April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to truly deepen our understanding of a diagnosis that affects about 1 in 36 children in the United States. It’s more than just an awareness month. It’s an opportunity to educate, understand, stop the stigma, and create a world where individuals on the autism spectrum feel seen, supported, and understood. Understanding the neural mechanisms behind autism helps us gain insight into the lived experiences of individuals with autism, but we also help break down harmful myths and build more inclusive communities.
Autism and the Brain: A Neuroscientific Perspective
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that primarily affects how the brain processes communication, sensory input, emotional regulation, and social interaction. While autism presents differently person to person, research shows consistent differences in specific regions of the brain, particularly the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, temporoparietal cortex, and the insula. These areas play key roles in emotional response, decision-making, empathy, and sensory regulation.
- Amygdala–Involved in processing emotional and sensory information, as well as social communication and understanding cues. Overactivity in this region has been associated with increased sensitivity to stimuli and challenges with emotional regulation.
- Orbitofrontal Cortex—Plays a role in sensory regulation, impulse control, and learning from rewards and/or punishments. Differences in this region can impact how autistic individuals process social cues.
- Temporoparietal Cortex- Helps individuals with self-awareness and situation awareness, attention, social cognition, language processing, and balance/movement. When this area is affected, individuals with autism may have a hard time understanding other people’s intentions and social cues.
- Insula—Involved in regulating homeostasis, processing pain, basic emotions, empathy, and interoception.
In addition to brain structure differences, research also suggests that individuals with autism may also have differences in brain connectivity, neurotransmitters, and neuroplasticity.
- Brain Connectivity: Research using fMRIs has shown that individuals with autism have hyper-connectivity in some areas of their brain, such as the frontal lobe, which is responsible for executive function, personality, and motor control. While other areas are under connected, such as the parietal lobes, which are responsible for spatial awareness and processing sensory inputs. These patterns influence how information is integrated and processed across the brain.
- Neurotransmitter Imbalance: Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood, behavior, and social bonding, may be dysregulated in individuals with ASD, contributing to differences in mood and emotional response.
- Neuroplasticity: Research has shown that the brains of individuals with autism show different neuroplasticity than neurotypical brains. This means individuals with autism learn and adapt differently than people with neurotypical brains. Recognizing this is important when developing supportive environments.
Debunking Myths with Neuroscience
Though autism has become more recognized, it is still misunderstood. There are many myths and negative connotations that surround autism.
- Myth: Autism is caused by vaccines.
Fact: Extensive research confirms that autism has genetic and environmental influences. There is no scientificevidence linking vaccines to autism. - Myth: Autistic people lack empathy or emotional depth.
Fact: Neuroimaging shows that autistic individuals experience emotions deeply but may express or process them in different ways. Emotional intensity is often present, even if not outwardly visible. - Myth: Autism is one condition and impacts everyone with a diagnosis the same way.
Fact: Autism exists on a spectrum, which ranges from mild to severe symptoms. Each autistic person has a unique neurobiological and behavioral profile.
Understanding that each person who has autism functions uniquely, it will be easier to help end the stigma surrounding ASD. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it takes empathy and understanding from each community.
