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Why Autism Must be Taken Apart

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Abstract

Although accumulated evidence has demonstrated that autism is found with many varied brain dysfunctions, researchers have tried to find a single brain dysfunction that would provide neurobiological validity for autism. However, unitary models of autism brain dysfunction have not adequately addressed conflicting evidence, and efforts to find a single unifying brain dysfunction have led the field away from research to explore individual variation and micro-subgroups. Autism must be taken apart in order to find neurobiological treatment targets. Three research changes are needed. The belief that there is a single defining autism spectrum disorder brain dysfunction must be relinquished. The noise caused by the thorny brain-symptom inference problem must be reduced. Researchers must explore individual variation in brain measures within autism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Graduate Programs, Child Behavior Study, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA

    Lynn Waterhouse

  2. 73-4434 Aniani St, Kailua Kona, HI, 96740, USA

    Lynn Waterhouse

  3. Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden

    Christopher Gillberg

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  1. Lynn Waterhouse
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  2. Christopher Gillberg
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Correspondence to Lynn Waterhouse.

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Waterhouse, L., Gillberg, C. Why Autism Must be Taken Apart. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 1788–1792 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-2030-5

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