This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Herbert, M. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Herbert, M. R. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Neuroimaging in Disorders of Social and Emotional Functioning: What Is the Question?

Center for Morphometric Analysis, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Masschusetts General Hospital-East, Neurosciences Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, mherbert1{at}partners.org

Social and emotional processing uses neural systems involving structures ranging from the brain stem to the associational cortex. Neuroimaging research has attempted to identify abnormalities in components of these systems that would underlie the behavioral abnormalities seen in disorders of social and emotional processing, notably autism spectrum disorders, the focus of this review. However, the findings have been variable. The most replicated anatomic finding (a tendency toward large brains) is not modular, and metabolic imaging and functional imaging (although showing substantial atypicality in activation) are not consistent regarding specific anatomic sites. Moreover, autism spectrum disorder demonstrates substantial heterogeneity on multiple levels. Here evidence is marshaled from a review of neuroimaging data to support the claim that abnormalities in social and emotional processing on the autism spectrum are a consequence of systems disruptions in which the behaviors are a final common pathway and the focal findings can be variable, downstream of other pathogenetic mechanisms, and downstream of more pervasive abnormalities. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:772—784).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?