| 摘要: | 絕對音感（Absolute Pitch, AP）與自閉症光譜障礙（Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD）常共同出現在特定個體中，兩者皆具有遺傳性與連續性，並與非典型的大腦連結模式相關。值得注意的是，在自閉症族群中，絕對音感能力的盛行率估計介於 5% 至 11% 之間。為解釋此絕對音感與自閉症特質之間的重疊現象，真實映射理論認為兩者可能共享某些特定的認知風格與神經連結特徵。然而，目前仍不清楚：（1）自閉症特質是否會影響絕對音感音樂家的表現；（2）這種關聯是否涉及自閉症三大腦網絡模型中的功能性連結異常。為釐清上述問題，我們進行了行為與靜息態功能性磁振造影實驗，以探討絕對音感能力與自閉症特質之間的關聯。
行為實驗共招募了120 名受試者參與，依據絕對音感能力篩選準確度，將音樂家與非音樂家分為絕對音感組、非絕對音感組與非音樂家組，並比較其自閉症特質與音樂表現。所有受試者皆完成自閉症光譜量表，以評估自閉症特質的五個面向。此外，亦施測一系列與絕對音感能力相關的作業，包括音感調整測驗、相對音感辨識與音樂能力測驗。行為結果顯示，絕對音感組音樂家在「想像力」與「社交溝通」相關的自閉症特質分量表上得分顯著高於非絕對音感組與非音樂家。此外，在音樂能力測驗上絕對音感組音樂家音高辨識能力較佳，但在節奏辨識能力方面則無顯著關聯。
我們運用靜息態功能性磁振造影技術探討絕對音感能力與自閉症特質在自閉症三大腦網絡模型中的功能性連結變化。招募了80名受試者參與，依據絕對音感能力篩選準確度，將音樂家與非音樂家分為絕對音感組、非絕對音感組與非音樂家組，並比較其自閉症特質與靜息態大腦功能之關聯性。結果顯示絕對音感組音樂家在預設模式網絡、警覺網絡與額頂葉網絡等自閉症相關核心腦區的功能性連結，與非絕對音感組及非音樂家組相比具有顯著差異。種子至體素與網絡內外分析結果進一步指出，絕對音感組音樂家呈現局部過度連結與整體低連結，且此連結模式與自閉症特質得分呈正相關。特別的是，在額頂葉網絡中，絕對音感組音樂家於中央前迴與額中迴呈現較高的活化程度，且此活化與自閉症特質及音樂節奏辨識能力呈正相關，可能反映兩者在此腦區的共同功能性參與。
實驗結果顯示，來自行為與靜息態功能性磁振造影分析的結果提供了證據，支持絕對音感與自閉症特質之間的關聯性，並指出此關聯可能源自自閉症三大腦網絡模型中的功能性連結異常。儘管音樂訓練經驗與自閉症特質未呈現顯著相關，我們仍觀察到與自閉症特質及音樂能力相關的腦區活化。進一步地，我們排除行為共變數的影響，例如開始音樂訓練的年齡與音樂訓練累積時數。結果顯示，絕對音感音樂家的優勢仍然顯現在顳上迴、緣上迴、黑索氏迴、中央前迴、中央後迴、顳平面等腦區。此結果揭示，長期音樂訓練可能透過大腦可塑性，強化特定神經網絡的功能參與，並為理解音樂能力與自閉症特質的交互作用提供新的研究視角。
;Absolute pitch (AP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently co-occur in individuals. Both are heritable and continuous traits and are associated with atypical patterns of brain connectivity. Notably, the prevalence of AP in individuals with ASD has been estimated at 5% to 11%. To account for the overlap between absolute pitch and autistic traits, the veridical mapping theory proposes that the two may share specific cognitive styles and neural connectivity features. However, it remains unclear (1) whether autistic traits influence absolute pitch performance and (2) whether this relationship involves functional connectivity abnormalities within the three core large-scale networks implicated in autism. To address these questions, we conducted both behavioral and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) experiments to investigate the association between absolute pitch ability and autistic traits.
In the behavioral experiment, a total of 120 participants were recruited. Based on the accuracy of absolute pitch screening, categorized into AP, non-AP, and non-musician groups. All participants completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), which evaluates autistic traits across five domains. In addition, a battery of AP-related tasks was administered, including the Pitch Adjustment Test (PAT), the Relative Pitch Test (RP), and the Advanced Measures of Music Audiation (AMMA). The behavioral results showed that AP musicians scored significantly higher than both non-AP musicians and non-musicians on the AQ subscales related to imagination and social communication. Furthermore, AP musicians outperformed others in tonal ability, while no significant effects were observed for rhythm ability.
We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine alterations in functional connectivity between AP ability and autistic traits within the triple-network model of autism. We recruited 80 participants and found significant differences between AP musicians, non-AP musicians, and non-musicians in core autism-related networks, including the Default Mode Network (DMN), Salience Network (SN), and Fronto-Parietal Network (FPN). Seed-to-voxel and within–between network analyses further demonstrated that the AP group exhibited a pattern of local hyperconnectivity alongside global hypoconnectivity, which was positively correlated with autistic trait scores. Notably, within the FPN, AP musicians showed increased activation in the precentral gyrus (preCG) and middle frontal gyrus (MFG). This activation was positively correlated with both autistic traits and rhythm ability, which may reflect their shared functional involvement in this brain region.
The observed behavioral and neural profiles suggest a meaningful convergence between AP and specific autistic traits, suggesting that this relationship may be driven by functional connectivity abnormalities within the triple-network model of autism. Despite musical training experience not significantly correlated with autistic traits, we observed neural activation in regions associated with both autistic traits and musical abilities. To further clarify these results, we controlled behavioral covariates such as age of onset of musical training and cumulative training hours. The findings revealed that AP musicians continued to exhibit enhanced activation in key auditory and sensorimotor regions. Overall, long-term musical training may enhance neuroplasticity and shed new light on the link between musical ability and autistic traits. |
