An automated electronic method for quantifying spinning (circling) in children with autistic disorder.

This pilot study examined and quantified rotational asymmetry (the tendency to turn preferentially to the right or left side). An automated device was used to measure turning (circling) in 9 children with autism and 27 normal control subjects and confirmed clinical observations of stereotypical spinning behavior in patients with autism. This behavior was significantly preferential toward the left side relative to control subjects (P = 0.0009, two-tailed). Group membership accounted for approximately 40% of variance. Although the precise causes of autism are not known, these preliminary data suggest that the spinning behavior often seen in children with neurodevelopmental disorders can be reliably measured. Furthermore, spinning in autism may most often manifest as specific right-hemis pace neglect. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 1995; 7:213-217) A utism is a neurodevelopmental disorder manifested in the early childhood years. 3 Diagnostic criteria are predominantly behavioral, with one of the typical symptoms being stereotypical and repetitive body movements. Hand stereotypies are widely recognized, for example. Rocking, hand twisting, whirling, twirling, and body spinning are other clinical motor signs of autism, mental retardation, and other severe neurodevelopmental disorders.13 Several recent studies have explored the relationship between psychiatric and cognitive dysfunctions and turning behaviors in humans.”9 In this article we present data from a pilot study in which an electronic device was employed to measure spontaneous circling behavior in 9 outpatient children with autism of unknown etiology and to test whether such spinning behavior was significantly asymmetric. A rotational preference in children with autism would serve to confirm anecdotal clinical observation and may provide clues to the neurobiologic abnormalities affecting these individuals.