Neurophysiological Study of Sensory and Cognitive Processes in Healthy Children and Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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It is now widely accepted that autism is linked to a developmental disorder and cerebral function. Our research team (UMR U930 INSERM, François-Rabelais University of Tours, whom Pr F Bonnet-Brilhault is responsible for team Autism) hypothesizes that atypical sensory information processing, especially auditory and / or visual information, could underly the symptoms observed in autism. A better knowledge of the typical development of the sensory and cognitive processes must therefore make it possible in the long term to identify the abnormalities linked to the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Studies in healthy subjects are therefore necessary in order to identify neurophysiological indices of cerebral functioning and to study their evolution during normal development, making it possible in the future to compare with populations of subjects with ASD. The investigators intend to study the development of all the cognitive processes involved in the processing of sensory and, in particular, auditory and visual information in humans: from low-level perception processes to higher-level cognitive processes (attention, emotion, language, prediction, ...). For this the investigators will use non-invasive neurophysiological explorations (EEG, eye tracking) as well as neuropsychological explorations (Questionnaires or spontaneous language recording). A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the symptoms observed in autism could ultimately lead to the development of new specific therapeutic strategies, particularly in the field of exchange and development therapy or cognitive remediation .

Official Title
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Neurophysiological Study of Sensory and Cognitive Processes in Healthy Children and Adults

Conditions
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Healthy Volunteer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Neurophysiological assessment
* Behavioral: Neuropsychological assessment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Between 1 and 60 years-old Able to understand and apply instructions for a task Information of subject or legal representant Informed written consent of subject or legal representant Affiliation to the social security system Exclusion Criteria: Abnormal corrected vision Abnormal audition Known personal neurological pathology Known personal psychiatric problems Identified difficulties for walking, language, or learning Exclusion period because of participation to another experimental protocol Adult with legal protection

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 1 Year
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Healthy volunteer<br>Neurophysiological assessment Neuropsychological assessment | Behavioral: Neurophysiological assessment<br>* Assessment of cerebral electrical activity Assessment of ocular exploration Neurovegetative assessments<br>Behavioral: Neuropsychological assessment<br>* sub-tests, scales, surveys, reaction time measurement<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ERP amplitude (µV) | analysis of ERP amplitude evoked during EEG recording | 1 hour | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reaction times (ms) | Reaction times collected during behavioral assessment | 1 hour | 
| pupil size (mm) | pupil size measurements acquired with the eye tracker | 1 hour |