Research References

Saraf content is grounded in peer-reviewed neuroscience research. All 56 citations are linked to their original sources.

Click DOI or PubMed links to access the original publications.

Module A: Biological Substrate

Synaptic Hyper-Connectivity

4 references

  1. Tang, G., et al. (2014). Loss of mTOR-dependent macroautophagy causes autistic-like synaptic pruning deficits. Neuron, 83(5), 1131-1143.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Courchesne, E., et al. (2011). Neuron number and size in prefrontal cortex of children with autism. JAMA, 306(18), 2001-2010.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Keown, C.L., et al. (2013). Local functional overconnectivity in posterior brain regions is associated with symptom severity in autism spectrum disorders. Cell Reports, 5(3), 567-572.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Markram, K., & Markram, H. (2010). The intense world theory—a unifying theory of the neurobiology of autism. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 4, 224.
    [DOI][PubMed]

GABA/Glutamate Imbalance

4 references

  1. Rubenstein, J.L., & Merzenich, M.M. (2003). Model of autism: increased ratio of excitation/inhibition in key neural systems. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 2(5), 255-267.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Rojas, D.C., et al. (2014). Reduced neural synchronization of gamma-band MEG oscillations in first-degree relatives of children with autism. BMC Psychiatry, 14, 36.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Puts, N.A., et al. (2017). Reduced GABA and altered somatosensory function in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 10(4), 608-619.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Robertson, C.E., et al. (2016). Reduced GABAergic action in the autistic brain. Current Biology, 26(1), 80-85.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Gut-Brain Axis

5 references

  1. Kang, D.W., et al. (2017). Microbiota Transfer Therapy alters gut ecosystem and improves gastrointestinal and autism symptoms. Microbiome, 5(1), 10.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Sharon, G., et al. (2019). Human gut microbiota from autism spectrum disorder promote behavioral symptoms in mice. Cell, 177(6), 1600-1618.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Adams, J.B., et al. (2011). Gastrointestinal flora and gastrointestinal status in children with autism. BMC Gastroenterology, 11, 22.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. de Magistris, L., et al. (2010). Alterations of the intestinal barrier in patients with autism spectrum disorders and in their first-degree relatives. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 51(4), 418-424.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  5. Vuong, H.E., & Hsiao, E.Y. (2017). Emerging roles for the gut microbiome in autism spectrum disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 81(5), 411-423.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Amygdala Hyper-Reactivity

5 references

  1. Schumann, C.M., et al. (2004). The amygdala is enlarged in children but not adolescents with autism; the hippocampus is enlarged at all ages. Journal of Neuroscience, 24(28), 6392-6401.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Dalton, K.M., et al. (2005). Gaze fixation and the neural circuitry of face processing in autism. Nature Neuroscience, 8(4), 519-526.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Green, S.A., et al. (2015). Overreactive brain responses to sensory stimuli in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(3), 189-199.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Baron-Cohen, S., et al. (2000). The amygdala theory of autism. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 24(3), 355-364.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  5. Porges, S.W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W.W. Norton & Company.

Module B: Neuro-Cognitive Architecture

Monotropism

2 references

  1. Murray, D., Lesser, M., & Lawson, W. (2005). Attention, monotropism and the diagnostic criteria for autism. Autism, 9(2), 139-156.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Murray, D. (2018). Monotropism – An interest based account of autism. In F. Volkmar (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Springer.

Predictive Coding

2 references

  1. Van de Cruys, S., et al. (2014). Precise minds in uncertain worlds: Predictive coding in autism. Psychological Review, 121(4), 649-675.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Pellicano, E., & Burr, D. (2012). When the world becomes too real: A Bayesian explanation of autistic perception. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(10), 504-510.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Context Blindness

2 references

  1. Vermeulen, P. (2012). Autism as Context Blindness. AAPC Publishing.
  2. Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 5-25.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Bottom-Up Processing

2 references

  1. Mottron, L., et al. (2006). Enhanced perceptual functioning in autism: An update, and eight principles of autistic perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 27-43.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 5-25.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Sensory Gating

2 references

  1. Orekhova, E.V., et al. (2008). Sensory gating in young children with autism: Relation to age, IQ, and EEG gamma oscillations. Neuroscience Letters, 434(2), 218-223.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Marco, E.J., et al. (2011). Sensory processing in autism: A review of neurophysiologic findings. Pediatric Research, 69, 48-54.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Alexithymia

2 references

  1. Kinnaird, E., Stewart, C., & Tchanturia, K. (2019). Investigating alexithymia in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Psychiatry, 55, 80-89.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Bird, G., & Cook, R. (2013). Mixed emotions: The contribution of alexithymia to the emotional symptoms of autism. Translational Psychiatry, 3(7), e285.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Interoceptive Disconnect

2 references

  1. Quattrocki, E., & Friston, K. (2014). Autism, oxytocin and interoception. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 47, 410-430.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. DuBois, D., et al. (2016). Interoception in autism spectrum disorder: A review. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 52, 104-111.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Double Empathy Problem

2 references

  1. Milton, D.E.M. (2012). On the ontological status of autism: The "double empathy problem". Disability & Society, 27(6), 883-887.
    [DOI]
  2. Crompton, C.J., et al. (2020). Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective. Autism, 24(7), 1704-1712.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Autistic Inertia

1 reference

  1. Buckle, K.L., et al. (2021). "No way out except from external intervention": First-hand accounts of autistic inertia. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 631596.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Masking

2 references

  1. Hull, L., et al. (2017). "Putting on my best normal": Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519-2534.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Cage, E., & Troxell-Whitman, Z. (2019). Understanding the reasons, contexts and costs of camouflaging for autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 1899-1911.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Open-Loop / Zeigarnik Effect

1 reference

  1. Zeigarnik, B. (1938). On finished and unfinished tasks. In W.D. Ellis (Ed.), A Source Book of Gestalt Psychology, Harcourt Brace.

Allostatic Overload

2 references

  1. Raymaker, D.M., et al. (2020). Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132-143.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Higgins, J.M., et al. (2021). Defining autistic burnout through experts by lived experience. Autism in Adulthood, 3(4), 315-326.
    [DOI][PubMed]

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

2 references

  1. Newson, E., Le Maréchal, K., & David, C. (2003). Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: A necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 88(7), 595-600.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. O'Nions, E., et al. (2014). Pathological demand avoidance: Exploring the behavioural profile. Autism, 18(5), 538-544.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Module C: Adaptive Interface

Spoon Theory 2.0

4 references

  1. Miserandino, C. (2003). The Spoon Theory. ButYouDontLookSick.com.
    [Source]
  2. Livingston, L.A., et al. (2019). Compensation in autism is not consistent with social camouflaging. Molecular Autism, 10(1), 1-12.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Raymaker, D.M., et al. (2020). Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132-143.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Higgins, J.M., et al. (2021). Defining autistic burnout through experts by lived experience. Autism in Adulthood, 3(4), 315-326.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Sensory Architecture

4 references

  1. Corbett, B.A., et al. (2009). Cortisol circadian rhythms and response to stress in children with autism. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(9), 1326-1334.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  2. Tavassoli, T., et al. (2014). Sensory over-responsivity in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Autism, 18(4), 428-432.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Marco, E.J., et al. (2011). Sensory processing in autism: A review of neurophysiologic findings. Pediatric Research, 69, 48-54.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Ulrich, R.S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420-421.
    [DOI][PubMed]

Professional Advocacy

4 references

  1. Austin, R.D., & Pisano, G.P. (2017). Neurodiversity as a competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, 95(3), 96-103.
  2. Cage, E., & Troxell-Whitman, Z. (2019). Understanding the reasons, contexts and costs of camouflaging for autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 1899-1911.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  3. Hedley, D., et al. (2017). Employment programmes and interventions targeting adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 21(8), 929-941.
    [DOI][PubMed]
  4. Baldwin, S., et al. (2014). The perceived barriers and facilitators to employment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Advances in Autism, 1(2), 89-100.

Legal Rights (Akta OKU)

2 references

  1. Government of Malaysia (2008). Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685). Laws of Malaysia.
    [Source]
  2. United Nations (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. United Nations Treaty Series.
    [Source]

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