[Towards a neuropsychological approach to autism]

Neuropsychology attributes mental activity to brain functioning. An inventory of the every-day life of the autist confirms a breakdown in behavior adapted to the world around him. Deficiency in the contribution of the right hemisphere, compromising social life, is accompanied by a mental life that is detached from reality, favorizing preconceived ideas that are inscribed in the logic governing the left hemispheric function. Inside each hemisphere homologous areas of the cerebral cortex, receiving and sharing the same information, react to messages according to their own mode. The left hemisphere applies itself to elementary information, treated sequentially, while the right hemisphere continuously brings up to date temporal and spatial synthesis coming from the sensorale contribution. Attachment to an object or attentiveness to the world: this alternative mode is the key to understanding. The disorder responsible for autism occurs in the perinatal period. It compromizes the maturation of right hemisphere functions where interaction with the surrounding environment should take precedence over attention to objects. Besides its interest in the orientation of research, the neuropsychological approach of Pervasive Development Disorder has the merit of demystifying the drama associated with autism. A better understanding of the nature of this disorder would be of great assistance in circumventing it.