Measuring the Plasticity of Social Approach: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the PEERS Intervention on EEG Asymmetry in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Authors

Amy V. Van Hecke, Marquette UniversityFollow
Sheryl Jayne Stevens, Marquette UniversityFollow
Audrey M. Carson, Marquette University
Jeffrey S. Karst, Marquette UniversityFollow
Bridget Dolan, Marquette UniversityFollow
Kirsten A. Schohl, Marquette UniversityFollow
Ryan J. McKindles, Marquette University
Rheanna Remmel, Marquette University
Scott Brockman, Marquette University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

2-2015

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Source ISSN

0162-3257

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1883-y

Abstract

This study examined whether the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS: Social skills for teenagers with developmental and autism spectrum disorders: The PEERS treatment manual, Routledge, New York, 2010a) affected neural function, via EEG asymmetry, in a randomized controlled trial of adolescents with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group of typically developing adolescents. Adolescents with ASD in PEERS shifted from right-hemisphere gamma-band EEG asymmetry before PEERS to left-hemisphere EEG asymmetry after PEERS, versus a waitlist ASD group. Left-hemisphere EEG asymmetry was associated with more social contacts and knowledge, and fewer symptoms of autism. Adolescents with ASD in PEERS no longer differed from typically developing adolescents in left-dominant EEG asymmetry at post-test. These findings are discussed via the Modifier Model of Autism (Mundy et al. in Res Pract Persons Severe Disabl 32(2):124, 2007), with emphasis on remediating isolation/withdrawal in ASD.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol. 45, No. 2 (February 2015): 316-335. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1883-y. © 2015 Springer. Used with permission.

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Recommended Citation

Van Hecke, Amy V.; Stevens, Sheryl Jayne; Carson, Audrey M.; Karst, Jeffrey S.; Dolan, Bridget; Schohl, Kirsten A.; McKindles, Ryan J.; Remmel, Rheanna; and Brockman, Scott, "Measuring the Plasticity of Social Approach: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the PEERS Intervention on EEG Asymmetry in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders" (2015). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 230.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/230