Brain scan breakthrough: new MRI method could spot autism in kids

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Patient diagnosed autist or suspected autist : males and females with the diagnosis of autism based on the following criteria: * 5 years ≤ age \< 18 years, * demand for MRI in the etiologic assessment (suspected autism) or MRI control in the treatment (diagnosed with autism) * obtaining written consent from parents or legal guardians of patients. Patients diagnosed with mental retardation or suspected with mental retardation : males and females with the diagnosis of mental retardation using the following criteria: * 5 years ≤ age \< 18 years, * demand for MRI in the etiologic assessment (suspected mental retardation) or MRI control in the treatment (diagnosed with mental retardation) * obtaining written consent from parents or legal guardians of patients. Healthy control subjects: males and females: * 5 years ≤ age \< 18 years * no known neurological or psychiatric disorder obtaining written consent with parents or legal guardians of volunteers. Very young patients suspected of autism: male and female with suspected autism 1. 18 months ≤ age \<5 years 2. demand of MRI in the etiologic assessment 3. obtaining written consent from parents or legal guardians. Very young patients suspected of mental retardation : male and female with suspected mental retardation 1. 18 months ≤ age \<5 years 2. demand of MRI in the etiologic assessment 3. obtaining written consent from parents or legal guardians. All subjects must be registered with the social security. Exclusion Criteria: For all subjects: * Indication against performing MRI (pacemaker, an implanted metal foreign body, claustrophobia), * Inability of healthy volunteers to remain still during the MRI examination. Healthy control subjects: males and females: * aged between 5 years and 18 years * no known neurological or psychiatric disorder * obtaining written consent with parents or legal guardians of volunteers. All subjects must be registered with the social security. Exclusion Criteria: For all subjects: * Indication against performing MRI (pacemaker, an implanted metal foreign body, claustrophobia), * Inability of healthy volunteers to remain still during the MRI examination.