An important issue regarding optimal brain functioning is the assurance that communication takes place between the relevant brain regions. If the organization of our neuronalsources is frequency-based, then an overall coordination must exist in the domain of frequency between communicating brain regions. This is one issue that can relate to the classic autism symptoms. We have argued that the global communication relationships may be more vulnerable than the local ones. This fits with the prevailing view of autism, where we can often see highly-developed, or at least appropriately-developed function in a variety of aspects, but we see a dearth of “integration” by the child of all these disparate realities into one “narrative.” We can only assume that the child’s view of his or her own reality is somewhat fragmented or stunted. 

 

We can even argue that the core issue in autism at the functional level is “integration deficit disorder.” Now we even have a way of modeling this in terms of the communication behavior of the neuronal assemblies, where it is typically talked about as a “connectivity deficit.” The term “connectivity deficit” may focus us on the key issue, but the term itself is not very revealing as to the precise nature of the deficit. The good news is that the circuitry of our brains can be trained to function better; it is alterable through the mechanisms of “brain plasticity.”

 

We have not found a single deficit among those typically associated with autism that does not respond at some level to brain training. As we find our way with various training techniques, we have already reached the point where brain-training might well be the quickest means toward higher functionality in the child. That then lays the groundwork for all of the other techniques and remedies that should also be brought to bear.

Neurofeedback intrinsically addresses itself to communication relationships within the neuronal networks, so it directly targets what may be the key functional deficit in autism at the brain level. Within the neurofeedback community, this approach may similarly provide a missing perspective on the deficits of functional integration and provide the needed conceptual linkage between the biomedical and the behavioral remedies.