Brain Structures In Relation To Autism
The two right and left sides of our brains develop differently, due to the specialization of each hemisphere’s certain functions. For most brains, the left hemisphere is known to control the right hand, as it is dominant for language. The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for some cognitive functions such as processing information, emotions, attention, implied meanings, verbal ambiguity, and more. Brain asymmetry is sometimes affected in people with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders such as autism, which includes impaired social cognition, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Asymmetries of the sides of the brain are typical in neurotypical individuals, but people with autism spectrum disorder are less likely to have these asymmetries for language dominance or dominant hand preference.
Nevertheless, there are no findings that make it clear whether asymmetry of the brain’s anatomy is affected in autism, but there is the certainty of specific regions in the brain that are known to be different between neurotypical people, and people on the spectrum. Through a brain scanning technology known as the MRI, there are studies that have highlighted brain regions that are distinct in people with autism. Adolescents on the spectrum usually have an enlarged hippocampus, which is the area of the brain that is responsible for forming and storing memories. Along with the hippocampus, the size of the amygdala also seems to be different when put into comparison with people without autism, with smaller sizes of it. Autistic people have smaller amounts of brain tissue in parts of the cerebellum, which is the brain structure at the base of the skull. The cerebellum also plays a role in cognition and social interaction. Last but not least, the outer layer of the brain is known to have a different pattern of thickness in people with, and without autism.
Understanding and comparing the different brain structures is imperative, as autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. It is diagnosed on the basis of two core behaviors known as restricted and repetitive behaviors/interests, and issues with social instances and communication. These traits are hypothesized to arise as a result of certain brain alterations, and how different areas of the brain work together and process in order to connect to one another.
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Brain structure changes in autism, explainedPeople with autism have a more symmetrical brain