Autism in 2017: The Year in Review
Research breakthroughs
It’s not new information that autism has something to do with the brain. Scientists everywhere could tell you that, but what they haven’t yet been able to pinpoint is exactly what is different in an autistic individual’s brain and a neurotypical individual’s brain. While there are still some mysteries about what exactly is going on, research this year further suggested that it’s something to do with the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum essentially serves as a bridge between the hemispheres of the brain. In autistic individuals, the corpus callosum is either entirely or partially lacking. While researchers are increasingly certain this is key to understanding autism, the full connection is still being studied. Additionally, research about the corpus callosum complements additional research that indicates autism affects the entire brain.