Neurobiological basis of autism

Abstract

Autism (autism spectrum disorders) is a complex, strongly genetically influenced, behaviorally defined disorder of the immature brain associated with very uneven intellectual abilities. Among its most salient and potentially treatable neurologic features that this article focuses on are epilepsy, disorganized sleep patterns, and sensory and motor deficits. Its many causes and wide range of severity means that there is no symptom, no pathology, imaging, electroencephalography, or other biologic feature, and no biologic treatment that is universal or diagnostic of this developmental syndrome.