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Cognitive and Emotional Processing of Social Stimuli in Children and Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Primary Purpose

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Status
Unknown status
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Norway
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Pictures
Startle eliciting noise
Sponsored by
University of Tromso
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Autism Spectrum Disorder focused on measuring ASD, Startle

Eligibility Criteria

7 Years - 18 Years (Child, Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

For ASD group:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders

Sites / Locations

  • Department of Psychology, University of Tromso

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Experimental

Arm Label

Normal controls

ASD

Arm Description

Normal children and youths

Children and youths diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

The eyeblink of the Startle reflex is measured.
The startle reflex is potentiated when participants are influenced by negative emotions. Accordingly, startle will be measured in relation to picture presentation to gauge the emotional effect of the pictures. It is expected that the ASD group will show fear potentiated startle to pictures of human faces.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
March 2, 2011
Last Updated
October 24, 2012
Sponsor
University of Tromso
Collaborators
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Health
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01322984
Brief Title
Cognitive and Emotional Processing of Social Stimuli in Children and Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Official Title
Cognitive and Emotional Processing of Social Stimuli in Children and Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2012
Overall Recruitment Status
Unknown status
Study Start Date
March 2011 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
January 2013 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
undefined (undefined)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
University of Tromso
Collaborators
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Health

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to react abnormally to social stimuli, especially to human faces. Children and youth with ASD show less interest in social stimuli, and may even avoid looking at or interact with such stimuli. It has been proposed that social stimuli elicit reactions like fear and stress in individuals with ASD, and this explains the lack of interest and avoidance. The present project investigates this hypothesis.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Keywords
ASD, Startle

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Non-Randomized
Enrollment
60 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Normal controls
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Normal children and youths
Arm Title
ASD
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Children and youths diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Pictures
Intervention Description
The participants will be exposed to pictures of faces and non-facial stimuli presented on a PC screen.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Startle eliciting noise
Intervention Description
Startle will be elicited by 95 dB noise, presented at different times after picture onset.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
The eyeblink of the Startle reflex is measured.
Description
The startle reflex is potentiated when participants are influenced by negative emotions. Accordingly, startle will be measured in relation to picture presentation to gauge the emotional effect of the pictures. It is expected that the ASD group will show fear potentiated startle to pictures of human faces.
Time Frame
The startle reflex will be measured in relation to picture presentations during the experiment (e.g. day 1).

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
7 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
For ASD group: Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Department of Psychology, University of Tromso
City
Tromso
State/Province
Troms
ZIP/Postal Code
9037
Country
Norway
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ole Åsli, PhD
Phone
77646778
Email
ole.asli@uit.no
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ole Åsli, PhD

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Links:
URL
http://uit.no
Description
Related Info

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Cognitive and Emotional Processing of Social Stimuli in Children and Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

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