Abnormalities In Autistic Brains and Behavioral Consequences

Abstract

Autism is a neurological disorder known to manifest in certain classical behaviors. These behaviors include difficulty with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, communication difficulties, sensory issues and obsessive interests. Human behaviors are not only determined by the interactions within certain sections of the brain; rather, they are a result of complex interactions of neurons and chemical changes throughout the brain. This combinatory quality of the brain makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact areas that cause autistic behaviors. This paper reviews recently published studies on genetics, neuropsychology, brain imaging, and pathology of the autistic brain, in order to summarize the state of the literature on the specific differences in autistic brains. There is scientific consensus that the amygdala, frontal and temporal lobes, cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, synaptic plasticity and cortical organization have significant abnormalities in the autistic brain. These differences contribute to the manifestation of the classical symptoms of autism. Further research should focus on treatment and provision of new therapies for autistic individuals.
 Keywords: autism, neuroscience, cognition, cortical organization