Clinical Perspective of Social Isolation

**69**

**Chapter 6**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Deprivation of Social Play:

*Huyen Thi Ngoc Tran and F. Scott Hall*

mechanisms altered by reduced social interactions early in life.

**Keywords:** social isolation, autism spectrum disorder, play, ultrasonic vocalization

Animal models provide a means to study behavioral and psychiatric disorders that can reveal underlying mechanisms that we are unable to address in studies in human subjects. The genetic, anatomical, biological, and behavioral characteristics of rodents (primarily rats and mice) closely resembles those of humans, making them a powerful tool for modeling psychiatric diseases [1], providing a means to examine underlying processes, as well as to test potential therapeutic approaches. Like many other conditions, attempts to develop animal models have been pursued for ASD, including those based on environmental factors such as maternal immune activation [2], as well as genetic variation [3]. The similarity between the behavioral sequelae of different types of deprivation of early social experience were long ago compared to ASD [4]. Deprivation of early social interactions, often including deprivation throughout many portions of early development resulted in impaired social and emotional functioning, and repetitive, stereotyped behavior. Over time, experimental studies that deprived animals of specific types of social experience

Implications for the Mechanisms

Social play emerges in early adolescence and is one of the primary types of social interaction seen early in life in mammals. The experience of social play is essential for the normal trajectory of social and cognitive development. Adolescent mammals deprived opportunities for social interaction at this age display neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Social deprivation alters adult behavioral patterns, neuroanatomy, and neurochemistry in ways that resemble autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These deficits include impairments in communication, social perception, and social behavior. However, the symptom most characteristic of the earliest stage of ASD is decreased interest in social objects. Understanding the role of early social experience, especially play, in the development of social, cognitive, and emotional functioning will provide insight into the development of ASD. In order to understand how social deprivation can affect behavior, researchers isolate animals during early adolescence. Most studies have looked at rodents since it appears that isolationrearing of rodents has detrimental effects on social development, making it a valid model of ASD. This chapter will consider the potential of this model as a model of ASD, and how it can inform understanding of ASD and the neurodevelopmental

of Autism Spectrum Disorders

#### **Chapter 6**
