Differential patterns of visual sensory alteration underlying face emotion recognition impairment and motion perception deficits in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders

Abstract Background Impaired face-emotion recognition (FER) and abnormal motion processing are core features in schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that have been linked to atypical activity within visual cortex. Despite overlaps, only a few studies have directly explored convergent versus divergent neural mechanisms of altered visual processing in ASD and SZ. We employed a multimodal imaging approach to evaluate FER and motion perception in relation to functioning of subcortical and cortical visual regions. Methods Subjects were 20 high-functioning adults with ASD, 19 schizophrenia patients and 17 control participants. Behavioral measures of coherent motion-sensitivity and FER along with electrophysiological and functional MRI (fMRI) measures of visual pattern and motion processing were obtained. Resting-state fMRI was used to assess the relationship between cortico-cortical and thalamo-cortical connectivity and atypical visual processing. Results SZ and ASD participants had intercorrelated deficits in FER and motion-sensitivity. In both groups, reduced motion-sensitivity was associated with reduced fMRI activation in occipitotemporal cortex and lower delta-band EEG power. In ASD, FER deficits correlated with hyperactivation of dorsal stream regions and increased evoked theta power. Activation of the pulvinar correlated with abnormal alpha-band modulation in SZ and ASD with under- and over-modulation, respectively, predicting increased clinical symptoms in both groups. Conclusion SZ and ASD participants showed equivalent deficits in FER and motion-sensitivity but markedly different profiles of physiological dysfunction. The specific pattern of deficits observed in each group may help guide development of treatments designed to down- vs. up-regulate visual processing within the respective clinical groups.