Autism and the Mind/Brain

This roundtable explored how autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting over 1% of the population, was historically misunderstood as resulting from poor parental relationships. The event examined current scientific evidence demonstrating that autism results from abnormalities in brain development, and that the behavior observed in children is the consequence of disturbances in brain circuitry. Participants discussed the diagnosis history, current treatment approaches, and how advances in understanding the mind-brain relationship have shaped modern perspectives.