Autism Spectrum Disorder By: Patty Kittrell

Symptoms of Autism Children who meet criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome Disorder may have delays or issues in development of: physical abilities, language, learning, social skills issues with self-control emotional issues unusual behaviors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). I highlighted social skills because it and communication deficits are the most serious of impairments associated with autism. While many sufferers never fully recover with no negative symptoms associated with autism, each year, longitudinal studies show 80% of sufferers show improvements.

Social Intelligence Impairments Preliminary study shows that high functioning autistic adults are less socially intelligent than normally intelligent individuals. The tests for social intelligence involves: mind reading, the reading of expressions, other tasks that imply deficits in social intelligence, comparing the brain scans of the control and the autistic group to determine if there is a difference in brain structures associated with social intelligence. A test was formulated to quantify social intelligence in individuals who meet criteria for high functioning autistic adults compared with control groups (people who did not met criteria for any autism related disorder). Not only did the individuals with ASD score lower in many areas of social intelligence, but they also show lower general social cognition. This experimental study double blind finds high functioning autistic adults individuals to be less socially intelligent than the control group of normally intelligent individuals (Baron‐Cohen, Jolliffe, Mortimor, & Robertson, 1997).

Mirror Neuron Systems Mirror neurons provide the framework for imitation and empathy. Mirror neural density is shown lower in the brain scans of autistic individuals. “Early developmental failures of mirror neuron systems are likely to result in a consequent cascade of developmental impairments characterized by the clinical syndrome of autism” (Williams, Whiten, Suddendorf, & Perrett, 2001). Mirror neurons are highly connected with imitation at an early age. Imitation is very important in the development of empathy and other key social skills. Brain scans show that mirror neuron systems overlap between the senses and shows high evolutionary design for communication. Preliminary or inconclusive studies show positive correlations between mirror neuron impairment and social skill impairment as well as lower mirror neural density in autistic individuals. Early onset impairment in these mirror neurons suggests later issues in developing social skills, and therefore are a key suspect in the trajectory of autism manifestation (Williams, Whiten, Suddendorf, & Perrett, 2001).

Conclusion Mirror Neuron research is preliminary and outlines framework for higher social function and empathy. Few studies have addressed phenotype of this genetic disease and the course through development. The issue with these studies is that sample sizes are too small, and they are mainly isolated in the confounds of academia (limited resources). These studies shown outline preliminary evidence and outlines for future research. Psychology is still a very young science. Empathy and Mirror Neurons have been researched since the 2005.

Personal Insights There is an overwhelming need to articulate the specific limitations of the disease in future research. Two Focuses of study: impairments in communication, impairments in reciprocal social, and emotional interaction. I think we should focus on quantitative and qualitative research regarding the specific limitations of the impairments and negative symptoms associated with autism.

References Baron‐Cohen, S., Jolliffe, T., Mortimore, C., & Robertson, M. (1997). Another advanced test of theory of mind: Evidence from very high functioning adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,38(7), 813-822. Baron‐Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Hill, J., Raste, Y., & Plumb, I. (2001). The “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test revised version: A study with normal adults, and adults with Asperger syndrome or high‐functioning autism. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 42(2), 241-251. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signs and Symptoms. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Georgia, Atlanta. Seltzer, M. M., Shattuck, P., Abbeduto, L., & Greenberg, J. S. (2004). Trajectory of development in adolescents and adults with autism. Mental retardation and developmental disabilities research reviews, 10(4), 234-247. Williams, J. H., Whiten, A., Suddendorf, T., & Perrett, D. I. (2001). Imitation, mirror neurons and autism. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 25(4), 287-295.