When a gene implicated in human autism is disabled in mice, the rodents show learning problems and obsessive, repetitive behaviors, researchers have found.
14 Vote(s)
February 24, 2010
February 18, 2010
Oxytocin versus autism: A cure for altruism
The widespread message arising from Andari et al. (in press) is that the hormone oxytocin "may be a powerful weapon in fighting autism" or words to that effect. The heart of this study is a computer game version of catch which appears to involve four human players. When a player is thrown the ball, he must then throw it to another player of his choice. Every time a player receives the ball, he re
12 Vote(s)
12 Vote(s)
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February 15, 2010
Asperger’s, Autism and Ambivalence: On Losing My Label
The DSM changes. Hot topic du jour. It seems to have engendered heated feelings on both sides. But me? I just don't know what I feel. <!--break-->Had you asked me a few years ago, what my feelings were on this issue - I'd probably land on the side that many with Asperger's do - in defense of the Asperger's label. Now, I'm not so sure. My feelings are
7 Vote(s)
7 Vote(s)
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February 13, 2010
What is severe autism?
We have to wait, patiently, for the DSM-V people to cough up their system for ranking and classifying all autistics according autism "severity." In the meantime, some recently reported data are worth mulling over. First, here is the most current DSM-V autism "severity" ranking-system proposal, and here is my response, including information about instruments commonly claimed to measure autism "sev
9 Vote(s)
9 Vote(s)
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February 5, 2010
Study which started the vaccine-autism fear has been retracted
by Joye C. Anestis Over the past few years, I've watched the vaccination-autism controversy with great interest. Just in case you're not aware of this issue, a group of people have been arguing, since the release of a paper in...
19 Vote(s)
19 Vote(s)
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January 22, 2010
Ask the non-experts about autism detection in infants
In a research project about early autism detection in infants, psychologists are working with non-expert coders to observe and provide data during experiments. The project shows that non-experts can effectively gain similar outcomes to the coders who have gone through extensive training, thus simplifying the research process without compromising the results.
13 Vote(s)
13 Vote(s)
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January 11, 2010
Bias, Bettelheim and Autism: Is History Repeating Itself?
"Autism caused by whiteness and affluence." When this headline popped up on my Twitter page, I had to roll my eyes. The subject of the tweet was a recent study from the Mind Institute which found 10 clusters of autism throughout California. Each of these clusters were in an area that had a large concentration of white, highly educated parents. The researchers have been very quick
12 Vote(s)
12 Vote(s)
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More evidence that autism is a brain ‘connectivity’ disorder
Studying a rare disorder that also causes autism in 25-50 percent of affected patients, new research supports the emerging idea that autism results from disrupted brain "connectivity" causing improper information flow. These abnormalities might be reversible with rapamycin or rapamycin-like drugs, which the studies researchers will be bringing to clinical trial later this year.
16 Vote(s)
16 Vote(s)
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December 1, 2009
November 24, 2009
Autism treatment: Do alternative therapies work?
November 24, 2009 Chicago Tribune
8 Vote(s)
8 Vote(s)
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