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The Neuropsychological Perspective on Autism

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to integrate the existing neuropsychological research on autism with some of the more recent literature. There is considerable debate concerning the neuropsychological distinction between autism and Asperger's disorder. There is also overwhelming evidence that individuals with autism have neuropsychological impairments across a number of domains, indicating that multiple regions of the brain are likelyinvolved. Some of the impairments common to individuals with autism may be a result of abnormal lateralization. Although the limbic system, central coherence, executive function, and theory of mind hypotheses are helpful in conceptualizing the disorder, it is unlikelythat any of them represent “mutually exclusive” abnormalities.

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Correspondence to John E. Obrzut.

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Tonn, R.T., Obrzut, J.E. The Neuropsychological Perspective on Autism. J Dev Phys Disabil 17, 409–419 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-005-6623-6

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