Are changes in the maturation of the social brain in infants associated with vulnerability to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder?

In this cohort study of 36 neonates with and without a family history of autism spectrum disorder, newborns with a family history of autism spectrum disorder had significantly higher neural activity in the right fusiform and left parietal cortex.

In addition, the pattern of age-related changes in spontaneous activity in the cingulate and insula was disrupted in infants with a family history of autism spectrum disorder.