Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

, Volume 42, Issue 6, pp 1256–1262 | Cite as

The Implications of Social Neuroscience for Social Disability

Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

Social disability represents a unifying feature in the diverse group of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social neuroscience is the study of brain mechanisms supporting interpersonal interaction. In this paper, we review brain imaging studies of the social brain and highlight practical applications of these scientific insights. Understanding of social brain mechanisms holds promise as a tool for defining meaningful subgroups of children with ASD to facilitate genetic analyses and to inform treatment selection. Because social brain systems emerge in infancy, social neuroscience may help to detect atypical development before symptoms manifest. This conceptualization of ASD is a hopeful one, as social brain systems remain malleable well into development and are thus amenable to targeted intervention.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder Social neuroscience Translational neuroscience 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIMH K23MH086785 (JM), NIMH R21MH091309 (JM), NARSAD Atherton Young Investigator Award (JM), and NIMH K01MH071284 (KP).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Yale Child Study CenterNew HavenUSA

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