Atypical learning and memory in early life can promote atypical behaviors in later life. Less relational learning and inflexible retrieval in childhood may enhance restricted and repeated behaviors in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of atypical memory in children with autism spectrum disorder. We conducted picture–name pair learning and delayed-recognition tests with two groups: one group with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder children (aged 7–16, n = 41) and one group with typically developing children (n = 82) that matched the first group’s age, sex, and IQ. We assessed correlations between successful recognition scores and seed-to-whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity. Although both learning and retrieval performances were comparable between the two groups, we observed slightly lower category learning and significantly fewer memory gains in the autism spectrum disorder group than in the typically developing group. The right canonical anterior hippocampal network was involved in successful memory in youths with typically developing, while other memory systems may be involved in successful memory in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Context-independent and less relational memory processing may be associated with fewer memory gains in autism spectrum disorder. These atypical memory characteristics in autism spectrum disorder may accentuate their inflexible behaviors in some situations.

Lay abstract

Atypical learning and memory in early life can promote atypical behaviors in later life. Specifically, less relational learning and inflexible retrieval in childhood may enhance restricted and repeated behaviors in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of atypical memory in children with autism spectrum disorder. We conducted picture–name pair learning and delayed-recognition tests with two groups of youths: one group with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder children (aged 7–16, n = 41) and one group with typically developing children (n = 82) that matched the first group’s age, sex, and full-scale IQ. We examined correlations between successful recognition scores and neural connectivity during resting in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner without thinking about anything. Although both learning and retrieval performances were comparable between the two groups, we observed significantly fewer memory gains in the autism spectrum disorder group than in the typically developing group. The memory network was involved in successful memory retrieval in youths with typically developing, while the other memory systems that do not depend to a great degree on networks may be involved in successful memory in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Context-independent and less relational memory processing may be associated with fewer memory gains in autism spectrum disorder. In other words, autism spectrum disorder youths might benefit from non-relational memory. These atypical memory characteristics in autism spectrum disorder may exaggerate their inflexible behaviors in some situations, or—vice versa—their atypical behaviors may result in rigid and less connected memories.

中文翻译：

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自闭症谱系障碍儿童和青少年刚性记忆的内在海马功能连接：病例对照研究

早年的非典型学习和记忆可以促进晚年的非典型行为。童年时期较少的关系学习和不灵活的检索可能会增强自闭症谱系障碍患者的受限和重复行为。本研究的目的是阐明自闭症谱系障碍儿童非典型记忆的机制。我们对两组进行了图片名称配对学习和延迟识别测试：一组是高功能自闭症谱系障碍儿童（7-16 岁，n  = 41），另一组是典型发育儿童（n = 82) 匹配第一组的年龄、性别和智商。我们评估了成功识别分数与种子到全脑静息状态功能连接之间的相关性。尽管两组之间的学习和检索性能相当，但我们观察到自闭症谱系障碍组的类别学习略低，记忆增益明显低于典型发展组。正确的经典海马前网络参与了典型发育青少年的成功记忆，而其他记忆系统可能参与了自闭症谱系障碍青少年的成功记忆。在自闭症谱系障碍中，与上下文无关且关联性较低的记忆处理可能与较少的记忆增益有关。

摘要

早年的非典型学习和记忆可以促进晚年的非典型行为。具体而言，童年时期较少的关系学习和不灵活的检索可能会增强自闭症谱系障碍患者的受限和重复行为。本研究的目的是阐明自闭症谱系障碍儿童非典型记忆的机制。我们对两组青少年进行了图片名称配对学习和延迟识别测试：一组是高功能自闭症谱系障碍儿童（7-16 岁，n  = 41），另一组是正常发育的儿童（n = 82) 与第一组的年龄、性别和全面智商相匹配。我们检查了在磁共振成像扫描仪中休息期间成功识别分数与神经连接之间的相关性，而无需考虑任何事情。尽管两组之间的学习和检索表现相当，但我们观察到自闭症谱系障碍组的记忆力增加明显少于典型发育组。记忆网络参与了正常发育青少年的成功记忆检索，而其他不太依赖网络的记忆系统可能参与了自闭症谱系障碍青少年的成功记忆。在自闭症谱系障碍中，与上下文无关且关联性较低的记忆处理可能与较少的记忆增益有关。换句话说，自闭症谱系障碍青少年可能会受益于非关系记忆。自闭症谱系障碍中的这些非典型记忆特征可能会在某些情况下夸大他们的僵化行为，或者——反之亦然——他们的非典型行为可能导致僵化和联系较少的记忆。