According to a study published in the journal Nature, changes in the brain of autistic patients are comprehensive throughout the cerebral cortex rather than in specific areas thought to impact social behavior and language. According to the study author, autism and other psychiatric disorders lack a defining pathology, making it difficult to develop effective treatments.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, virtually analyzed the change in 11 cortical regions that are associated with higher functions, such as reasoning, language, social cognition, mental flexibility, or primary sensory regions.

The analysis showed changes in the visual cortex and the parietal cortex, which process information like touch, pain, and temperature. The researchers noted that the finding corresponds with sensory hypersensitivity, which is frequently reported in people with ASD.

Additionally, the researchers also found that the genetic risk for autism is enriched in a specific neuronal module that has lower expression across the brain. They concluded that this finding indicates that RNA changes in the brain are likely the cause of ASD rather than the disorder leading to altered brain structures. 

(Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/brain-changes-in-autism-more-comprehensive-than-affecting-specific-areas-study-447286 )