Neurolinguistic aspects in autism spectrum disorders. Neuroanatomical and functional relations

• Published in: Revista de neurologiá Vol. 50 Suppl 3; pp. S69 - S76
• Main Authors: Palau-Baduell, M, Valls-Santasusana, A, Salvadó-Salvadó, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 03-03-2010
• Subjects: Autistic Disorder - pathology; Autistic Disorder - physiopathology; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Humans; Language; Language Disorders - pathology; Language Disorders - physiopathology; Linguistics; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetoencephalography; Neural Pathways - anatomy & histology; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neural Pathways - physiology; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Social Behavior
• ISSN: 1576-6578

Impairments in language and communication are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorders. There is significant variability in linguistic abilities in autism spectrum disorders. They have difficulties with certain aspects of language such as semantics functions, syntax, prosody and phonology, although the most evident language deficits concern to pragmatics functioning. These language difficulties can cause serious problems in social interaction.
The neural bases underlying this failure to develop language are unknown. Several functional and structural imaging studies have identified irregularities in language-related regions in autism spectrum disorders, such as morphometric differences in Broca's area and Wernicke's area, and patterns of reduced or reversed laterality in frontal and temporal cortex. There is also decreased functional connectivity between anterior and posterior language regions.