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A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
The study of autism as a distributed disorder
1Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92120-1863, USA. amueller@sciences.sdsu.edu
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews
|February 28, 2007
Summary
Autism is a complex "distributed disorder" affecting genetics, brain structure, and function. Research suggests widespread brain network involvement, not localized issues, necessitating refined connectivity studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Autism research has historically focused on localized neurological abnormalities.
- Previous models often targeted single functional networks or cognitive-behavioral domains.
- This approach has limited our understanding of autism's complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present autism as a "distributed disorder" across multiple levels of analysis.
- To argue against the efficacy of purely "localizing" models in autism research.
- To highlight the need for integrated approaches in understanding autism's neural basis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on autism's genetic, neuroanatomical, neurofunctional, and behavioral aspects.
- Analysis of studies employing advanced neuroimaging techniques like MR spectroscopy, diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI), and functional connectivity MRI.
- Examination of developmental interactions between brain networks and experiential factors.
Main Results:
- Autism is characterized by widespread genetic risk factors impacting multiple developing brain networks.
- Observed are pervasive neuroanatomical growth abnormalities throughout the brain.
- Interactions between atypical networks and experiences create an "exponentially distributed" neurological profile.
Conclusions:
- "Localizing" models are insufficient for understanding autism.
- Investigating white matter and connectivity (e.g., DTI, functional connectivity MRI) offers promising avenues.
- Further refinement of functional connectivity concepts and integration with anatomical data are crucial for definitive conclusions on autistic brain connectivity.
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