Definition, History and Epidemiology: Main points Heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder Gender ratio Areas of difficulty: social cognition and social perception, executive dysfunction, and atypical perceptual and information processing Major subgroups at present Key symptoms surrounding social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviour and sensory difficulties Key milestones in the history of ASD Current classification and change from DSM -4 to DSM-5 Prevalence of ASD in the population Examples of risk and protective factors Issues of comorbitity

2. Genetics: Main points Heritability and concordance rates Evidence from twin studies Overview on how genes may contribute to ASD ‘Guided missiles’ versus ‘carpet bombs’ Chromosomal evidence The role of mutations Family inheritance Serotonin and oxytocin Neural development Social behaviour Exposure to testosterone

3. Neurobiology: Main points Structural abnormalities in the brain: Prefrontal cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, gyrus Brain overgrowth Role of genes Connectivity Gender and extreme brain theory

4. Cognition and neuroscience: Main points Role of mentalising Differences in social tasks Executive dysfunction Weak central coherence Processing information Mirror neurone functioning Reduced functional connectivity

Intervention: Main points Range of resources available: Specific strategies, Triad of Impairment, Evidenced- based strategies, 5 general strategies Behavioural techniques Comprehensive structured teaching Targeted skill-based intervention Targeted structured teaching

Conclusion: Main points Minshew Genetic influence Neurobiology Cognition and neuroscience Immune dysregulation Oxytocin and other social neuropeptides Other biomarkers Environmental factors