These methods will help us to see what the wiring in the brain is like in autism and how it works differently. This research is an important step because so little is known about the complex cognitive abilities impaired in autism, which are unique to humans and essential to successful functioning in society. By defining the cognitive and brain abnormalities and their causes in autism, the research consortium will provide the opportunity for major advances in treatment so that tomorrow's treatment can be substantially better than today's. Autism is one of a newly recognized group of cognitive disorders, known as pervasive developmental disorders, that form in childhood and are life long. These disorders affect 15 to 20 of every 10,000 children born.
Autism varies in severity.
Only about 25 percent of the individuals with autism have this mild form. The other 75 percent are more severely affected, develop little or no capacity for social interactions, communication and reasoning, and are mentally retarded. According to Dr. Minshew, the smaller group of less-impaired autistic individuals provides a unique opportunity for developing an understanding of what works and what does not work in the thinking and the brain in autism. Because these individuals can cooperate and successfully complete many tests, they will play a key role in the NIH-funded studies to be conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. All of these methods are noninvasive.