Genetic / Environmental Factors
Cognitive Theories
Neurological Theories
Grab Bag
100

Living near freeways has been shown to be an environmental risk factor because of this.

Air pollution

100

This theory concerns the ability to represent others' thoughts, beliefs and desires.

Theory of Mind

100

These brain cells help us imitate actions.

Mirror neurons

100

This explanatory level is used to formulate diagnoses and qualify people for services.

Behavioral

200

Despite widespread misinformation, there is no demonstrated association between ASD and these.

Vaccines

200

This theory suggests people with ASD have a cognitive style that impairs their ability to focus on the "big picture."

Weak Central Coherence

200

This phenomenon occurs in the first months of life in children later diagnosed with ASD and is measured by cranial volume.

Early Brain Overgrowth

200

These environmental risk factors are caused by exposure to pyrethroids and organophosphates and typically found in highly agricultural areas.

Pesticides.

300

This is the period of substantiated risk factors for development.

Prenatal

300

This hypothesis was formed after noticing people with ASD had similar deficits to those seen in patients with a lesion in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Executive Dysfunction

300

This theory formulated by Simon-Baron Cohen suggests ASD is caused by exposure to high fetal testosterone levels.

Extreme Male Brain

300

ASD shares a left-right brain asymmetry with this language disorder.

Specific Language Impairment

400

This syndrome is caused by a mutation in a single gene and is a common cause of ASD and intellectual disability.

Fragile X syndrome

400

Cognitive theories of ASD seek to explain ASD behaviors as differences in these.

Thoughts

400

Neurons need to keep this balanced to maintain optimal function. 

E-I ratio

400

Theory of Mind is postulated to be the cause of social-communication deficits in people with ASD but does not give an explanatory account for these, the other half of the DSM definitional dyad.

Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors

500

This prenatal supplement has been associated with reduced rates of ASD.

Folic acid

500

This theory is tested by the ability to attribute a false belief.

Theory of Mind

500

This imaging technique has helped us visualize how cognitive theories manifest in brain structures.

fMRI

500

This term posed by Francesca Happe is used to describe how on the genetic and cognitive levels no single explanation exists that can completely explain ASD.

Fractionation

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