Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral and social communication disorder. It is a large-scale neurodevelopmental disorder or brain disorder that is the result of genetic events that occur before birth with widespread effects on cognitive and social-emotional development (Geschwind, 2009). Scientists are not sure what causes autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function, genetics/heredity, or environmental factors. Studies have found numerous irregularities in many regions of the brain and abnormal levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), autism may result from disruption of normal brain development in the early stages of fetal development caused by defeats in genes that control brain growth and regulate how which brain cells communicate with each other. There are several studies underway to determine the genetic/heredity factors associated with autism. In some cases, parents and/or relatives may have certain medical conditions including fragile Research also points to factors other than genetics that contribute to the increase in autism. Lead researcher Hjordis Osk Atladottir of Aarhus University, Denmark, points out that during pregnancy, women with flu were at double the risk of their fetus developing autism. The study of persistent fevers that lasted at least a week tripled the risk for an autistic child (Hjordis Osk Atladottir). Additionally, women who used antibiotics during pregnancy were at... middle of paper ...... ric Association DSM-IV (1984.) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Works CitedAmerican Psychiatric Association DSM-IV (1984.) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). American Psychiatric Association. Baron-Cohen, S. (1985). Mindblindness: An essay on autism and theory of mind. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.Baron-Cohen, S., Ring, H.A., Bullmore, E.T., Wheelwright, S., Ashwin, & Williams, S.C.R. (2000). The amygdala theory of AUTISM. Neuroscience. Behavior Review, 24, 434-438. Geschwind, D. H., & Levitt, P. (2007). Autism spectrum disorders: developmental disconnection syndromes. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 17, 103-111.Minshew, N. J., & Williams, D. L. (2007). The new neurobiology of autism: profile of a complex information processing disorder. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 3, 303-316.