Advances in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Autism

Abstract

This chapter summarizes research on the neurobiology and cognition of autism. Neurobiological investigations have yielded inconsistent and often contradictory results. No “signature” autistic anomaly has yet been discovered, nor is a single one expected, given the phenotypic heterogeneity of the disorder. It is suggested that rigorous studies at the cognitive level that define the core neuropsychological features of autism will prove informative to future neurobiological investigations. Previous studies of cognition in autism, especially executive function, are summarized, and future directions are suggested. Specifically, it appears critical that future studies employ a component process approach to any area of cognition investigated, as well as attend carefully to seemingly irrelevant, but potentially critical, task dimensions, such as administration format, response mode, and feedback provision. It is hoped that these steps will eventually bring us closer to understanding the developmental cognitive neuroscience of autism.