In the news: How autism changes the brain. Scans of patients reveal subtle differences in regions in

ASD affects around 1 in 100 people in the UK and involves a spectrum of conditions which manifest themselves differently in different people. People with ASD can have varying levels of impairment across three common areas, which might include: deficits in social interactions and reciprocal understanding, repetitive behaviour and narrow interests, and impairment in language and communication.

The study, published today in the journal Brain, used a novel brain imaging method to identify altered brain connections in people with ASD. The researchers used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique, to compare networks of white matter in 61 adults with ASD and 61 controls. White matter consists of large bundles of nerve cells that connect different regions of the brain and enable communication between them.

Media Coverage: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3422662/How-autism-changes-brain-Scans-patients-reveal-subtle-differences-regions-involved-language-facial-recognition.html#ixzz3ydmIPcV9

Find the original article in the journal BRAIN: http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/brain/139/2/616.full.pdf