Originally published October 27 2005
Scientists explain brain activity in autistic children
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Research at Australia's Howard Florey Institute has shown via MRIs of autistic children's brains that autism inhibits activity in the deep area of the brain associated with problem solving.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging technology, the Florey scientists in Melbourne have shown children with autism have less activation in the deep parts of the brain responsible for executive function -- attention, reasoning and problem solving.
Research leader Dr Ross Cunnington said autism is known to have a biological cause, but the neuroimaging research clearly shows the dysfunction in the brain that accounts for why children with autism have problems with executive function.
"Specifically, we found activity in the caudate nucleus, a critical part of circuits that link the prefrontal cortex of the brain, is reduced in boys with autism," he said.
Cunnington, along with PhD student Tim Silk, have also been studying children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and have found similarities in the impairment of specific executive function in children with ADHD.
The Florey scientists collaborated with scientists from Monash University, the Brain Research Institute and Texas Tech University.
The research is to be published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
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