Characterizing the interaction between brain networks that govern attention and reward may help classify subgroups of people with autism.

People with autism may ignore visual input when coordinating their movements — a lapse that may contribute to both motor and social impairments.

Visual processing irregularities in autism are subtle and depend on the child’s age, gender and task at hand.

Autism is not a developmental disorder, but rather the brain’s adaptive response to early genetic or environmental disturbances, says Mark Johnson.

A mathematical model of the brain’s circuits shows how neurons stuck in overdrive could produce symptoms of autism. The model may reveal how autism-linked behaviors arise from underlying biology.

A dearth of job-training programs and other services means that many young adults with autism struggle to lead productive, independent lives, suggests a national report. 

Children with autism may not inhale sweet and foul scents through their noses the way other children do.

Difficulty processing sound distinguishes children with autism from those with sensory processing disorder, a catch-all label for sensory abnormalities, according to a new study. The results suggest that among children with sensory problems, the exact nature of the sensory problem determines the diagnosis.

Parents deem children with autism who are fussy diners as more severely impaired than those who eat a wide range of foods.

The brains of people with autism respond differently to a gentle brush on the arm — a form of social touch — than do those of people without the disorder. The findings may help explain some of autism’s social deficits.