The Developmental Neuropsychology Lab - Diana L. Robins

The Developmental
Neuropsychology Lab
Diana L. Robins, Ph.D.
Georgia State University
drobins@gsu.edu
http://www2.gsu.edu/~psydlr

Autism-related research in the
Developmental Neuropsychology
Lab at GSU
o Toddlers at risk for ASD (M-CHAT)
o Emotion perception in ASD

Modified Checklist for Autism
in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
o Filled out by parent during child’s regularly
scheduled pediatrician visit
o 23 parent report, yes/no items, administered at 16-
30mos (5mins)
o Screen positive: fail any 3 items, OR fail 2 critical
items, OR flagged by the pediatrician
www.mchatscreen.com

M-CHAT
o Each positive screen is followed by the M-CHAT
Follow-up Interview
o Contains specific probes for each item for which
the child scored at-risk
o If child continues to screen positive after the
interview, full developmental and diagnostic
evaluation
www.mchatscreen.com

No follow
(N=7999)
Not at Risk
Metro-Atlanta primary care
sample (N=8770)
Not at
Risk
AT RISK
Phone Interview (N=771)
AT RISK
No eval.
(N=473)
Declined/
Excluded
(N=155)
Qualify for an
Evaluation (N=80)
Non-ASD
(N=25)
Declined
(N=23)
ASD
(N=32)

Summary of M-CHAT Research
o Total published sample = 10,847 low-risk toddlers,
across studies
o plus high-risk toddlers, examined separately
o 6-10% of children required follow-up interview
o 50 children diagnosed with ASD (1 in 217); this is
50-65% of children who showed ASD risk on M-
CHAT + Follow-up Interview
Kleinman et al., 2008; Pandey et al., 2008; Robins, 2008

Current M-CHAT Research
o Ongoing collection of cross validation sample,
emphasis on diverse sample (race/ethnicity, SES)
o Re-screening entire sample at age 4 to ascertain
misses and calculate absolute sensitivity and
specificity
o Multi-stage screening to maximize sensitivity and
specificity/positive predictive value

Current M-CHAT Research
o Collaborating with Lauren Adamson to examine
developmental trajectories in toddlers who screen
positive on the M-CHAT
o Studying the influence of factors such as
race/ethnicity, maternal education, SES on
screening success (investigators: Wimsatt, Zaj,
Hazzard, Robins)

Emotion perception in ASD
o fMRI & DTI to examine the network of brain regions
involved in emotion perception in ASD and typicallydeveloping
individuals (Robins & King)
o Psychophysiological measures of emotion perception,
including facial electromyography, skin conductance,
and heart rate (Rozga, Mumaw, King, & Robins)
o Behavioral correlates of emotion perception (e.g.,
adaptive functioning: Banks, Robins, & King; eye
tracking: McManus & Robins)

Dynamic Multimodal Affective
Stimuli
ANGRY?
QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
TASK:
Press one button
for YES, the other
button for NO

Preliminary fMRI findings
Controls
(n=5)
Fusiform
MFG/IFS
ASD
(n=8)
Fusiform
y=-55 y=23
MFG/IFS
Angular gyrus
Compensatory
mechanism?
y=-55
y=23
y=-61

Facial Electromyography
Frown activates corrugator
QuickTime and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Smile activates zygomatic

Preliminary EMG Findings
25
Happy Stimuli
20
% change over baseline
15
10
5
0
-5
Corrugator
Zygomatic
TD group shows increases in
zygomatic activity in response to
happy and increases in corrugator
activity in response to angry
TD
ASD
% change over baseline
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Corrugator
Angry Stimuli
Zygomatic
TD
ASD

Preliminary EMG Findings
% change over baseline
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
Corrugator
Happy Stimuli
Zygomatic
TD group shows increases in
zygomatic activity in response to
happy and increases in corrugator
activity in response to angry
TD
ASD
% change over baseline
ASD group shows increases in
zygomatic activity in response to
happy and angry stimuli
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Corrugator
Angry Stimuli
Zygomatic
TD
ASD

Acknowledgments
Current postdocs, grad students
and postbacs:
• Sharlet Anderson
• Margaret Banks
• Julia Juechter
• Meena Khowaja
• Susan McManus
• Kimberly Oliver
• Vivian Piazza
• Agata Rozga
• Noelle Santorelli
• Jamie Zaj
Current Undergraduate RAs: Rebecca Bosch, April Coignard, Lora Henderson, Mirjana
Ivanisevic, Amy Lasher, Molly Locklear, Robert Rivera, Janice Taylor, Sheniece Willis,
Amber Wimsatt, Shelly Zody
Funding sources: NICHD: 2R01HD 035612, 2R01HD 039961; Autism Speaks; Center for
Behavioral Neuroscience, NSF Agreement # IBN-9876754;
GSU-CDC Seed Grant; Brains
& Behavior Initiative at GSU; GSU Faculty Mentoring Grant
Collaborators: Tricia King, Lauren Adamson, Roger Bakeman, Ann Hazzard (Emory),
Deborah Fein (UConn) & her team, Bob Schultz (Yale/CHOP), Wendy Stone (Vanderbilt)