Abstract:

In social species such as humans, social stimuli and interactions typically constitute an important set of reward signals. Many individuals with ASD do not find social stimuli and interactions to be rewarding. Based on this observation, one account suggests that social behavioural difficulties in ASD are driven by a deficit in reward processing from social stimuli. In a parallel line of work, ASD has been characterized by a deficit in empathy, an ability which allows one to understand others’ emotions and mental states and respond appropriately to them.

In our work, we study the interaction between reward and empathy-related processes, and how these map onto features of autism. Using facial EMG, functional MRI, and eye-tracking studies, we observe that ASD is marked by reduced bidirectional links between reward and empathy-related processes. Rather than there being a core problem in empathizing, or responding to social rewards, autistic symptoms might be more representative of an atypical connection between neural systems involved in both of these processes.

About the speaker:

Bhismadev Chakrabarti, Professor of Neuroscience & Mental Health

Research Director, Centre for Autism
School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading

www.reading.ac.uk/autism | www.bhismalab.org