Article description:

In this discussion I shall define autism spectrum disorders as a group of disorders of higher cortical function ranging from attention deficit disorder to full blown autism itself. Despite divisions into numerous individually named disorders, Asperger’s, high autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc, many feel that they represent a spectrum of related cognitive disorders. I do this recognizing that clinically, several may have characteristics that make them significantly different from the others. Recognizing these differences, I shall discuss their special physiology and biochemistry as the need arises. Recent evidence indicates that most neurological disorders, both acute and chronic, have a common set of pathological events despite their varying clinical presentation.1 At the cent...