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Why autism must be taken apart
Lynn Waterhouse1, Christopher Gillberg
1Global Graduate Programs, Child Behavior Study, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA, lynwater@tcnj.edu.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|January 7, 2014
Summary
Autism research needs to abandon the search for a single brain dysfunction. Focusing on individual variations is crucial for identifying effective neurobiological autism treatment targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by diverse brain dysfunctions.
- Previous research has focused on identifying a single neurobiological cause for ASD.
- Unitary models have struggled to reconcile conflicting evidence and individual variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for a paradigm shift in autism research.
- To propose necessary changes for advancing neurobiological understanding and treatment of ASD.
- To emphasize the importance of exploring individual variations within the autism spectrum.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of existing autism research models.
- Analysis of the limitations of unitary brain dysfunction theories in ASD.
- Conceptual framework for future autism research directions.
Main Results:
- The search for a single unifying brain dysfunction in autism has been unproductive.
- Unitary models fail to account for the heterogeneity of ASD.
- Focusing on individual variation is essential for progress.
Conclusions:
- The belief in a single defining brain dysfunction for ASD must be abandoned.
- Reducing the brain-symptom inference problem is critical.
- Future research must prioritize the exploration of individual brain variations within ASD to identify specific neurobiological treatment targets.
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