To this point, the hypothesis that has been put forth in this paper has only been supported by the author's clinical experience. Experimental methods are available to scientific researchers to test the hypothesis empirically. One of the simplest clinical studies that could be conducted to test the fundamental hypothesis would employ an assay of the blood or saliva to measure melatonin levels, or an assay of melatonin metabolites in the urine. The measurements would be conducted on two groups of children. One group would be children who have been identified as being moderately to severely autistic, according to the checklists that are in current use. The other groups would be composed of children who present none of the behavioral, cognitive, or social development characteristics that are associated with autism.

An extension to the above tests would also measure endogenous substances that are known to have hallucinogenic properties, including tryptamines and beta-carbolines.

To examine the effects of body work techniques on the functioning of the pineal gland in an objective and measurable way, the above tests could be conducted before and after a series of sessions on the two groups of test subjects, with one group receiving Craniosacral Therapy and the other receiving placebo sessions that do not include any body work techniques.

The second area of interest is the morphology and size of the pineal gland in autistic children in comparison with non-autistic children. Those measures would require the use of NMRI or CAT techniques.

The theory that stimulation of the superior cervical ganglia by means of energy body work techniques can affect the morphology and structure of the pineal gland could be tested by examining the pineal gland in test subjects by NMRI and CAT techniques before and after a series of Craniosacral Therapy and Polarity Therapy sessions.

If a cause-and-effect relationship between pineal gland malfunction and autism can be empirically established, further efforts can be made to find the most practical, safe, and effective means of activating and balancing the pineal gland function.