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Autism as an adaptive common variant pathway for human brain development.

Mark H Johnson1

  • 1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Science, Birkbeck, University of London, Henry Wellcome Building, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom.

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Autism may result from adaptive brain processes during sensitive periods, not lifelong dysfunction. This perspective reframes autism as a common variant in human brain development, highlighting adaptive pathways.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Research on focal perinatal lesions shows functional recovery.
  • Processes of brain adaptation from mild, widespread neural disturbances in early development are less understood.
  • Alterations in synaptic efficiency are one example of such disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new perspective on autism.
  • To view autism as an adaptive process rather than a lifelong neural dysfunction.
  • To reframe autism as a common variant pathway in human brain development.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of existing research on brain adaptation and neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Theoretical framework development to explain autism through adaptive processes.
  • Literature review focusing on sensitive periods and synaptic plasticity.

Main Results:

  • Autism is proposed to be the outcome of adaptive processes during sensitive developmental periods.
  • This perspective shifts the view of autism from a disorder of neurodevelopment to an adaptive common variant.
  • It suggests that observed neural differences may reflect adaptation rather than primary dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Autism should be understood as an adaptive common variant pathway of human brain development.
  • Viewing autism through the lens of adaptation offers new insights into its underlying mechanisms.
  • This reframing encourages further research into the adaptive processes that may contribute to autism.