Clues to flaws in the Autisic brain

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Regions of the brain may not communicate with each other as efficiently as they should in people with autism, research suggests.

US scientists used sophisticated scans to examine connections in the cerebral cortex - the part of the brain that deals with complex thought.

They found evidence of abnormal patterns of brain cell connection in people with autism.

The research was presented at a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

In some parts of the cortex brain cells made too many connections, and in other parts not enough.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Murias, from the University of Washington, said: "Our findings indicate adults with autism show differences in coordinated neural activity, which implies poor internal communication between the parts of the brain."

The researchers analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) scans from 36 adults, half of who had autism.

The EEGs, which measure the activity of hundreds of millions of brain cells, were collected while the people were seated and relaxed with their eyes closed for two minutes.

The researchers found people with autism particularly showed abnormal patterns of brain cell connection in the temporal lobe, which deals with language.

They argue that the abnormal patterns suggest inefficient and inconsistent communication inside the brains of people with autism.

Dr Marius said their work might lead to a way to spot autism at an earlier stage.

Autism, a developmental disorder, is estimated to affect one in every 166 children.

It is characterized by an inability to communicate and interact with other people.

Richard Mills, honorary secretary of Research Autism and director of research for the National Autistic Society, said: "We now know much more about differences in brain structure and function in autism although it is not always possible to link such understanding to effective treatment.

"This research supports a number of other studies confirming the nature of brain differences and could have important implications for diagnosis and by implication, intervention.

"The evidence base for the majority of treatment approaches is poor. Given the high cost of autism both in human and economic terms, we welcome all advances in understanding and urge increased investment in all areas of autism research."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6037836.stm

Another autism basing news report.

If their looking at EEG they have no way to prove there are physical connection differences. They would have to hack some brains up. Anyway there is such thing as
temporal lobe ADHD.

http://www.newideas.net/adhd_add.htm

(I do not recommend that site or approve of products its selling just provided for info only).

You could say the same thing from ADHD EEG studies. But stimulant tend to improve the
EEG in ADHD. Thus it more like dopamine receptor protein difference etc. Not physical
connection difference as the route cause.

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Found this link and it describe some autisic like problems with temporal lobe ADHD

http://www.mindpub.com/art403.htm

Hmmn even from experience of how my mind works I'd say it is something to do with how messages are transmitted, but to me it seems more the connection between the emotive and social side, and the logical and processing side of things..

Maybe with our combined efforts we could offer some thoughts that would help such a study...

Then again, maybe I don't have a clue

I think this sounds like a logical reason (for now). I don't know how an EEG works, but if they could, with the subjects own will, put the subject through some tests of things that Autism generally effects (socialising being the obvious one) and comparing the electro-whatevery pulses in these particular brain cells compared to that of and NT, then maybe they could comclude on something.

The positive side to this, for me, is that there is no real inexpensive cure for this that doesn't require a lot of money, bravery, unbeleivable risk, and general public discouragement (I'm thinking along the lines of doing some microscopic surgey on these brain cells). I wouldn't want the cure, as I'm happy the way I am. Taking away my Aspieness is like shaving the off mane of a male Lion. It's just not the same without it.

An EEG reads brain waves.

Here build your own

http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/

I thought about it.

Hmm... were the autistic individuals in the study able to speak or communicate? The article didn't say. It only mentioned that based on the results, the researchers concluded that the autistic people have problems with communication inside their brains. But were the researchers able to establish a connection between severity of communication problems, and extent of neural activity in various parts of the brain? Also, if the researchers stimulate that part of the brain somehow, will communication ability in people with autism improve?

I've run into a lot of people whose internal brain workings, their thinking, was extremely confused and often outright contradictory, but in their ability to communicate with other people, they were whiz-bang geniuses.

This may be another case of too much data, not enough thinking.