Periodic Reporting for period 4 - Brain2Bee (How dopamine affects social and motor ability - from the human brain to the honey bee)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Understanding the Connection Between Social and Motor Differences in Autism and Parkinson’s Disease:
Parkinson’s Disease is often associated with motor differences, while Autism is commonly linked to social differences. However, there is overlap between the conditions in the sense that people with Parkinson’s can experience social differences, and motor differences are common in Autism. Furthermore, evidence is emerging that rates of Parkinson’s are atypically high in the autistic population. Despite this, the biological basis of overlapping social and motor differences remains unclear. Both Autism and Parkinson’s Disease have been linked to differences in the dopamine system. In non-clinical populations, dopamine plays a role in both social and motor abilities. However, research on these connections has remained separate—until now.
Brain2Bee used drug studies with members of the general population to explore the relationship between dopamine, motor function, and social behaviour. We refined our understanding of how dopamine influences movement, showing that it plays a key role in regulating and dynamically adjusting movement speed. We also built a body of evidence demonstrating that dopamine contributes to social cognition—particularly in our ability to attribute mental states to others, interpret emotional signals, and learn from social interactions. Interestingly, while both autistic individuals and people with Parkinson’s show social and motor differences compared to neurotypical individuals, our research found no clear overlap between the specific social and motor differences in the two conditions.
Based on these findings, we have started developing technology to improve the diagnosis of Autism and Parkinson’s Disease, helping to reduce confusion and prevent misdiagnosis.
Parkinson’s Disease is often associated with motor differences, while Autism is commonly linked to social differences. However, there is overlap between the conditions in the sense that people with Parkinson’s can experience social differences, and motor differences are common in Autism. Furthermore, evidence is emerging that rates of Parkinson’s are atypically high in the autistic population. Despite this, the biological basis of overlapping social and motor differences remains unclear. Both Autism and Parkinson’s Disease have been linked to differences in the dopamine system. In non-clinical populations, dopamine plays a role in both social and motor abilities. However, research on these connections has remained separate—until now.
Brain2Bee used drug studies with members of the general population to explore the relationship between dopamine, motor function, and social behaviour. We refined our understanding of how dopamine influences movement, showing that it plays a key role in regulating and dynamically adjusting movement speed. We also built a body of evidence demonstrating that dopamine contributes to social cognition—particularly in our ability to attribute mental states to others, interpret emotional signals, and learn from social interactions. Interestingly, while both autistic individuals and people with Parkinson’s show social and motor differences compared to neurotypical individuals, our research found no clear overlap between the specific social and motor differences in the two conditions.
Based on these findings, we have started developing technology to improve the diagnosis of Autism and Parkinson’s Disease, helping to reduce confusion and prevent misdiagnosis.
Dopamine, Social Cognition, and Motor Function:
We investigated how dopamine affects movement and social connection using drug studies. Our findings show that dopamine plays a role in learning from others, understanding emotions, and adjusting movement speed. Importantly, dopamine’s effects on social cognition and movement appear to be independent—changes in one do not predict changes in the other.
We published 33 Brain2Bee-related scientific papers, with a further 14 under review, and presented our findings at 54 conferences/workshops. We shared our work through talks for the autism and Parkinson’s communities, exhibitions and interactive events at art galleries in Galway and Birmingham and wrote articles for publications such as The Conversation. Our wider public outreach work is estimated to have reached an audience of around 130,000 people.
Dopamine, Social Cognition, and Motor Function in Parkinson’s:
We found that people with Parkinson’s (PwP) were less accurate in recognising emotional facial expressions when off their medication. They also moved more slowly and experienced challenges with adjusting their speed when needed. However, changes in movement did not predict changes in social cognition, supporting the idea that dopamine influences these abilities separately.
We published a paper in Behavioural Brain Research on this topic, with another currently in preparation. A PhD student from our lab has given talks to Parkinson’s and Huntington’s support groups in the UK and Ireland and recently won the HD Buzz Prize for her scientific writing on this topic.
Autism and Parkinson’s:
We examined whether autism and Parkinson’s share a biological link in the dopamine system. A genetic review found no evidence of a shared cause, but we did observe some similarities (but also some differences) in movement patterns. Using machine learning, we identified key differences in how autistic individuals and PwP move, showing that while both groups exhibit motor differences, they are distinct. We developed machine learning classifiers to distinguish between autism and Parkinson’s. Our research also demonstrated that combining movement data with questionnaires improves diagnostic accuracy. Lydia Hickman, the PhD student who led this work, won the British Neuroscience Association Postgraduate Award for this work.
Movement-Based Diagnostic Tools for Autism:
We found that autistic individuals not only recognise emotions differently but also express them using distinct facial movements. Using machine learning, we developed a highly accurate classifier that distinguishes autistic and non-autistic individuals based on facial expressions. We are working with the autistic community to explore whether this tool might improve autism screening. For example, we recently secured funding for a new PhD student who is co-developing a smartphone app, with the autistic community, to support diagnosis. Connor Keating, who led this research, won the EPS Frith Prize, the U21 Future Leader’s Award, and the INSAR dissertation award for his work on emotional processing in autism.
Molecular Mechanisms of Sociability in Honey Bees and Humans:
We studied social behaviour at a genetic level in honey bees and humans, identifying genetic markers linked to sociability—some of which overlap between species. This suggests that while social behaviour has evolved differently across species, certain biological mechanisms, including those involving dopamine, are shared.
We published a commentary in Trends in Cognitive Sciences on this topic, and our scientific paper reporting the genetic findings is currently under review.
We investigated how dopamine affects movement and social connection using drug studies. Our findings show that dopamine plays a role in learning from others, understanding emotions, and adjusting movement speed. Importantly, dopamine’s effects on social cognition and movement appear to be independent—changes in one do not predict changes in the other.
We published 33 Brain2Bee-related scientific papers, with a further 14 under review, and presented our findings at 54 conferences/workshops. We shared our work through talks for the autism and Parkinson’s communities, exhibitions and interactive events at art galleries in Galway and Birmingham and wrote articles for publications such as The Conversation. Our wider public outreach work is estimated to have reached an audience of around 130,000 people.
Dopamine, Social Cognition, and Motor Function in Parkinson’s:
We found that people with Parkinson’s (PwP) were less accurate in recognising emotional facial expressions when off their medication. They also moved more slowly and experienced challenges with adjusting their speed when needed. However, changes in movement did not predict changes in social cognition, supporting the idea that dopamine influences these abilities separately.
We published a paper in Behavioural Brain Research on this topic, with another currently in preparation. A PhD student from our lab has given talks to Parkinson’s and Huntington’s support groups in the UK and Ireland and recently won the HD Buzz Prize for her scientific writing on this topic.
Autism and Parkinson’s:
We examined whether autism and Parkinson’s share a biological link in the dopamine system. A genetic review found no evidence of a shared cause, but we did observe some similarities (but also some differences) in movement patterns. Using machine learning, we identified key differences in how autistic individuals and PwP move, showing that while both groups exhibit motor differences, they are distinct. We developed machine learning classifiers to distinguish between autism and Parkinson’s. Our research also demonstrated that combining movement data with questionnaires improves diagnostic accuracy. Lydia Hickman, the PhD student who led this work, won the British Neuroscience Association Postgraduate Award for this work.
Movement-Based Diagnostic Tools for Autism:
We found that autistic individuals not only recognise emotions differently but also express them using distinct facial movements. Using machine learning, we developed a highly accurate classifier that distinguishes autistic and non-autistic individuals based on facial expressions. We are working with the autistic community to explore whether this tool might improve autism screening. For example, we recently secured funding for a new PhD student who is co-developing a smartphone app, with the autistic community, to support diagnosis. Connor Keating, who led this research, won the EPS Frith Prize, the U21 Future Leader’s Award, and the INSAR dissertation award for his work on emotional processing in autism.
Molecular Mechanisms of Sociability in Honey Bees and Humans:
We studied social behaviour at a genetic level in honey bees and humans, identifying genetic markers linked to sociability—some of which overlap between species. This suggests that while social behaviour has evolved differently across species, certain biological mechanisms, including those involving dopamine, are shared.
We published a commentary in Trends in Cognitive Sciences on this topic, and our scientific paper reporting the genetic findings is currently under review.
The breakthroughs we've made in the Brain2Bee project have moved science forward in various ways. Before this project, we knew little about how dopamine affects social thinking. Most of the knowledge came from genetic studies, but these don’t show that dopamine actually causes changes. Our research has greatly expanded this field, now dopamine is understood to play a much broader role, not just in reward and movement, but also in social cognition.
In addition to demonstrating that dopamine plays a role in social cognition, we also showed that its role in movement is more complex than previously thought. Traditionally, dopamine was believed to make movements more vigorous (faster!), but our findings reveal that it also plays a crucial role in adjusting movement speed in response to context. This aligns with broader theories about how dopamine helps individuals adapt their actions based on changing circumstances.
Expanding our understanding of dopamine in these ways is important because it helps us better understand the symptoms of conditions, like Parkinson's, where dopamine is affected. It also helps us predict how drugs that influence dopamine will change people's behaviour.
Our work has also advanced our understanding of the overlap between autism and Parkinson’s. Before this project, it had been observed that social and motor differences co-occurred in both conditions. But little was known about why, or whether this indicates some sort of biological overlap between the conditions. Our detailed analysis has revealed key differences—both in the nature of social cognitive alterations in autism and Parkinson’s and in how the motor system is affected. We successfully leveraged these distinctions to train machine learning classifiers that can differentiate between the two conditions with high accuracy. Given the urgent need for tools that can accelerate diagnosis, we hope that by continuing to collaborate with these communities, we can co-create ways of improving the diagnosis process.
In addition to demonstrating that dopamine plays a role in social cognition, we also showed that its role in movement is more complex than previously thought. Traditionally, dopamine was believed to make movements more vigorous (faster!), but our findings reveal that it also plays a crucial role in adjusting movement speed in response to context. This aligns with broader theories about how dopamine helps individuals adapt their actions based on changing circumstances.
Expanding our understanding of dopamine in these ways is important because it helps us better understand the symptoms of conditions, like Parkinson's, where dopamine is affected. It also helps us predict how drugs that influence dopamine will change people's behaviour.
Our work has also advanced our understanding of the overlap between autism and Parkinson’s. Before this project, it had been observed that social and motor differences co-occurred in both conditions. But little was known about why, or whether this indicates some sort of biological overlap between the conditions. Our detailed analysis has revealed key differences—both in the nature of social cognitive alterations in autism and Parkinson’s and in how the motor system is affected. We successfully leveraged these distinctions to train machine learning classifiers that can differentiate between the two conditions with high accuracy. Given the urgent need for tools that can accelerate diagnosis, we hope that by continuing to collaborate with these communities, we can co-create ways of improving the diagnosis process.