This video is from a presentation by Caroline, a researcher in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth. Her research focuses on cognitive neuroscience approaches to memory, perception, neurodiversity, and autism.
Why is autism Research is Needed?
- Lack of understanding about neurobiological causes
- Autism is a constellation of symptoms; no clear core or cause
- Prevalence rates and variations across different regions
What are the challenges in Autism Research?
- Difficulty in early diagnosis (average age of diagnosis is four)
- No approved drugs targeting core features of autism
- Lack of understanding of human neurodiversity
Current Autism Research:
- Studying brain activity, connectivity patterns, and molecular composition
- Three scales: regional activity, connectivity between regions, molecular composition
Findings from MRI Studies:
- Differences in motion-sensitive areas of the brain
- Conflicting findings on connectivity patterns (local vs. global connections)
- Discovery of specific molecules (GABA) impacting sensory sensitivities in autism
What are the implications of these findings?
- Potential for early diagnosis using brain signatures
- Identification of neural pathways for targeted drug therapies
- Understanding unique neural profiles of individuals with autism
Here is the full lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2__A_Mb0V0g&ab_channel=Dartmouth