N170 decoding response to Duchenne smile face in autism spectrum disorder children

Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by significant social impairments thought to partially stem from anomalous neural reaction to facial cues. This study pioneers the exploration of how ASD children respond to a distinct Duchenne smile facial expression, employing the N170 event-related potential (ERP), to assess their neural responses. Our research aims to shed light on how ASD children process facial expressions, providing insights into the underlying neural mechanisms associated with emotions in this population. We recorded ERPs from 20 children, consisting of 10 with ASD and 10 control group counterparts. They viewed a series of Duchenne smile faces of a familiar female celebrity while their neural responses were recorded via EEG in a controlled, distraction-free environment. Our findings revealed significant differences during latency between ASD and the control group. During facial processing, ASD children presented a shorter latency for both faces than the control group. Source localization identified activation in the right hemisphere regions in the ASD children, particularly in the superior temporal and superior pole areas as well as the insula, which are associated with emotional processing. The control group activated areas linked to visual and cognitive functions. These findings suggest that ASD children may recognize faces quickly where their emphasis is placed on non-emotional facial features, but possibly due to an impaired emotional processing mechanism linked to a reduced emotional responsiveness. This research challenges prevailing studies where the ERP pattern in ASD suggesting potential overlap with other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions, such as psychosis. Further investigation into possible comorbidities is warranted, thereby deepening our comprehension of ASD and its multifaceted neurobiological connections.