Weak brain links 'explain autism' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

It had been thought that their lack of social skills was due to abnormalities in particular brain areas.
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The researchers took brain scans of 16 people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and above-average IQs, as well as those of 16 unaffected volunteers.
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"Our research suggests that this is not the real problem - it seems to be that paying attention to faces doesn't lead to the normal increase in brain activity.

"This is because the face-processing areas of the brain are not well connected to those parts of the brain that control attention - such as the frontal and parietal regions.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4888528.stm

NOTE: "Explain" seems to be a bit of an overstatement here; It's a start, not the solution to the mystery.

[SmokingJacket]

1. I would say that the amount and distribution of neural connections

explains EVERYTHING about why one brain differs from another. However... that explains nothing.