Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors Across Neurodevelopmental Conditions: An Observational Analysis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum
Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is the loss of part or all of the corpus callosum, the white matter tract that connects the hemispheres of the brain together. Individuals with ACC often experience impairments in social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), both of which are defining characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite the shared symptomology between the two conditions, there is a lack of observational data on the prevalence of RRBs in ASD and ACC populations. The present study uses the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) to quantify the presence and frequency of RRBs exhibited during free play between a child and their caregiver. The sample population consists of children between 24 and 55 months with ASD, ACC, or co-occurring ACC and ASD. Preliminary results show that RRBs are present in all sample groups and individuals with ASD present the highest mean RRB scores. In addition, hand and finger or complex body mannerisms appeared most often throughout the samples and received the highest mean scores from individuals with ASD. The presence of RRBs in individuals with ASD, ACC, and ACC+ASD provides a greater understanding of the shared symptomology between the conditions, which could help refine diagnostic techniques and provide additional insight into the causes of ASD. Furthermore, these findings suggest that white matter connectivity may play a role in the development and management of RRB symptoms.