Scientists trace social challenges in autism to specific brain circuit

Registration open for annual autism conference at Lourdes

Registration is now open for the second annual Spectrum of Possibilities Conference, scheduled for June 11 at Lourdes University. The conference is for ...

Epigenomic signatures reveal mechanistic clues and predictive markers for autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with a commonality in deficits in social communication and language combined with repetitive behaviors and interests. The etiology of ASD is heterogeneous, as several hundred genes have been implicated as well as multiple in utero environmental exposures. Over the past two decades, epigenetic investigations, including DNA methylation, have e…

Scientists trace social challenges in autism to specific brain circuit

UNIGE scientists identified a brain circuit where lies the origin the social difficulties experienced by people with autism spectrum disorders.

Autism: The neural origin of the social bond

From birth, human survival depends on the ability to engage with others. This ability, which is essential for development, seems to be impaired very early on in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), who show limited interest in social stimuli from their first year of life.

Early Brain Circuit Disruption Linked to Autism Social Challenges

New research has uncovered a disrupted brain communication pathway in children with autism that impairs their ability to quickly shift attention—an essential skill for social interaction. This discovery was made by studying both children with autism and genetically modified mice lacking the Shank3 gene, a common cause of ASD.

Silver lining in increased autism cases

The increasing cases of autism in Barbados might not be a terrible thing, says board certified behaviour analyst Natasha Heaselgrave. While acknowledging