Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Impaired social functioning is a central feature of Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs); however, few treatments are available. There is evidence that two networks in the brain are important for social functioning: one for understanding the actions and basic emotions of others (mirror neuron system), and another for understanding that others can have thoughts and feelings that differ from one's own (theory of mind). Social functioning deficits are also central to schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), and healthy controls (HCs) exhibit a wide range of social functioning. These two networks have been shown to exist along a continuum in ASDs, SSDs and HCs; thus, studying these populations together has the potential to reveal patterns of brain-behaviour relationships that cut across these diagnoses and that underlie social functioning. In the proposed study, we will evaluate how brain structure is related to brain function, and how both are related to social functioning. To achieve this, we will use two types of brain imaging: one to examine structural connections between these networks, and another to examine brain activity in these networks (while performing a task that activates them). We will relate both these brain measures to behavioural and clinical assessments of social functioning. We hypothesize that altered brain structure will result in impaired brain function, and consequently poor social functioning. We also expect that greater usage of the theory of mind network will be associated with better social functioning, whereas greater usage of the mirror neuron network will be associated with worse social functioning. By characterizing brain structure-function-behaviour relations in and between each network, we are taking a critical step towards identifying targets for novel treatments to improve social functioning. Improvements in social functioning will ameliorate the quality of life of individuals with ASD and their families, and benefit Canada economically.