Neural Foundations of Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder

doi:10.1017/9781009202336.021

15 - Neural Foundations of Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder

from Part IVB - Aphasia and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 December 2025

Meredith Pecukonis ,

Lindsay Butler ,

Charlotte Gaynor and

Helen Tager-Flusberg

Edited by

Edna Andrews and

Swathi Kiran

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Edna Andrews: Affiliation:
Duke University, North Carolina
Swathi Kiran: Affiliation:
Boston University

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Summary

In this chapter, we review what is known about the neural bases of language in, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on structural and functional investigations in studies of infants, children, and adults. While language impairment is not a core symptom of ASD, most children show significant delays and many continue to experience significant deficits. First, we summarize the range of methods used to investigate brain structure and function in ASD and the challenges in conducting neuroimaging research with this population. Then we survey the research on children and adults to highlight some of the major findings that characterize the neural underpinnings of language in ASD. Since ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, there is growing interest in understanding the developmental origins of heterogeneous language profiles. Thus, we then provide a detailed review of this literature, which highlights the very early emergence of atypical neural structure and function in ASD. We end by drawing some tentative conclusions and identifying gaps in the literature that point to future directions for research on language in ASD.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder childhood apraxia of speech developmental language disorder speech-in-noise perception auditory-visual integration phonological working memory nonword repetition supplementary motor area lateralization Broca’s area Wernicke’s area Cortical thickness Brain volume minimally verbal EEG - electroencephalography functional connectivity infant siblings

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Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of Language and Brain , pp. 394 - 420

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009202336.021 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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