity had been collected by actigraphy and questionnaires, and linked with physical fitness. After the maximal effort, the result of this test had shown that autistic children had lower VO2pic values and shorter exercise duration. Evaluations of the autonomic nervous system also showed greater heart rate variability in autism, including a parasympathetic tone significantly higher compared to controls. The motor tests showed significant impairments in autism compared to controls on all motor skills and especially on static balance, dynamic balance and muscle strength. Finally, children with autism had lower physical activity level than control while sleep indices are similar between the two groups. Then, these results show specificities in the physical fitness for autism children that might limit them in a physical exercise. However, in our study, all children had shown an ability to perform a maximal exercise test. Autistic children seemed to be more limited to maintain this effort by the autistic features (motivation, restricted interests ...) that would lead to limit physical engagement. By this test, we may advance that children with autism may have barriers which must be lifted to adapt physical activity to their needs and abilities and then promote their integration.

I denna uppsats intervjuas fem unga kvinnor om sina erfarenheter av att delta i separatistiska grupper av och för kvinnor och icke-binära med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar (NPF). Studiens syfte är att bidra med kunskap om vad unga kvinnor med NPF kan få ut av att delta i en separatistisk samtalsgrupp, för att på så sätt synliggöra deras erfarenheter samt öka kunskapen om målgruppens möjligheter att förbättra sin livskvalité genom att stärka sig själva. Forskningsfrågan handlar därmed om vilka funktioner deltagandet i en separatistisk grupp kan fylla för kvinnor med NPF, givet deras livssituationer samt den position de befinner sig i som kvinnor med icke-normativa funktionssätt. Studien bygger på fem halvstrukturerade intervjuer som analyserats enligt tematisk analysmetod. Det teoretiska ramverket byggs upp kring utgångspunkter och begrepp inom fälten intersektionalitet och empowerment. Resultatet visar att informanterna har delat känslor av utanförskap och avvikelse; både i relation till sina könsroller och i relation till sina funktionssätt, vilket också kan förstås som maktlöshet. Denna maktlöshet förklaras genom intersektionalitet som att informanterna, i egenskap av att vara kvinnor med NPF, tillhör sociala kategorier som underordnas i jämförelse med andra sociala kategorier, vilket också tycks få en negativ inverkan på deras liv. Mot denna bakgrund har informanterna därför sökt sig till separatistiska grupper med en förhoppning om att finna en förstående gemenskap samt öka kunskapen om sina livssituationer. Informanternas deltagande i grupperna kan även förstås ur ett empowermentperspektiv. Dels som empowerment i egenskap av motmakt och dels empowerment som emotionellt stärkande process. Vad denna studie visar är således att deltagandet i en separatistisk grupp kan fylla olika stärkande funktioner. Dels möjliggörs, genom deltagandet, empowerment i form av motmakt - då den separatistiska gruppen blir en arena för reflektion, lärande och handling samt en trygg och stärkande gemenskap och samhörighet. Dels möjliggörs emotionell empowerment, genom att samhörigheten bidrar till ett ökat engagemang för målgruppen, till förbättrad självbild, till ökat mod samt till en lust att fortsätta engagera sig - det vill säga till en högre nivå av emotionell energi. / In this paper, five young women are being interviewed about their experiences of participating in separatist groups for women and non-binary with neuropsychiatric disabilities (NPF). The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge of what young women with NPF can gain from participating in a separatist conversation group; thus to visualizing their experiences and raising awareness of the target group's ability to strengthen themselves. The research question is about addressing the functions of participating in a separatist group, given the target group’s life situations and their social position as women with a non-normative way of functioning. The study is based upon five semi-structured interviews, analyzed according to the thematic method of analysis. The theoretical framework is built around terms and perspectives in the fields of intersectionality and empowerment. The result shows that the informers have shared feelings of exclusion and deviation; both in relation to their gender roles and in relation to their ways of functioning, which can also be understood as powerlessness. This powerlessness, explained through intersectionality, points out that the informers, as in being women with NPF, belong to social categories that subordinate to other social categories, which also seems to have a negative impact on their lives. Against this background, the informers have searched for separatist groups, in hope to find an understanding community and to increase knowledge about their life situations. To participate in these groups can also be understood from an empowerment perspective. Partly as empowerment in the meaning of counter-power, and partly as empowerment as an emotionally strengthening process. What this study shows is therefore that participation in a separatist group can fill different strengthening functions. Through participating in a group, empowerment in the form of counter-power is made possible; thus the separatist group becomes an arena for reflection, learning and action as well as a safe and strengthening community and togetherness. Secondly, emotional empowerment is made possible by the fact that the togetherness contributes to increased commitment, to improved self-image, to increased courage and to a desire to continue to engage - in other words; to a higher level of emotional energy.

L’intolérance au changement est fréquemment observée dans l'autisme et s'exprime dans toutes les modalités sensorielles. L’objectif de ce travail était d’étudier la perception automatique du changement visuel chez des enfants et adultes avec autisme via un paradigme oddball passif. En utilisant l’électrophysiologie, des réponses atypiques aux changements visuels mêmes mineurs, ont été mises en évidence dans l’autisme, quel que soit l'âge, suggérant une hyperdistractibilité des patients. De plus, l’utilisation de l’IRMf a permis de révéler, lors de la présentation d’un changement visuel, une hyperactivation du cortex sensoriel associée à une hyperactivation du cortex cingulaire antérieur, d’autant plus élevée que les patients avaient des traits autistiques marqués. Cette étude suggère donc qu’une hyper-réactivité sensorielle associée à des troubles de l’attention visuelle sélective contribueraient aux troubles de perception du changement et aux difficultés d'adaptation dans l’autisme. / Resistance to change is often reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and may occur in all sensory modalities. The aim of the present work was to investigate automatic visual change detection in children and adults with ASD using a passive oddball paradigm. Whatever the age, electrophysiological results showed atypical responses to, even minor, changes, suggesting an hyper distractibility in the patients. Besides, fMRI results revealed hyperactivation of the sensory cortex associated with hyperactivation of the anterior cingulate cortex in adults with ASD, the latest being correlated with the degree of autistics symptoms. These studies thus suggest that a sensory hyper-reactivity associated with visual selective attention deficits might contribute to atypical change perception and adaptation in ASD.

[pt] O Autismo é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento caracterizado por prejuízos na interação social, na comunicação e no comportamento. Um dos deficit apresentados em seu escopo é no reconhecimento de emoções, apontando para uma série de estratégias de visualização atípicas, tais como: olhar reduzido para estímulos sociais; preferência para a região da boca em vez dos olhos e dificuldades em fixar a atenção. Todavia, não existe um consenso, até o momento, sobre os fatores que podem acarretar tais prejuízos, bem como se existe um padrão característico do rastreio viso espacial para essa população. Com base nesses dados, que a presente dissertação desenvolveu um paradigma de rastreio visual no reconhecimento de emoções em crianças do Espectro Autista (EA). Para tanto, foi necessária uma revisão sistemática, que a partir de uma seleção criteriosa, verificou 65 paradigmas investigados na avaliação do Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) que utilizaram o Eye-tracker como instrumento. A partir de então foi desenvolvido um roteiro para a posterior programação das tarefas. O paradigma de rastreio foi, então, aplicado em quatro crianças diagnosticadas com TEA, que compunham o grupo experimental e em três com desenvolvimento típico para controle, com a finalidade de avaliar a sua aplicabilidade. E embora existam limitações na tarefa que precisam passar por adaptações, foi possível verificar que os participantes do grupo experimental tiveram a duração da tarefa ampliada em decorrência de uma dificuldade na fixação do olhar, bem como tiveram o desempenho prejudicado no reconhecimento das emoções. Esses dados, junto a outros estudos, sugerem que os indivíduos do espectro autista utilizam estratégias visuais atípicas. Entretanto mais pesquisas são necessárias sobre o assunto. / [en] Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and behavior. One of the deficits presented in its scope is the emotions recognition, pointing to a number of atypical visualization strategies, such as: reduced look at social stimuli; preference for the mouth instead of the eyes region, and difficulties in fixing attention. However, there is no consensus so far on the factors that can lead to such damages, as well as whether there is a characteristic pattern of visuospatial screening for that population. Based on these data, this dissertation developed a visual tracking paradigm in the recognition of emotions in children of the Autistic Spectrum (EA). Therefore, a system-atic review was necessary, which, based on a careful selection, verified 65 paradigms investigated in the evaluation of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and that used the Eye-tracker as instrument. From then on, a script was developed for later tasks programming. The screening paradigm was then applied in four children diagnosed with ASD, who composed the experimental group, and in three with typical development, to control, to evaluate its applicability. Although there are limitations in the task, that must undergo adaptations, it was possible to verify that the participants of the experimental group had a longer duration of the task, due to it s difficulty in fixing the look, as well as they had the performance impaired in the emotions recognition. These data, along with other studies, suggest that individuals on the autistic spectrum use atypical visual strategies. However more research is needed on the subject.