Neurocognitive Mechanisms Underlying Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Literature Review

Shixian LiuDongmei ZengCaiying YiMeijun Zhu^*

• Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Ganzhou, China

This integrative review focuses on recent progress made in elucidating the neurocognitive aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We synthesise data from structural neuroimaging, functional connectivity, molecular biology, and cognitive studies to construct an integrated framework of ASD pathophysiology. New structural brain investigations have shown the presence of significant alterations in neural architecture with respect to social cognition and executive function modules. These findings are matched with research on disrupted neural circuit connectivity patterns that affect both local and global communication within the brain. The review highlights the contribution of neurotransmitter system dysregulation towards ASD pathogenesis, with specific attention to changes in the glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways. These molecular changes lead to abnormal excitation-inhibition balance, which is a hallmark of ASD neurobiology. Genetic works have shown the presence of complex familial patterns of inheritance and gene-environment interactions, whereas epigenetic studies have shown the existence of important regulatory mechanisms that determine neural development and function. Interdisciplinary work has allowed for the understanding of the specific deficits in social cognition, executive function, and sensory processing. The combination of neuroimaging biomarker identification has made it possible to diagnose select disorders at an early stage, which greatly improves the likelihood of intervention. Furthermore, the creation of custom treatment approaches based on specific neurobiological elements is also showing improvement in clinical outcomes. The new studies have also broadened the discussion on the importance of various neurological subtypes and neurodiversity as it pertains to neurodiversity therapy. This profound analysis compels attention on the most fundamental issues related to autism spectrum disorder research and treatment which need to be solved at this point in time and therefore, require integrated strategies that are responsive to the organisation of neural system complexity and the heterogeneity of treatment outcomes.