Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data

Background. Despite the widely-held understanding that the biological changes that lead to autism usually occur during prenatal life, there has been relatively little research into the functional development of the brain during early infancy in individuals later diagnosed with autism spectrum disord...

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Main Authors: C. S. Allely, C. Gillberg, P. Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2014-01-01
Series:Behavioural Neurology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/210780
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spelling doaj-72a7d3cdf2f640bdba951d83c5ba14ff2021-07-02T10:14:53ZengHindawi LimitedBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85842014-01-01201410.1155/2014/210780210780Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent DataC. S. Allely0C. Gillberg1P. Wilson2Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UKInstitute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UKCentre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, The Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness IV2 3JH, UKBackground. Despite the widely-held understanding that the biological changes that lead to autism usually occur during prenatal life, there has been relatively little research into the functional development of the brain during early infancy in individuals later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objective. This review explores the studies over the last three years which have investigated differences in various brain regions in individuals with ASD or who later go on to receive a diagnosis of ASD. Methods. We used PRISMA guidelines and selected published articles reporting any neurological abnormalities in very early childhood in individuals with or later diagnosed with ASD. Results. Various brain regions are discussed including the amygdala, cerebellum, frontal cortex, and lateralised abnormalities of the temporal cortex during language processing. This review discusses studies investigating head circumference, electrophysiological markers, and interhemispheric synchronisation. All of the recent findings from the beginning of 2009 across these different aspects of defining neurological abnormalities are discussed in light of earlier findings. Conclusions. The studies across these different areas reveal the existence of atypicalities in the first year of life, well before ASD is reliably diagnosed. Cross-disciplinary approaches are essential to elucidate the pathophysiological sequence of events that lead to ASD.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/210780
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author C. S. Allely
C. Gillberg
P. Wilson
spellingShingle C. S. Allely
C. Gillberg
P. Wilson
Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
Behavioural Neurology
author_facet C. S. Allely
C. Gillberg
P. Wilson
author_sort C. S. Allely
title Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
title_short Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
title_full Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
title_fullStr Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
title_full_unstemmed Neurobiological Abnormalities in the First Few Years of Life in Individuals Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Recent Data
title_sort neurobiological abnormalities in the first few years of life in individuals later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: a review of recent data
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Behavioural Neurology
issn 0953-4180
1875-8584
publishDate 2014-01-01
description Background. Despite the widely-held understanding that the biological changes that lead to autism usually occur during prenatal life, there has been relatively little research into the functional development of the brain during early infancy in individuals later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objective. This review explores the studies over the last three years which have investigated differences in various brain regions in individuals with ASD or who later go on to receive a diagnosis of ASD. Methods. We used PRISMA guidelines and selected published articles reporting any neurological abnormalities in very early childhood in individuals with or later diagnosed with ASD. Results. Various brain regions are discussed including the amygdala, cerebellum, frontal cortex, and lateralised abnormalities of the temporal cortex during language processing. This review discusses studies investigating head circumference, electrophysiological markers, and interhemispheric synchronisation. All of the recent findings from the beginning of 2009 across these different aspects of defining neurological abnormalities are discussed in light of earlier findings. Conclusions. The studies across these different areas reveal the existence of atypicalities in the first year of life, well before ASD is reliably diagnosed. Cross-disciplinary approaches are essential to elucidate the pathophysiological sequence of events that lead to ASD.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/210780
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