30 likes | 153 Views
Exploding Autism. Social impairments. Monolith or Composite?. Twin studies suggest: 3 traits correlate ≈ 0.3-0.5 genes only partly overlap isolated deficits common. Communication impairments. Restricted/ Repetitive Behaviours & Interests.
E N D
Exploding Autism Social impairments Monolith or Composite? • Twin studies suggest: • 3 traits correlate ≈ 0.3-0.5 • genes only partly overlap • isolated deficits common Communication impairments Restricted/ Repetitive Behaviours & Interests Happé, Ronald & Plomin, 2006 Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Autism: No single neurocognitive explanation Social impairments “Executive functions” “Theory of mind” Problems recognising mental states Problems generating, planning, monitoring Communication impairments Restricted/ Repetitive Behaviours & Interests “weak coherence” Anxiety (Hallett et al, 2009) Savant skills (Vital et al, 2009) Detail-focused cognitive style
Implications of fractionated triad • Abandon search for G/E predisposing to ‘autism’ • Look for contributors to parts of triad • No single factor (genetic, neural, cognitive) specific to ASD • Overlap with other diagnoses predicted • Heterogeneity expected at every level • Single deficits common (10% TEDS); dx, needs? 0.6%