The connections in autistic brains are idiosyncratic and individualized

Each autistics' brain is distinct; non-autistics' brains are remarkably uniform.

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[Midnitte]

An intriguing possibility is that, because neural connections are shaped by the routine behaviors and experiences that we have every day, people with ASD each exhibit idiosyncratic connectivity patterns in their brains because they each experience the world and interact with their environment in an idiosyncratic way. Their idiosyncratic behaviors prevent them from engaging in the typical interactions that create typical brain scans.

I feel like this is probably the case, and because autistics have less experience in social behavior, its very likely that such connections that strengthen in response to it would be weaker.

Perhaps this could be used a measure of success for therapies though? If we can strengthen those connections, doesn't it seem likely that symptoms of autism would be lessened?

 

[Midnitte]

Ralf The Dog[/url]":1vzshwxj]

Mondoman[/url]":1vzshwxj]

Ralf The Dog[/url]":1vzshwxj]First off, who is to say an ASD is developmentally damaged or impaired....

In the end, it's natural selection that decides. The more offspring you successfully raise, the greater your "fitness" (in a technical sense).

Not completely true. If you don't have children, but your actions result in your brothers, sisters and others with related DNA passing on their DNA, you are by proxy genetically successful. Lets say, you dive on a live grenade, saving your brother and your brother has 12 kids, Darwin would say, you did a good job, even if you never have one child.

From reading The Selfish Gene, this seems like the reason people are so altruistic - specially in an age (I.e. the past) where you were very likely to live near people (I.e. relatives) who shared your genes.