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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Distinct Temporal Stages of Infant Brain Processing Associate With Early Versus Later Autism Diagnosis
Tessel Bazelmans1,2, Tony Charman1, Mark H Johnson2,3
1Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Developmental Science
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Early and later onset autism may stem from distinct biological pathways. Infant face processing differences, specifically in N290 and P400 event-related potentials, correlate with autism
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Autism traits can manifest early or later in childhood, but the underlying reasons remain unclear.
- Investigating early biological markers may differentiate autism onset trajectories.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) to faces are robust biomarkers in autism research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore early developmental differences in face processing associated with later autism diagnosis.
- To determine if distinct biological pathways underlie early versus later-onset autism.
- To investigate infant ERPs (P100, N290, P400) in relation to autism diagnostic timing.
Main Methods:
- Prospective family study design with 102 infants (6-10 months) with an autistic sibling.
- EEG recordings during face viewing tasks (faces vs. noise, gaze toward vs. away).
- Autism diagnostic assessments at 3 years and mid-childhood (6-12 years) to form early, later, and no-autism groups.
Main Results:
- Early visual processing (P100) did not correlate with autism outcome.
- Slower structural face processing (N290) was observed in early-onset autism.
- Semantic face processing (P400) was altered in both early- and later-onset autism groups.
Conclusions:
- Temporal aspects of infant face processing differentially predict autism onset age.
- Deviations in earlier ERP stages (N290) are linked to earlier autism diagnosis.
- Early and later-onset autism may represent distinct biological subtypes, challenging a single etiological model.
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