Abstract
The atypical features of social perception and cognition observed in individuals with
a diagnosis of autism have been explained in two different ways. First, domain-specific
accounts are based on the assumption that these end-state symptoms result from specific
impairments within component structures of the social brain network. Second, domain-general
accounts hypothesize that rather than being localized, atypical brain structure and
function are widespread, or hypothesize that the apparent social brain differences
are the consequence of adaptations to earlier occurring widespread changes in brain
function. Critical evidence for resolving this basic issue comes from prospective
longitudinal studies of infants at risk for later diagnosis. We highlight selected
studies from the newly emerging literature on infants at familial risk for autism
to shed light on this issue. Despite multiple reports of possible alterations in brain
function in the first year of life, overt behavioral symptoms do not emerge until
the second year. Our review reveals only mixed support, within this very early period,
for localized deficits in social brain network systems and instead favors the view
that atypical development involving perceptual, attentional, motor, and social systems
precede the emerging autism phenotype.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 23, 2016
Accepted:
February 18,
2016
Received in revised form:
February 5,
2016
Received:
March 21,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Society of Biological Psychiatry All rights reserved.
