"Starting with the history of autism and taking us through the modern neuroscientific approach to understanding the disorder, this book provides a much needed guide to an enigmatic, increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition. While an amazing amount of progress has clearly been made since initial descriptions of autism over 70 years ago, the authors clearly demarcate open questions regarding the etiology, neuroscience, and genetics associated with the autism diagnosis. This collection of chapters from experts in the field dispels common myths and charts a clear path forward for scientists and clinicians engaged in understanding autism." --Lucina Q. Uddin, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles
1. History of Autism 2. Definition, Prevalence, and Behavioral Symptoms of Autism 3. Early Identification and Diagnosis of Autism 4. Social, Cognitive, Perceptual, and Other Models of Autism 5. The Neuroanatomy of Autism 6. Brain Function and Brain Connectivity in Autism 7. White Matter Microstructure in Autism 8. Animal Models of Autism 9. Genetic Etiologies of Autism: Unpacking Pathogenic Mechanisms and Characteristics 10. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder
11. Overview of Autism Interventions
Rajesh Kana's research focuses on social and cognitive affective neuroscience, neuroimaging, autism spectrum disorders, brain, and language. Dr Kana and his colleagues are the first to combine three different measures of the brain-anatomy, the connectivity between different brain regions, and levels of a neurochemical-to distinguish people with autism spectrum disorder from matched, typically-developing peers.