EBD Blog

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), in collaboration with Wiley Interscience, announced the publication of a new journal on Autism, Autism Research. The International Society for Autism Research is an organization of scientists and professionals who want to advance our understanding about Autism, including autism spectrum disorders such as Autism, Apserger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified.

The editor, Anthony J. Bailey, M.D., of Oxford University, explained why INSAR had started this new journal:

This is the first issue of the official publication of the International Society for Autism Research. The Society exists to promote and disseminate high-quality research into autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and organizes the annual International Meeting for Autism Research. For several years the Society’s board has aspired to produce a scientific journal, and we are delighted that this has now been achieved through a partnership with Wiley-Blackwell. Given that there are already very large numbers of psychological and biomedical publications, just why has a new autism journal been launched?

One reason for this initiative is the exponential growth in ASD research over the last 10 or so years; an increase somewhat similar to the dramatic development of research into HIV and AIDS. One of the drivers of this increase has been the recognition that ASDs are not extremely rare disorders, but in fact affect about 1% of the population, at least in the USA and Europe. The estimated prevalence of ASDs is akin to that of schizophrenia and this similarity provides a benchmark against which to judge both the size and quality of the research endeavor, as well as the responses of Governments and society to the challenges presented by ASDs. Another factor leading to the growth in research is the development of technologies that allow the identification of causal factors and mechanisms. The review of genetic factors by O’Roak and State in this issue (pages 4-7) is a timely illustration of how different advances in the technologies underpinning molecular biology have permitted whole genome scans for susceptibility genes, as well as revealing the possible contribution of loss or gain of stretches of DNA. Similarly, the paper by Humphreys et al. (pages 52-63) typifies the insights into systems-level neurobiology, that are being provided by imaging technologies. Without doubt however, the most significant impetus for an increase in research has come from the families of individuals with ASD. Over the last decade, parent-led organizations and individuals have campaigned vigorously for greater research spending on ASDs. Parents have also encouraged many scientists into the field, who previously would have been relatively unaware of autism research, let alone imagine that their expertise may contribute eventually to an understanding of ASDs.

Nevertheless, the proliferation of approaches and the influx of new minds also have the potential to fractionate autism research. As more studies use sophisticated techniques, the likelihood that the findings will be published in specialist journals increases. This development carries the danger that experts may not be completely aware of conceptual advances in adjacent areas of research, which may affect their own hypotheses. Consequently, there is a continuing need for journals that bring together findings from diverse approaches, as illustrated in this issue by the psychological (Wallace et al.; pages 43-51) and imaging (Humphreys et al.) studies of face processing in ASD.

Finally, significant scientific advances do not come just from the gradual accretion of knowledge. Models must change and adapt to incorporate new findings, and conceptual developments of course suggest new experiments and investigations. There have been significant shifts in our understanding of autism over the last 30 years. In general, we no longer adhere to the ideas of highly localized brain abnormalities or deficits in single psychological functions as adequate explanations for a complex disorder. We have become increasingly aware that our models must account for the enormous range in severity of ASDs and related difficulties. In addition, we now appreciate that a proper understanding of ASDs requires neurobiological investigators to be fully cognizant of developmental change. Thus, Autism Research welcomes not only the highest-quality empirical papers, but will also accept theoretical papers that synthesize current knowledge and suggest new and promising avenues of enquiry.

See the Web site for Autism Research, where it may be possible to obtain free copies of some of the initial articles. Learn more about INSAR at the society’s Web site.