What exactly is autism in the brain?

A brain-tissue study suggests that children affected by autism have a surplus of synapses, or connections between brain cells. The excess is due to a slowdown in the normal pruning process that occurs during brain development, researchers say.

How does an autistic person think?

Analytical Thinking: People with an autism spectrum disorder think in a logically consistent way that leads to quick decision making. These thinkers can make decisions without experiencing the framing effect that inhibits most neurotypicals from making decisions without bias.

What is another name for autism?

A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.

Do autistic have bigger brains?

Previous studies have shown that autistic children have larger heads and brains, and that brain regions crucial for social, emotional, and communication processing are particularly overgrown. But this study is the first to provide hard evidence of brain development gone awry in autistic children, gleaned from actual counts of these brain cells.

What’s different about the brains of people with autism?

Asperger’s and Autism: Brain Differences Found. The brains of children with autism and those with Asperger’s are distinct, a new study finds. Children with Asperger’s syndrome show patterns of brain connectivity distinct from those of children with autism, according to a new study.

How exactly does Autism affect the brain?

Autism Basics. In the brain, nerve cells transmit important messages that regulate body functions — everything from social behavior to movement. Imaging studies have revealed that autistic children have too many nerve fibers, but that they’re not working well enough to facilitate communication between the various parts of the brain.

How to tell if you are autistic?

finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling