Certain Areas of Brain May Hold Key to Cause of Autism

A circuit in the brain that regulates emotion may hold the key to behaviors associated with the developmental disorder known as autism.

Dr. Katherine Loveland, director of the Center for Human Development Research at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, and co-principal investigator Dr. Jocelyne Bachevalier are collaborating with researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas-Galveston Medical Branch, Rice University and other departments of the UT-Houston Medical School on a multi-faceted research project to explore this possibility.

The researchers are studying the dysfunction of the orbital frontal limbic circuit, which is formed by a connection of the frontal lobe and the medial temporal lobe. "We think these structures are particularly important to the development of autism because they regulate emotions and behavior in response to emotions," says Dr. Loveland, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UT-Houston Medical School. "It seems to be close to the heart of what's going on with autism."

People with autism exhibit varying degrees of the disorder. Some may be very bright individuals who have difficulty establishing social relationships, while others may have little communication skills at all. Oftentimes, people with autism are unable to appropriately respond to other people or situations.

"The frontal lobe does many things," Dr. Loveland explains. "It can help you plan and carry out intelligent activity, solve problems in an orderly way, and adjust your behavior in a real-time ongoing way to changing conditions around you.

"It may help explain why the social behavior of people with autism seems so odd to other people," she adds. "Our preliminary results suggest we're on the right track."

This research project, which will take place over the next few years, has several components. One portion will involve the study of people with autism and those without the disorder using behavioral and psychological testing as well as MRI. Another component involves the study of an animal model of autism.

"The developments in this field are really exciting," she says. "We're closing in on it, but we're not there yet.

"Ultimately, it would be nice not only to determine which parts of the brain are involved in autism, but to be able to explain why people with autism are so different from one another and why autism affects some people more severely than others."

The findings may one day open up new possibilities for treatment of autism. "It would be especially nice if understanding the brain mechanisms could allow us to find some biological markers for autism and eventually lead to new avenues for treatment," says Dr. Loveland. "The earlier the disorder is identified and treated, the better."

Treatment can vary greatly because the disorder often affects people in different ways. In some cases, medications are used to treat autism; which medication depends on the person's needs. School-based intervention and behavioral skills programs may be used to address issues involving learning and social cues respectively.

Support groups are available as resources for parents and caregivers as well. "They may meet parents of older kids who have been through some of the things they're going through and that can help them navigate the waters," Dr. Loveland says.

The Center for Human Development and Research has a new web site at www.uth.tmc.edu/schools/med/msi/CHDR.htm with information about upcoming studies.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmc-info@tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/01_15_99/page_15.html