Neuropsychological Aspects of Pervasive Developmental and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

(from the chapter) Autism is a complex pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) associated with substantial impairments in terms of social deficits, communication abnormalities, stereotypical and repetitive behaviors, and a wide range of clinical presentations (Cody, Pelphry, & Piven, 2002). The presentation of symptoms in autism varies greatly between individuals making differential diagnosis difficult. Furthermore, the uneven cognitive and behavioral profiles make it a unique and complicated condition. To facilitate better understanding of such complexities, researchers have focused on uncovering its etiological factors, identifying involved brain structures and processes, categorizing actual symptoms and its behavioral manifestations, and examining its neuropsychological basis. There is strong evidence from neuropathological studies that ASD originates in early prenatal life from abnormal brain development (Kemper & Rodier, 2002) and that atypical neurodevelopment continues to evolve throughout early life (Courchesne, Carper, & Akshoomoff, 2001; Zwaigenbaum et al, 2005). A substantial literature base exists on the neuropsychological underpinnings of autism albeit somewhat complex and inconsistent (Dawson, 1996). With this in mind, this chapter reports on some of the neuropsychological findings on ASD and pervasive developmental disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).