While anomalous language development and use is an important factor in many developmental disorders, a considerable proportion of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) manifest in severe language deficits. Almost 30% of children on the spectrum do not develop phrase speech past five years of age: an outcome that persists across their lifetimes. Their comprehension of words tends to fall far behind their chronological ages while their understanding of instructions and grammatical structures, in turn, falls behind their receptive vocabulary. Importantly, language does not manifest in other modalities such as sign, gesture or written language. In absence of hearing, vision or severe motor difficulties such a failure of language development is striking.

What is the neural substrate of absense of language development? And what are its cognitive repercussions? 

Our current research agenda consists of 3 studies designed to shed light on these questions. Two behavioral studies examine verbal or nonverbal cognition in this population and how these relate, and in particular which levels or varieties of nonverbal concepts or thought can develop when language appears to be absent. Finally, in a magnetic resonance paradigm, we investigate language network structural and functional architecture and its connectivity, linked to its subjacent behavioural-cognitive profile.