Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A neurological model for childhood autism

A R Damasio, R G Maurer

    Archives of Neurology
    |December 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary

    Childhood autism may stem from dysfunction in specific brain regions, including the mesolimbic cortex, neostriatum, and thalamus. This suggests a potential link between autism and neuromediator imbalance in these neural structures.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    The covert learning of affective valence does not require structures in hippocampal system or amygdala.

    Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2013
    Same author

    Double Dissociation between Overt and Covert Face Recognition.

    Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2013
    Same author

    A neural basis for the retrieval of words for actions.

    Cognitive neuropsychology·2010
    Same author

    The Iowa Gambling Task and the somatic marker hypothesis: some questions and answers.

    Trends in cognitive sciences·2005
    Same author

    Pathological laughter and crying: a link to the cerebellum.

    Brain : a journal of neurology·2001
    Same author

    Descartes' error revisited.

    Journal of the history of the neurosciences·2001

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Neurology

    Background:

    • Childhood autism is characterized by behavioral and motor disturbances.
    • Neurological conditions in adults offer insights into potential autism mechanisms.
    • Specific bilateral neural structures are implicated in autism's complex symptomatology.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze behavioral and motor disturbances in childhood autism.
    • To propose a neuroanatomical basis for autism by drawing analogies with adult neurological signs.
    • To investigate the role of specific brain structures in the pathogenesis of autism.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of childhood autism symptoms with adult neurological conditions.
    • Identification of key bilateral neural structures involved: mesolimbic cortex, neostriatum, and thalamus.
    • Examination of the mesolimbic cortex's unique characteristics and its dopaminergic connections.

    Main Results:

    • A proposed dysfunction within a system of bilateral neural structures, including the mesolimbic cortex, neostriatum, and thalamus, is linked to autism.
    • The mesolimbic cortex, along with the striatum, is identified as the primary target area for dopaminergic neurons.
    • Evidence suggests a potential neuromediator imbalance in these implicated brain regions.

    Conclusions:

    • Autism may result from dysfunction in the mesolimbic cortex, neostriatum, and thalamus system.
    • Neuromediator imbalance in these structures is a plausible contributing factor to autism.
    • Potential causes for this dysfunction include perinatal infections, periventricular insults, or genetic neurochemical abnormalities.

    Related Experiment Videos