Laterality and Lateralization in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Using a Standardized Neuro-Psychomotor Assessment

Dev Neuropsychol. 2017 Jan;42(1):39-54. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2016.1274317. Epub 2017 Feb 10.

Abstract

A detailed assessment of laterality in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was realized, including handedness and other measures (muscle tone, manual performance, dominant eye), using a standardized battery for the developmental assessment of neuro-psychomotor functions. The results of the laterality tests relating to cerebral hemisphere organization (spontaneous gestural laterality and tonic laterality) were different in ASD children, and indicate that the cerebral organization could be disrupted. These assessments, added to the observations of usual laterality most often reported in the literature, provide better understanding of the developmental organization from the pathophysiological point of view in children with ASD.

MeSH terms

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Brain / growth & development*
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Brain Mapping / methods*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance