This is a short powerpoint presentation about Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder and how its relationship with human brain.

1. Autism and
the Brain
HUSSAIN SAMARA
E-mail: samara_hussain@hotmail.com

2. What is Autism?
▪Neurodevelopmental disorder
▪Impaired interaction, verbal and non-
verbal communication
▪Impaired by restrictive and repetitive
behavior

3. What is Autism?
▪Autism affects information processing
in the brain by altering how nerve cells
and synapses connect and organize,
which is still not well understood
▪Delays in cognitive development and
language occurs

4. Some of the different
characteristics associated with autism

5. Statistics
A graph showing the
rise of Autism in the
US in the last 11 years.
(the numbers of the
left correspond to 100,
000's)

6. Brain Parts involved in Autism
A.Inferior Frontal Gyrus
B.Anterior Cingulate
Cortex
C.Angular Gyrus
D.Insula
A.
B.
C.
D.

7. Inferior Frontal Gyrus
▪Movement guidance
and intentions
assessment

8. Anterior Cingulate Cortex
▪Empathy and other
emotions
regulation

9. Angular Gyrus
▪Word meaning
comprehension and
sensory
information
combination

10. Insula
▪Involved in disgust
and pain responses

11. Cerebellum
▪ Abnormalities in the cerebellum (brain structure responsible for
coordinating complex voluntary muscle movements) found in
children with autism

12. Premotor Cortex
▪ Involved in controlling voluntary movement
▪ E.g.: One neuron fires when a monkey reaches for a peanut,
another will fire when it pulls a lever, and so on.

13. Mirror Neurons

14. What are Mirror Neurons
▪Newly discovered class of
nerve cells
▪Have connection with
autism

15. Mirror Neurons and Autism
 Mirror neurons appear to be involved in
abilities including empathy and the perception
of another individual’s intentions
 Thus, it was found that dysfunction of the
mirror neuron system could result in some of
the symptoms of autism

16. Mirror Neurons and Autism
• As mirror neurons appear to be engaged in social
interaction, dysfunctions of this neural system
could explain some of the primary symptoms of
autism, including isolation and lack of empathy
• Studies have shown people with lack mirror neuron
activity in several regions of the brain
• A complementary hypothesis, the salience
landscape theory, could account for secondary
symptoms of autism such as hypersensitivity

17. Reduced mirror neuron activity is found in the
inferior frontal gyrus, a part of premotor cortex, which perhaps explains
their inability to assess other’s intentions
Dysfunctions of mirror neurons in the insula and anterior cingulate
cortex may cause related symptoms, such as the absence of empathy,
and deficits in the angular gyrus may result in language difficulties
People with autism also have structural changes in the cerebellum and
brain stem
Mirror Neurons and Autism

18. It’s not a processing error. It’s a different operating system.

19. How this course
allowed me to better
analyze events and
phenomena around
me
▪ Case studies provides students with examples
of patients suffering from different disorders
and how different cases have made valuable
contributions to Psychology and Neurobiology.
For instance, from the case of H.M., we now
know the importance of hippocampus for
human memory.
▪ Real life examples of different disorders
allowed me to carefully observe people around
me. For example, how people with
schizophrenia would behave.
▪ Recommendations of videos and for further
understanding and reading have given me the
opportunity to gain more insight of topics that
interest me.
▪ By providing high quality materials such as
brain images, brain scans etc., students are
able to form a clear and detailed framework of
different brain regions and functions.
▪ Overall, it was a very comprehensive and
challenging course with wide range of
resources and information.