Researching the Autism Spectrum: Contemporary Perspectives

Cover......Page 1
Frontmatter......Page 2
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 12
Foreword......Page 14
List of Contributors......Page 15
Introduction......Page 18
Part I - Classification and Diagnosis......Page 34
1 - Early assessment and diagnosis of children......Page 36
1.1 Definition......Page 37
1.2 Epidemiology......Page 41
1.3 Assessment and diagnosis......Page 42
1.4 Best Estimate Clinical Diagnosis (BECD) and research diagnosis......Page 50
1.5 Conclusions and challenges for the early assessment and diagnosis of ASD......Page 55
1.6 References......Page 56
Part II - Genetics, Neurology and Biochemistry......Page 68
2.1 Evidence for genetic liability and the multifactorial model for autism......Page 70
2.2 Linkage studies......Page 74
2.3 Association studies......Page 78
2.4 Rare single gene mutations in autism......Page 91
2.5 Epigenetics......Page 95
2.6 Copy number variation (CNV) associated with ASD......Page 98
2.7 Final remarks......Page 108
2.8 References......Page 110
3.1 Background......Page 129
3.2 Important considerations relating to autism spectrum literature......Page 131
3.3 Qualitative MRI findings......Page 134
3.4 Quantitative structural MRI image analysis techniques......Page 136
3.5 Quantitative structural MRI imaging findings, grouped by brain region......Page 141
3.6 Diffusion tensor imaging studies......Page 154
3.8 `Low-functioning' autism, `high-functioning' autism, Asperger syndrome and non-specific pervasive developmental disorders......Page 155
3.9 Conclusions and future directions......Page 157
3.12 References......Page 159
4.1 Instrumentation and measurements......Page 173
4.2 Analytical approaches......Page 176
4.3 MEG studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)......Page 178
4.4 Discussion......Page 187
4.5 References......Page 189
5.1 Introduction......Page 193
5.2 Prevalence aspects......Page 194
5.3 Gender aspects......Page 195
5.5 Autistic regression and epilepsy......Page 196
5.6 Types of seizures......Page 197
5.7 Early onset epilepsy syndromes with developmental regression......Page 199
5.8 The phenotype of ASD with epilepsy......Page 201
5.10 Place of EEG in the investigation of autism......Page 202
5.12 References......Page 203
6.1 Introduction......Page 207
6.2 Serotonin neurochemistry in autism......Page 208
6.3 Reelin......Page 217
6.4 Oxytocin neurochemistry in autism......Page 220
6.5 Conclusions......Page 224
6.7 References......Page 225
Part III - Cognition, Development and Education......Page 234
7.1 Introduction......Page 236
7.3 The Theory of Mind Hypothesis......Page 239
7.4 The Executive Dysfunction Hypothesis......Page 245
7.5 Central Coherence Theory......Page 253
7.6 Beyond single-deficit models of autism......Page 260
7.7 References......Page 266
8.1 Introduction......Page 283
8.2 Frameworks of understanding......Page 285
8.3 A social-developmental account of flexible, creative symbolic thinking......Page 288
8.4 Studies in autism: flexibility in attitude and stance......Page 290
8.5 Symbolic thinking in autism......Page 293
8.6 The case of congenital blindness......Page 294
8.7 Executive dysfunction reconsidered......Page 295
8.9 References......Page 297
9.1 Introduction......Page 301
9.2 Patterns of language abilities and impairments across the spectrum......Page 302
9.3 Causes of language impairment across the spectrum......Page 316
9.5 References......Page 324
10.1 Preliminary remarks......Page 333
10.2 Empirical findings......Page 336
10.3 Wider conceptual themes......Page 344
10.4 Memory and the brain......Page 351
10.6 Acknowledgements......Page 355
10.7 References......Page 356
11 - Measuring executive function in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: what is ecologically valid?......Page 364
11.1 Introduction......Page 365
11.2 Participants......Page 367
11.3 Materials......Page 368
11.5 Results......Page 371
11.7 Discussion......Page 375
11.8 References......Page 378
12.1 The role of education......Page 381
12.2 The particular challenges of the autism spectrum......Page 382
12.3 Core issues in learning in ASD......Page 383
12.4 Features of learning style......Page 393
12.5 Access to the curriculum......Page 395
12.6 Parental support, homework and the `24 hour' curriculum......Page 398
12.7 Anxiety and stress......Page 399
12.9 Information and communication technologies (ICT)......Page 400
12.10 Kinds of placement......Page 401
12.11 Concluding remarks......Page 403
12.12 References......Page 404
Index......Page 410