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Autism is a complex disorder of neurodevelopment resulting in pervasive abnormalities in social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviours and restricted interests. It presents difficult challenges to physicians and other professionals and especially to the parents and families of affected individuals. The aim of this volume is to provide an update on this multi-faceted condition, and to review most of its major features, in particular its biology, genetics and current understanding of its brain basis. The book emphasises the importance of early detection, and spells out appropriate steps for clinical diagnosis and investigations such as neuropsychology, electrophysiology and imaging. Of particular interest are chapters that focus on differential diagnosis, advances in neurogenetics and molecular biology, possible consequences of immunisations and the relation between autism and epilepsy.

Neurocutaneous Syndromes unify a group of rare neurological disorders in which the initial identification depends on simple visual disgnosis. They include a large group of neurological disorders which feature cutaneous and ocular lesions, brain malformations, central and peripheral brain tumours, mental retardation, seizures and psychiatric problems. In the last few years, our knowledge of neurocutaneous syndromes has increased substantially. The aim of this volume is to provide an updated developmental perspective on these multifaceted conditions and to review their major clinical features, in particular their embryological basis, clinical molecular genetics, diagnostic protocols and novel therapeutic approaches.

This comprehensive monograph updates progress in understanding children's language learning and its pathologies. It stresses the neurologic basis of normal language acquisition and the consequences of a variety of disorders using such tools as detailed analysis of language comprehension, production and use, as well as functional brain imaging and electrophysiology. It also underlines the import6ance of subcortical circuitry and inner speech and reviews the unfolding or regression of language of language in focal brain lesions, autism, Williams syndrome and developmental disorders of oral and written language.

This book provides a comprehensive update on multiple aspects of the wide-ranging topic of mental retardation. The opening part of the volume is dedicated to the definition of mental retardation and to the various classification systems, within an epidemiologic perspective. A second core section presents the neuropsychology of mental retardation, considering both the global approach to the identification of the different deficits present in this condition, and the definition of specific cognitive-behavioural phenotypes possibly related to distinct genetic syndromes or gene defects. Of particular interest are some contributions to the neurological diagnosis of mental retardation, providing the clinical description of several specific disorders and genetic syndromes, and outlining the essential diagnostic input provided by genetic tests. The psychiatric comorbidity of mentally retarded subjects is presented, and specific chapters are geared to the medical treatment of mental retardation and the psychopharmacology of the associated neuropsychiatric disorders. A final section deals with several cognitive, psycho-pedagogic, and psycho-educative rehabilitation approaches focusing on the life-long disability deriving from mental retardation.

Advances in the neurocognitive sciences, aided by increased imaging power, have extensively confirmed that during early development specific areas of a child's brain are designed to process specific functions -- neurologic, cognitive, linguistic, motoric, and visuospatial, among others -- and that this processing involves globally complex interconnections with other areas distributed throughout the brain: a lesion in a given area interferes with the functioning and coherence of the stem as a whole. This volume discusses the consequences of early brain injury to many parts of the brain, including the basal ganglia, with their related disorders of aphasia, OCD, and AD/HD, as well as white matter and its associated neuro-psychological impairment of intelligence, language, and visuoperception. The corpus callosum and cerebellum are studied as they relate to learning motor sequences and language as well as communication disorders and social behaviour. This book also looks at mirror neurons as they affect the understanding of others' intentions and the development of empathy and gestural and other forms of language. The implications of these findings are examined since they have a critical effect on the rehabilitative and educational efforts that are being designed to mitigate the effects of early brain lesions on the growing child.

The aim of this publication is to demonstrate the effect of the neural networks on cognitive functions and behavioural patterns during the development phase of a child. Taking as a basis the previous publication in this series dedicated to brain lesion localisation and development, this time it is by examining in particular the frontal lobe, limbic system (hippocampus and amygdala) and visuo-cognitive system that this book looks at the close links between the neural networks and the future development of visual, cognitive and functional capacities. The section on the frontal lobe concentrates on anatomy, mirror neurons, memory, executive functions, the neuropsychology of frontal lobe epilepsy and the resolution of social problems which can occur as a result of brain damage. The part on the limbic system looks at neuro-anatomical organisation and the core functions of the hippocampus and amygdala, problems of language, music, emotions or autism. Finally, the section dedicated to the visuo-cognitive system summarises the visual field problems associated with focal lesions, the correlation with neuro-imagery and visual impairment in children born prematurely.

This book provides an update on paediatric neurological disorders with cerebellar involvement. The opening section of the volume is dedicated to the structure and function of cerebellum: the specific development of the cerebellum, unlike other structures of the central nervous system, begins at a later stage of foetal development and lasts longer, even after birth, thus making the cerebellum particularly vulnerable to a wide range of insults, both genetic and acquired. Of particular interest are chapters that focus on cerebellar disorders, which may occur in isolation, or else as part of more complex malformations of the posterior fossa or in association with other supratentorial anomalies. Such conditions may be encountered both as part of static' congenital encephalopathies as well as in the frame of neurodegenerative or neurometabolic disorders. The recent advances in neuroimaging and genetics have enabled us to characterize and define the genetic basis of an increasing number of paediatric cerebellar disorders. The last part of the volume is dedicated to care and rehabilitation in cerebellar diseases: their correct diagnosis is pivotal in order to address patients to the appropriate genetic testing, plan clinical management and therapeutic strategies, and provide adequate genetic counselling. Contents: The Cerebellum: Structure & Function; Cerebellar Congenital Malformations: Neuroimaging & Neuropathology; Cerebellar Congenital Malformations: Syndromes; Acquired Cerebellar Disorders; Assistance & Rehabilitation in Cerebellar Disorders.

Autism is an extremely complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is expressed in a spectrum of phenotypes and is characterised by impaired reciprocal social communication and stereotyped patterns of interests and activities. Its aetiopathogenesis remains poorly understood. This exhaustive synthesis discusses various aspects: A focus on the neurobiology of autism: the candidate genes implicate an involvement of numerous brain regions and a concomitant malfunctioning of neurotransmitter, immunologic, and other mechanisms; The most incisive rehabilitation models in their original formulation and the results achieved with the same or similar protocols in Italian centres (understanding, language therapy, social skill training; The psychopharmacologic options for the condition of autism per se and for its associated, very frequent, comorbidities. It suggests a potential influence on professional practice and enables an up-to-date approach to effective diagnosis and treatment.