Recent researches (Eisenberg et al., 2012, 2003) showed, through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), an activation of neural circuits in the human brain due to the experience of social pain, in correspondence of the same areas activated experiencing physical pain. These studies show an increase in the activity of the dACC and AI during a social interaction game called Cyber-ball (Williams et al., 2000). The results obtained with fMRI were confirmed by the perception of social distress reported by participants (Eisenberg, 2003) and higher the sensation of exclusion self-reported greater the activity in the same regions related to pain (De Wall et al., 2010). Cristofori et al. (2012) showed an increase in the power of Theta-band oscillations in the anterior and posterior insula, areas involved in the perception of physical pain (Liu et al., 2010) and in empathy for pain (Mu et al., 2008), when subjects felt excluded. Social interaction through the game of Cyberball was also studied in high-functioning autistic subjects (HFS). Authors suggest to explore whether connectivity between these regions is also altered in ASD. Finally, the recent literature on neuropsychological assessment (Parsons, 2014, 2010, 2007) highlights the many benefits derived from the use of diagnosis supported by technological tools offering greater standardization and ecological environmental (with the use of virtual environments), greater accuracy in the recording of responses (Parsons & Rizzo, 2008a,b). A recent study by Mavromihelaki et al. (in press) proposes the use of Cyberball in 3D, in order to understand the role of the degree of anthropomorphism in relation to empathy of the subject while watching a situation of social exclusion. Given that the tools of virtual reality and virtual environments offer better results in the assessment and treatment of ASD compared with normal tools, (Kandalaft et al., 2013; Wallace et al., 2010, Mitchell et al., 2007; Parsons and Mitchell, 2002) the present research has the overall objective to study the cerebral reactions in HFA, to the perception of social exclusion by an interactive game in virtual environment. The aims of this theses are: explore the field of the neural correlates involved in the perception of "social pain” in HFA, and verify if there are differences in neural responses between HFA and TD groups. Create a game in a virtual environment inspired by the paradigm of the Cyber-ball. It is assumed that the virtual environment, in which it has a high sense of presence and interaction, is the most suitable to study the emotional responses to social exclusion in HFA.Verify whether there are differences using the classic cyberball paradigm or the game for exclusion in virtual environment, in HFA group. Results from these studies will be presented.

Le ricerche recenti (Eisenberg et al., 2012, 2003) hanno dimostrato, attraverso l'utilizzo di immagini di risonanza magnetica funzionale (fMRI), l'attivazione di circuiti neurali nel cervello umano a causa dell'esperienza del dolore sociale, in corrispondenza delle stesse aree attivate durante una esperienza di dolore fisico. Questi studi mostrano un aumento dell'attività della CCAd e della IA durante un gioco di interazione sociale chiamato Cyberball (Williams et al., 2000). I risultati ottenuti con la fMRI sono stati confermati dalla percezione della sofferenza sociale riportata dai partecipanti (Eisenberg, 2003) infatti, più alta era la sensazione di esclusione riportata, maggiore era l'attività nelle regioni correlate al dolore (De Wall et al., 2010). Cristofori et al. (2012) hanno mostrato un aumento del potere delle oscillazioni della banda Theta nell'insula anteriore e posteriore, aree coinvolte nella percezione del dolore fisico (Liu et al., 2010) e in empatia per il dolore (Mu et al., 2008), quando i partecipanti agli studi si sentivano esclusi. L'interazione sociale attraverso il gioco di Cyberball è stata anche studiata in persone con autismo ad alto rendimento (AAF). Gli autori suggeriscono di verificare la connettività tra queste regioni che risulta alterata nell’autismo. Infine, la recente letteratura sulla valutazione neuropsicologica (Parsons, 2014, 2010, 2007) evidenzia i numerosi vantaggi derivanti dall'utilizzo della diagnosi supportata da strumenti tecnologici che offrono una maggiore standardizzazione e un ambiente ecologico (con l'utilizzo di ambienti virtuali), una migliore registrazione delle risposte (Parsons & Rizzo, 2008a, b). Uno studio recente di Mavromihelaki et al. (In stampa) propone l'uso di Cyberball in 3D, al fine di comprendere il ruolo del grado di antropomorfismo in relazione all'empatia del soggetto durante la visione di una situazione di esclusione sociale. Dato che gli strumenti della realtà virtuale e degli ambienti virtuali offrono migliori risultati nella valutazione e nel trattamento dell'AAF rispetto agli strumenti normali (Kandalaft et al., 2013; Wallace et al., 2010, Mitchell et al., 2007; Parsons e Mitchell , 2002) la presente ricerca ha l'obiettivo generale di studiare le reazioni cerebrali in AAF, alla percezione dell'esclusione sociale durante un gioco interattivo in ambiente virtuale. Come obiettivi specifici si evidenziano: esplorare il campo dei correlati neurali coinvolti nella percezione del "dolore sociale" nell’autismo ad alto funzionamento e verificare se esistono differenze nelle risposte neurali tra i gruppi AAF e sviluppo tipico. Creare un gioco in un ambiente virtuale ispirato al paradigma del Cyberball. Si presume che l'ambiente virtuale, in cui ci sia un elevato senso di presenza e di interazione, sia più idoneo a studiare le risposte emotive all'esclusione sociale in AAF. Verificare se esistono differenze nell’utilizzo del paradigma classico o del nuovo CyberballAvatar3D, nel gruppo AAF. I risultati di questi studi saranno presentati.

(2017). UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT IN ASD: Investigation of neural correlates and physio-psychological responses to social interactions in virtual environment. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2017).

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT IN ASD: Investigation of neural correlates and physio-psychological responses to social interactions in virtual environment

VENTURINI, EVA
2017

Abstract

Recent researches (Eisenberg et al., 2012, 2003) showed, through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), an activation of neural circuits in the human brain due to the experience of social pain, in correspondence of the same areas activated experiencing physical pain. These studies show an increase in the activity of the dACC and AI during a social interaction game called Cyber-ball (Williams et al., 2000). The results obtained with fMRI were confirmed by the perception of social distress reported by participants (Eisenberg, 2003) and higher the sensation of exclusion self-reported greater the activity in the same regions related to pain (De Wall et al., 2010). Cristofori et al. (2012) showed an increase in the power of Theta-band oscillations in the anterior and posterior insula, areas involved in the perception of physical pain (Liu et al., 2010) and in empathy for pain (Mu et al., 2008), when subjects felt excluded. Social interaction through the game of Cyberball was also studied in high-functioning autistic subjects (HFS). Authors suggest to explore whether connectivity between these regions is also altered in ASD. Finally, the recent literature on neuropsychological assessment (Parsons, 2014, 2010, 2007) highlights the many benefits derived from the use of diagnosis supported by technological tools offering greater standardization and ecological environmental (with the use of virtual environments), greater accuracy in the recording of responses (Parsons & Rizzo, 2008a,b). A recent study by Mavromihelaki et al. (in press) proposes the use of Cyberball in 3D, in order to understand the role of the degree of anthropomorphism in relation to empathy of the subject while watching a situation of social exclusion. Given that the tools of virtual reality and virtual environments offer better results in the assessment and treatment of ASD compared with normal tools, (Kandalaft et al., 2013; Wallace et al., 2010, Mitchell et al., 2007; Parsons and Mitchell, 2002) the present research has the overall objective to study the cerebral reactions in HFA, to the perception of social exclusion by an interactive game in virtual environment. The aims of this theses are: explore the field of the neural correlates involved in the perception of "social pain” in HFA, and verify if there are differences in neural responses between HFA and TD groups. Create a game in a virtual environment inspired by the paradigm of the Cyber-ball. It is assumed that the virtual environment, in which it has a high sense of presence and interaction, is the most suitable to study the emotional responses to social exclusion in HFA.Verify whether there are differences using the classic cyberball paradigm or the game for exclusion in virtual environment, in HFA group. Results from these studies will be presented.
MANTOVANI, FABRIZIA
Autism,; EEG,; pshypsychological,; ostracism,; thermal
AAutism,; EEG,; pshypsychological,; ostracism,; thermal
M-PED/01 - PEDAGOGIA GENERALE E SOCIALE
English
20-nov-2017
SCIENZE DELLA FORMAZIONE E DELLA COMUNICAZIONE - 91R
29
2015/2016
open
(2017). UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT IN ASD: Investigation of neural correlates and physio-psychological responses to social interactions in virtual environment. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2017).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/180885
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