Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder of behavior and social communication. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder or large-scale brain disorder that results from genetic events that occur before birth and have broad effects on cognitive and socio-emotional development (Geschwind, 2009). Scientists are not sure of the causes of autism. but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function, genetics/heredity, or environmental factors. Studies have revealed several irregularities in many regions of the brain as well as abnormal levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), autism may result from a disruption of normal brain development during early fetal development, caused by damage to genes that control brain growth and regulate the way brain cells communicate with each other. Several studies are underway to determine the genetic/hereditary factors associated with autism. In some cases, parents and/or loved ones may have certain medical conditions, including fragile . Research also indicates that factors other than genetics contribute to the increase in autism. Lead researcher Hjordis Osk Atladottir from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, points out that during pregnancy, women with the flu were twice as likely to have their unborn baby develop autism. The study of persistent fevers that lasted at least a week tripled the risk for an autistic baby (Hjordis Osk Atladottir). Additionally, women who used antibiotics during pregnancy were in the middle of the article......ric Association DSM-IV (1984.) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Works CitedAmerican Psychiatric Association DSM-IV (1984.) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). American Psychiatric Association. Baron-Cohen, S. (1985). Mindblindness: An essay on autism and theory of mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Baron-Cohen, S., Ring, HA, Bullmore, ET, Wheelwright, S., Ashwin and Williams, SCR (2000). The amygdala theory of AUTISM. Neuroscience. Behavior Review, 24, 434-438. Geschwind, D.H. and Levitt, P. (2007). Autism spectrum disorders: developmental disconnection syndromes. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 17, 103-111. Minshew, N.J. and Williams, D.L. (2007). The new neurobiology of autism: profile of a complex information processing disorder. Journal of the International Society of Neuropsychology, 3, 303-316.