INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition with implications for self-consciousness and autobiographical memory. This study investigates the relationship between self-consciousness, autobiographical memory, and associated neurobiological structures in ASD. METHODS: There were two groups: autism (N = 4) and a control group without autism symptoms (n = 8), which underwent a 2-day LiveCam camera recording and subsequent functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) tasks with familiar ("old") and unfamiliar ("new") images. Results revealed distinct hemodynamic patterns in brain regions related to self-awareness, memory recall, and language comprehension. RESULTS: In the control group, the presentation of "old" images elicited higher oxyhemoglobin concentration changes in the frontopolar, orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and temporal areas. For "new" images, differences extended to DLPFC, frontal and temporal areas, somatosensory cortex, and subcentral areas between groups. Autobiographical memory tests indicated that individuals with ASD struggled to recall specific memories and exhibited differences in memory themes and narrative length compared to the control group. While emotional elements were preserved, sensory details were often overlooked. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that challenges in accessing and integrating autobiographical memories and self-related information may impact the development of a stable self-identity in ASD. The study underscores the importance of understanding the neural basis of self-consciousness and memory in autism, offering insights into potential areas for intervention and support.