Evidence is mounting that GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in autism. Genetic studies, animal models, and examination of post-mortem tissue from individuals with autism all suggest the GABA signaling pathway is wired differently in neurotypical and autistic brains. However, studies in living humans to support these claims are sparse, and much has…
Part of the human brain’s job is to make sense of that tapestry: What input is most important at the moment? What can I safely ignore? One of the core differences between individuals with autism and neurotypicals is how we process sensory information. Specifically, evidence is mounting that sensory “binding,” or integrating multiple sensory inputs…
Children who practiced Nei Gong, an ancient Chinese movement/breathing practice, consistently for a month improved on a visual memory task and demonstrated increased functional connectivity between brain regions. This research joins numerous other studies that support Nei Gong and other mindfulness practices as tools to improve brain function in a variety of populations. Nei Gong…
In 2001, Dr. John P. Hussman published a novel hypothesis in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders concerning the neurological basis of autism. Drawing together findings from genetic, clinical and neurobiological lines of autism research, Hussman proposed that much of the evidence on autism to date was consistent with disruption in the balance between…
People with autism often experience an utterly unfiltered world. They are constantly bombarded by sensory stimuli their brains aren’t wired to tune out. Light, sounds, and smells can be overwhelming, or even painful. Many individuals on the autism spectrum also have difficulty interpreting social cues and communicating effectively, and may engage in repetitive movements. A…
In their new review, Dr. David Hampson, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Toronto, and Dr. Gene Blatt, Director of Neuroscience at the Hussman Institute for Autism, integrate a broad range of research findings to convincingly portray the cerebellum as an important player in autism. Long believed to function primarily as a regulator of…
A recent study found that individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) demonstrate a tradeoff between speed and accuracy when faced with emotionally-charged situations with conflict. It is well established that individuals with ASC tend to pay less attention to social and emotional information, so one possible explanation for this finding is that individuals with ASC…
People with autism may know exactly what they want to say, but may be unable to say it. They may know every answer on a quiz, but have only written down a few by the time the teacher collects the papers. They may know how to play a game, but sit motionless, or simply rock…
By Sarah Hansen Neurotypical adults primarily use visual cues to control posture. A new study in Neuroscience finds that adults on the autism spectrum instead tend to prioritize other sensory feedback, such as pressure and motion, to control their body position. These results suggest that popular vision-based techniques for teaching skills to individuals with autism,…
By Sarah Hansen A recent review by team members at the Hussman Institute for Autism (HIA) discusses new and emerging technologies related to the use of induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. iPSCs are mature cells, such as skin cells or blood cells, that have been experimentally coaxed (“induced”) into a state where they can…
