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Autism pp 381–405Cite as

Information Processing, Neural Connectivity, and Neuronal Organization

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Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

Abstract

Twenty years ago we proposed a neurobiological model of autism as a widespread disorder of association cortex and the development of connectivity of neocortical systems. We have subsequently provided substantial behavioral and neurofunctional evidence in support of this model. Neuropsychological studies with high functioning children and adults reveal the selective involvement of higher order cognitive processing across a broad range of domains and functions. Studies of face and object processing relate these processing deficits to the difficulty with automatic integration of multiple features, in contrast to the integrity of performance relying on individual features. The results of systematic functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of many social, cognitive, and language systems have added to our original model with evidence of functional underconnectivity of neural systems and disturbances in cortical specialization. Our model is also supported by the neuroimaging and neuropathology findings from other research groups that provide evidence of disturbances in cortico-cortical white matter (WM) connections but not interhemispheric or long tract WM connections with an increase in local connectivity that supports basic cognitive processes. Recent studies of neocortical growth and neuronal organization are consistent with our model and provide further details about potential mechanisms that complete the sequence from genes to behavior. Data continue to accumulate that support the basic tenets of this information processing, neural connectivity, and neuronal organization model and the specific neurodevelopmental mechanisms from which neurobiologically based, behaviorally defined disorder of autism arises.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    As used in this context, connectivity refers to the functional coordination or synchronization of cortical regions. It also embraces in principle structural disturbances in white matter and in dendritic and synaptic structure or function though white matter volume may be inversely or directly related to volume depending on the pathologic defect.

  2. 2.

    Note: All subjects participating in our studies meet criteria for autism (not autism spectrum disorder) on all domains of the Autism Diagnostic Interview [21] including evidence of abnormal development before 3 years of age; meet autism cutoffs on the communication and the reciprocal social interaction domains and total scores of the ADOS; and, meet DSM IV criteria for autism based on expert clinical opinion.

  3. 3.

    In a 0-back task, the participant indicates by pressing a button whenever they see a pre-designated letter appear on the screen. In a 1-back task, the button is pressed when two letters in a row are the same. In a 2-back task, the button is pressed when a letter is the same as the one that appeared two letters earlier, e.g. A-H-A.

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    Nancy J. Minshew

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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Minshew, N.J., Williams, D.L., McFadden, K. (2008). Information Processing, Neural Connectivity, and Neuronal Organization. In: Autism. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-489-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-489-0_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

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