Neurometabolite Changes Linked with Social Cognition Improvements in Autistic Youth Following a Social Skills Intervention

Motivation: Previous research using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has found neurotransmitter changes in neuropsychiatric disorders, notably in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, research on social skills interventions and metabolite changes is limited. Goal(s): To explore how specific metabolite changes could reveal neurochemical roles in social learning in autistic youth. Approach: We used ¹H-MRS to quantify neurotransmitter signals in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region underlying social cognition, to investigate the impact of a social skills intervention in autistic youth compared to neurotypical (NT) controls. Results: Findings suggest that metabolite changes may reflect adaptive responses to social skills interventions in autistic youth. Impact: This work connects behavioral and brain-based approaches in ASD treatment, helping identify markers of treatment response and improving the accuracy of interventions to enhance social outcomes for autistic youth.