More than 200 autistic patients and non- autistic controls have entered our ongoing research program. Using this information, we have demonstrated hypoplasia of the cerebellum in the majority of autistic patients and a loss of parietal lobe tissue in a subset of autistic patients. These findings correlate with deficits in certain attentional abilities believed to rely on parietal lobe function and have supported a possible role of the cerebellum in attentional function as described above. We are also beginning an investigation into the genetics of the disorder. Impairment in shifting attention in autistic and cerebellar patients.
Neurodevelopmental principles guide research on developmental pathologies.
Cross-sectional area of ontogenic growth of the hippocampus in infantile autism. Specific deficits associated with cerebellar and parietal abnormality. Attention Activates the Cerebellum Independently of Motor Involments. Science , in press. The effects of early sensory experience on neural structural development.