Clinical and psychological features of the brain organization of mental activity in children with autistic disorders

Abstract

Introduction Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) – nosological continuum of genetically and clinically heterogeneous mental disorders united by complex violation of mental development, social interaction and behavior. Objectives Identify the features of brain functioning in children with ASD. Methods Neuropsychological diagnostics (Zh. Glozman), results acoustic brainstem evoked potentials (ABEP), mathematical methods. The study involved 48 children with diagnoses (ICD-10): F84. 0, F84. 1, F84.5, aged 3 to 8 years (average age 4.18 years). Results Neuropsychological examination revealed the main Indices of the functioning of brain blocks: the Index of activation and energy components of activity (I Index), the Index of the right-hemisphere holistic strategy of information processing (Index II-rights), the Index of the left-hemisphere analytical strategy of information processing (Index II-left), the Index of programming, regulation and control of activity (III Index). Then the children were divided into groups (p<0.001): 1 group – 10 children with high I Index (W = -6.03); 2 – 20 children with high Index II-rights (W = -5.74); 3 – 18 children with high III Index (W = -2.32). Correlation analysis showed: for group 1 difficulties in the perception of auditory information are characteristic; for group 2 – reduced level of control over the course of mental activity, difficulties in automating thinking and speech, coordination of movements; for group 3 – relationship is not manifested. Conclusions Phonemic perception causes the greatest difficulties in children of group 1. Children of group 2 are characterized by difficulties in the formation of motor speech skills, a decrease in voluntary activity and control over it. Disclosure No significant relationships.