In Infants Who Develop Autism, Brain-Imaging Differences Evident At 6 Months
A new study led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found significant differences in brain development starting at age 6 months in high-risk infants who later develop autism, compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism
Undergrad’s Work Details Protein’s Role In Neurological Disorders
A UT Dallas undergraduate’s research is revealing new information about a key protein’s role in the development of epilepsy, autism and other neurological disorders. This work could one day lead to new treatments for the conditions
Automated Imaging Inroduced To Greatly Speed Whole-Brain Mapping Efforts A new technology developed by neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) transforms the way highly detailed anatomical images can be made of whole brains. Until now, means of obtaining such images – used in cutting-edge projects to map the mammalian brain – have been painstakingly slow and available only to a handful of highly specialized research teams.
These days, we hear a lot about the disorder of autism, but researchers at the University of Utah have created a program that helps kids with autism focus on building their skills and utilizing an aptitude for visual-spatial thinking, computers and other electronic media.
When Teens With Autism Want To Drive
In the first study to investigate driving as it relates to teens with a high-functioning autism disorder (HFASD), child development and teen driving experts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies found that two-thirds of teenagers with a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) who are of legal driving age in their state are currently driving or plan to drive.
2 Genes Affect Anxiety, Behavior In Mice With Too Much MeCP2
The anxiety and behavioral issues associated with excess MeCP2 protein result from overexpression of two genes (Crh [corticotropin-releasing hormone] and Oprm 1 [mu-opioid receptor MOR 1]), which may point the way to treating these problems in patients with too much of the protein, said Baylor College of Medicine scientists in a report that appears online in the journal Nature Genetics.
Possible Link Between Autism, Abnormal Immune System Characteristics And Novel Protein Fragment
Immune system abnormalities that mimic those seen with autism spectrum disorders have been linked to the amyloid precursor protein (APP), reports a research team from the University of South Florida’s Department of Psychiatry and the
Silver Child Development Center.
Complementary Image Processing In The Cerebral Hemispheres
The left brain/right brain dichotomy has been prominent on the pop psychology scene since Nobel Laureate Roger Sperry broached the subject in the 1960s. The left is analytical while the right is creative, so goes the adage.
Catalyzing Autism Research At MIT – $26.5 Million Simons Gift
The Simons Foundation has given the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a $26.5 million gift. The money will be used to develop the Simons Center for the Social Brain at MIT, a novel plan that aims to catalyze newfangled research
on the social brain and translate the research into enhanced diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Exciting Strides In Autism Research
Teaching young children with autism to imitate others may improve a broader range of social skills, according to a new study by a Michigan State University scholar.The findings come at a pivotal time in autism research.