A simple and effective method for measuring brain asymmetry in children with autism

For the last two decades a number of publications have shown that the pattern of brain asymmetry in people with mental handicap, including autism, depression and schizophrenia, differs from that of normal subjects [1]. Results of the studies are in accordance with the Crow theory that supposed the causes of mental disorders to be disorders of the mechanisms responsible for the development of lateral asymmetries [2]. It has been confirmed that lateralized training of brain hemispheres can influence behavioural and sensory asymmetries and stimulate one of the hemispheres selectively [3]. These facts strengthen importance to investigate asymmetries in people with mental handicap. It can broaden our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of mental disorders in order to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Therefore it seems necessary to develop technological instruments fulfilling the following requirements: relative simplicity of use, high effectiveness, interest and motivation for the subjects, ability to scale the effect, ability to record the reactions of the patients.