Age-related increase in inferior frontal gyrus activity and social functioning in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity161 @entity72 @entity2438
BACKGROUND: Hypoactivation of the inferior frontal gyrus during the perception of facial expressions has been interpreted as evidence for a deficit of the mirror neuron system in @entity1 with @entity2438 . We examined whether this dysfunction persists in adulthood, and how brain activity in the mirror neuron system relates to social functioning outside the laboratory. METHODS: Twenty-one adult males with @entity72 and 21 typically developing subjects matched for age, sex, and IQ were scanned in three conditions: observing short movies showing facial expressions, performing a facial movement, and experiencing a disgusting taste. Symptom severity and level of social adjustment were measured with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Social Functioning Scale. RESULTS: Inferior frontal gyrus activity during the observation of facial expressions increased with age in subjects with @entity2438 , but not in control subjects. The age-related increase in activity was associated with changes in gaze behavior and improvements in social functioning. These age-related neurocognitive improvements were not found in a group of individuals with @entity161 , who had comparable levels of social functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this cross-sectional study suggest that mirror neuron system activity augments with age in @entity2438 and that this is accompanied by changes in gaze behavior and improved social functioning. It is the first demonstration of an age-related neurocognitive improvement in @entity2438 . Increased motor simulation may contribute to the amelioration in social functioning documented in adolescence and adulthood. This finding should encourage the development of new therapeutic interventions directed at emotion simulation.
