For many expecting parents, the most exciting thing about having a child of their own is not only to have someone to love unconditionally, but also to be loved unconditionally in return. Unfortunately, there are a number of disorders that can affect infants from birth that would impair their ability to return their parents’ affection. Autism is one of these disorders and is the most severe neurodevelopmental disorder classified within the autism spectrum disorders (ASD)— a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Specifically, autism is characterized by deficits in social interactions and communication, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors (Johnson, 2004).
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Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize, as well as significant affects on the limbic system, fusiform face area (FFA), and cerebellum (Palmen, van Engeland, Hof & Schmitz, 2004). The limbic system— consisting of the amygdala and the hippocampus— is responsible for motivation and emotion. These structures within the limbic system are much smaller in individuals with autism, which might explain their emotional and social distance, and overall disconnect with the people around them. In addition, the FFA—involved in facial recognition— is not activated when an individual with autism is presented with faces. This inactivation of the FFA further explains the social disconnect. The avoidance of eye contact and social interaction could be because the child simply does not recognize people, and therefore shows no interest in interacting with them. Another portion of the brain that is affected by autism is the cerebellum, whose primary function is motor control including motor skills and muscle memory. The reduced size of the cerebellum could be a cause of individual’s restricted and repetitive stereotyped motor
Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize, as well as significant affects on the limbic system, fusiform face area (FFA), and cerebellum (Palmen, van Engeland, Hof & Schmitz, 2004). The limbic system— consisting of the amygdala and the hippocampus— is responsible for motivation and emotion. These structures within the limbic system are much smaller in individuals with autism, which might explain their emotional and social distance, and overall disconnect with the people around them. In addition, the FFA—involved in facial recognition— is not activated when an individual with autism is presented with faces. This inactivation of the FFA further explains the social disconnect. The avoidance of eye contact and social interaction could be because the child simply does not recognize people, and therefore shows no interest in interacting with them. Another portion of the brain that is affected by autism is the cerebellum, whose primary function is motor control including motor skills and muscle memory. The reduced size of the cerebellum could be a cause of individual’s restricted and repetitive stereotyped motor