Neural dynamics of autistic behaviors: cognitive, emotional, and timing substrates.

Full Abstract

What brain mechanisms underlie autism, and how do they give rise to autistic behavioral symptoms? This article describes a neural model, called the Imbalanced Spectrally Timed Adaptive Resonance Theory (iSTART) model, that proposes how cognitive, emotional, timing, and motor processes that involve brain regions such as the prefrontal and temporal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum may interact to create and perpetuate autistic symptoms. These model processes were originally developed to explain data concerning how the brain controls normal behaviors. The iSTART model shows how autistic behavioral symptoms may arise from prescribed breakdowns in these brain processes, notably a combination of underaroused emotional depression in the amygdala and related affective brain regions, learning of hyperspecific recognition categories in the temporal and prefrontal cortices, and breakdowns of adaptively timed attentional and motor circuits in the hippocampal system and cerebellum. The model clarifies how malfunctions in a subset of these mechanisms can, through a systemwide vicious circle of environmentally mediated feedback, cause and maintain problems with them all.((c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

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Author information

Author/s: Grossberg, Stephen (S); Seidman, Don (D);

Affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Center for Adaptive Systems and Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology, Boston University, 677 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA. steve(-atsign-)bu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Psychological review (Psychol Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 113 (issue 3) : pp 483-525

Dates: Created 2006/06/28; Completed 2006/08/31; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16802879, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Affect - physiology
Arousal - physiology
Autistic Disorder - epidemiology; physiopathology
Brain - physiopathology

Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; physiopathology
Humans
Models, Psychological
Time Factors

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