Why we need cognitive explanations of autism

Abstract

In the 70 years since autism was described and named there have been huge changes in the conceptualization of this enigmatic condition. This review takes a personal perspective on the history of autism research. The origins of the first cognitive theories of autism, theory of mind and weak central coherence, are discussed and updated to inform future developments. Selected experimental findings are interpreted in the historical context of changes that have been brought about by advances in methodology. A three-level framework graphically illustrates a causal chain between brain, mind, and behaviour to facilitate the identification of phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders. Cognition is placed at the centre of the diagram to reveal that it can link together brain and behaviour, when there are complex multiple mappings between the different levels.

Keywords:

• History
• Cognition
• Mentalizing
• Detail focus
• Compensatory learning

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Francesca Happé and Chris Frith for their critical reading of several drafts of this paper, and I thank Alex Frith for editing and providing a lay-person's input. Most of all I want to pay tribute to my former students, assistants, and postdoctoral fellows for their massive contribution to the work I have reviewed here. First, I would like to thank my wonderful PhD students (in alphabetical order): Mariam Aljunied, Tony Attwood, Simon Baron-Cohen, Fulvia Castelli, Cordelia Fine, Francesca Happé, Karin Landerl, Sarah Lister-Brooke, Eamon McCrory, Kristina Scheuffgen, Amitta Shah, Maggie Snowling, Lauren Stewart, Digby Tantam, Ethan Weed, Sarah White. Second, I would like to thank my skilful assistants: Frances Abell, Rachel Brindley, Jackie Briskman, Caroline Catmur, Fran (Siddons) Davis, Alison Gallagher, Sarah Griffiths, Sine McDougall, Jocelyn Robson. Third, I would like to give special thanks to my outstanding postdocs and colleagues: Sylvie Berthoz, Geoff Bird, Nicki Brunswick, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Antonia Hamilton, Elisabeth Hill, Knut Kampe, Steve Kelly, Dolores Perin, Franck Ramus, David Saldana, Giorgia Silani, Tania Singer, Beate Sodian. Throughout my career I have been supported by the Medical Research Council, for which I am deeply grateful.