Med-Psych.com

There is a recent study getting some attention as the authors are claiming a certain type of brain scan differentiated autism from individuals without autism in 94% of the cases they studied. This is a very impressive finding, and will be remarkable if it can be replicated. Most of the time when I've seen studies such as this, the authors have to compare group differences (they average the two study groups and show a difference in the averages) but in this study, they seem to have found differences on a case by case level.

You can read the abstract of the study here: Atypical diffusion tensor hemispheric asymmetry in autism

The abstract is very technical, but to state it more simply, the authors used a special type of MRI scan called diffusion MRI which allowed them to look at specific structures of the brain. They focused on two areas of the brain believed responsible for language, social functioning, and emotional behavior. They did these brain scans in 30 high functioning autistic boys between the ages of 7 and 28 and compared the brain scans to boys without autism. Basically, the individuals they studied with autism had less structured wiring in those areas of the brain.

The study authors say they are doing further studies and development of the test and expect to have more findings in the next one to two years. They also are planning on seeing what this test will show for more severe cases of autism, younger children under the age of 7, and other types of brain disorders such as developmental language disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.