The Relationship Between Social Memory Disorders and Sleep Spindles in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Involvement of Sleep Spindle Waves in the Auxiliary Diagnosis of Social Memory Disorders in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Research background and project basis

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social disorders and repetitive stereotypical behavior. Social memory impairment is a significant feature of ASD patients, and the specific pathogenesis of social memory impairment in ASD patients is currently unclear, and there are no objective indicators to measure social memory levels. Sleep spindle wave is a special brain wave in sleep that is closely related to memory consolidation. However, no one has yet studied the impact of sleep spindles on social memory.

Research purpose

Exploring the correlation between sleep spindles and social memory in the population, providing reference for the auxiliary diagnosis of social memory disorders in children with ASD.

The goal of this observational study is to exploring the correlation between sleep spindles and social memory in the population, providing reference for the auxiliary diagnosis of social memory disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). The main question it aims to answer is the effect of sleep spindles on social memory. The study clinically recruited 30 children with ASD and 30 normal children. Participants will be asked to take face and car recognition memory tests which car recognition memory test as a control. After the two tasks, nighttime EEG recordings and subsequent spindle analysis will be recorded and performed.Then the correlation analysis between social memory levels and spindle levels would be conducted by machine learning model, so that researchers can infer the individual's social memory level through the level of spindles in the EEG.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children with ASD diagnosed through DSM-V (Healthy controls do not have this requirement)
• IQ score ≥ 75（WISC-IV，Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children）
• Age: 6-18
• Not receiving psychotropic medication (Or stopping medication for at least 2 weeks before the experiment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• In addition to ASD, other mental illnesses are also combined
• Presence of a sleep disorder, sleep apnea, periodic leg movements during sleep, or atypical EEG patterns
• Left handed