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Lateralization in individuals with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder: a frontostriatal model
Nicole J Rinehart1, John L Bradshaw, Avril V Brereton
1Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, 3168. Nicole.Rinehart@med.monash.edu.au
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|August 30, 2002
Summary
Individuals with high-functioning autism show left hemisphere dysfunction on executive tasks, unlike those with Asperger's disorder. This suggests differing neurobiological underpinnings for autism spectrum conditions and their developmental trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Conflicting findings exist regarding left hemisphere dysfunction in autism spectrum conditions.
- Left hemisphere dysfunction may be specific to executive functions and differentiate autism from Asperger's disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate anomalous brain lateralization in individuals with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder.
- To explore the neurobiological dissociation between these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized executive function tasks (serial choice reaction-time, Posner paradigm) and perceptual lateralization tasks.
- Compared performance of autism and Asperger's disorder groups with age- and IQ-matched controls.
Main Results:
- The autism group showed left hemisphere (right hemispace) performance deficits on executive tasks but normal lateralization on perceptual tasks.
- The Asperger's disorder group exhibited normal lateralization on both executive and nonexecutive tasks compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- A neurobehavioral dissociation exists between high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder regarding lateralization.
- Hemispheric dominance shifts during development may be crucial for the emergence of autism or Asperger's disorder.