Aspergers is a neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum characterized by deficits in social interactions with others, limited interests, pervasive abnormalities in communicative behavior, and hyperfixations. People with Aspergers are said to be on the “higher end” of the autism spectrum. For many years, researchers have been trying to better understand Aspergers and the brain activity that contributes to this disability. (Thesis: Activity in the brain contributes to the behavior of people with Aspergers)
Due to the fact that Aspergers is a spectrum, it can manifest differently among a variety of people especially between males, and females. According to the report “Behavioral, Cognitive and Neural Markers of Asperger Syndrome” by Farnaz Faridi, and Reza Khosrowabadi, research has shown us that there is a significant difference in the autistic brains of males as opposed to females. For example, males were shown to have a harder time reading people’s faces, and emotions. In addition, it was shown that males with Aspergers have a harder time comprehending “theory of mind” as opposed to females with Aspergers. “Theory of mind” refers to having the capacity to understand that other people have different desires, thoughts, mental states, beliefs, as well as intentions. Throughout childhood, “theory of mind” develops as the prefrontal cortex of the brain develops. The prefrontal cortex is a portion of the brain which covers part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex and is responsible for decision making, personality expression, modulating social behavior and controlling certain aspects of our speech and language. Furthermore, brain scans have shown us that when we judge the facial expressions of others, the part of the brain that usually lights up is the amygdala, which is responsible for judging emotions, decision making, memory, and enabling our fight or flight. However, in