Motor theory: features possibly relevant for autism

If autism is primarily a disorder of communication, or at the very least deficiencies in communication are one of the most grievous effects of autism, a number of aspects of the motor theory may be relevant.
Neural organisation The role of language is to produce changes in the mind (changes in the brain) of the hearer which structurally resemble those in the mind (brain) of the speaker. This would apply to other systems of communication, gesture, sign languages, facial expression, and to instances where communication is mediated in space or time e.g. written language. The content of all utterances, messages of any kind, ultimately will be represented by changes in synaptic strengths, establishment of new excitatory or inhibitory connections, dendritic growth.
Crossmodal processes Any utterance, any message however delivered, looks for a response, which may be immediate action, or delayed action.For the action to take place. there must be the necessary crossmodal links between different brain functions. Equally there must be the crossmodal links for the production of any utterance, gestural message etc.
Motor system centrality All behaviour in evolutionary terms is a matter of motor primacy, and all types of communication in relation to the autistic child should be examined from this perspective.
Primitive motor elements (programs) Because of the limitations of the human (and other) brains - there cannot be preformed neural programs to provide for every possible sentence or every possible action - and the demands of an unpredictable environment, communication systems have to be open-ended, relying on a limited set of primitive elements which can be combined to meet the needs of any situation. How far do autistic children possess. or have effective use of, such a system of primitive elements?
Categorical perception Production and perception of spoken language and other forms of communication must have evolved together. In the normal case,there must be provision for extracting primitive elements or combinations of the elements reliably from the incoming utterance or message.
Non-arbitrariness Insofar as the motor elements are the product of evolution of neural organisation, language rests ultimately on a non- arbitrary basis; the same is probably true for other forms of communication, gestures, facial expression etc..
Hierarchical pattern of system Motor control is a hierarchical process, with relevant parameters being fed in at the appropriate level. This is a necessary organisational economy.The primitive elements must be capable of being melded together to form higher-level structures, to provide a "lexicon" to match the multiplicity of objects or actions.
Derivation of second-level patterns from the structure of perception The particular structure of words is derived from the structure of the perception or action to which the words refer. This link between language and perception may be of particular importance in considering the communication problems of autistic children.
Extended sequences The syntax of spoken language is based on motor syntax. Motor syntax may also be a source for the organisation of extended sequences in other forms of communication. In the autistic child is normal motor syntax deficient, or is the relation between speech syntax and motor syntax lacking?