PMID- 20945256
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20110531
LR  - 20240504
IS  - 1747-0927 (Electronic)
IS  - 1747-0919 (Print)
IS  - 1747-0919 (Linking)
VI  - 6
IP  - 1
DP  - 2011
TI  - Dysfunctions in brain networks supporting empathy: an fMRI study in adults with 
      autism spectrum disorders.
PG  - 1-21
LID - 10.1080/17470911003708032 [doi]
AB  - The present study aimed at identifying dysfunctions in brain networks that may 
      underlie disturbed empathic behavior in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). During 
      functional magnetic resonance imaging, subjects were asked to identify the 
      emotional state observed in a facial stimulus (other-task) or to evaluate their 
      own emotional response (self-task). Behaviorally, ASD subjects performed equally 
      to the control group during the other-task, but showed less emotionally congruent 
      responses in the self-task. Activations in brain regions related to theory of 
      mind were observed in both groups. Activations of the medial prefrontal cortex 
      (MPFC) were located in dorsal subregions in ASD subjects and in ventral areas in 
      control subjects. During the self-task, ASD subjects activated an additional 
      network of frontal and inferior temporal areas. Frontal areas previously 
      associated with the human mirror system were activated in both tasks in control 
      subjects, while ASD subjects recruited these areas during the self-task only. 
      Activations in the ventral MPFC may provide the basis for one's "emotional bond" 
      with other persons' emotions. Such atypical patterns of activation may underlie 
      disturbed empathy in individuals with ASD. Subjects with ASD may use an atypical 
      cognitive strategy to gain access to their own emotional state in response to 
      other people's emotions.
FAU - Schulte-Ruther, Martin
AU  - Schulte-Ruther M
AD  - University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, and Research Center Julich, Julich, Germany. 
      m.schulte@fz-juelich.de
FAU - Greimel, Ellen
AU  - Greimel E
FAU - Markowitsch, Hans J
AU  - Markowitsch HJ
FAU - Kamp-Becker, Inge
AU  - Kamp-Becker I
FAU - Remschmidt, Helmut
AU  - Remschmidt H
FAU - Fink, Gereon R
AU  - Fink GR
FAU - Piefke, Martina
AU  - Piefke M
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20101013
PL  - England
TA  - Soc Neurosci
JT  - Social neuroscience
JID - 101279009
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Brain/*physiopathology
MH  - Child
MH  - Child Development Disorders, Pervasive/*physiopathology
MH  - Empathy/*physiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
MH  - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MH  - Male
MH  - Neural Pathways/physiopathology
MH  - Theory of Mind
PMC - PMC3046624
EDAT- 2010/10/15 06:00
MHDA- 2011/06/01 06:00
PMCR- 2011/03/01
CRDT- 2010/10/15 06:00
PHST- 2010/10/15 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2010/10/15 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2011/06/01 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2011/03/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 928010049 [pii]
AID - 10.1080/17470911003708032 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Soc Neurosci. 2011;6(1):1-21. doi: 10.1080/17470911003708032. Epub 2010 Oct 13.