Research Projects

What's New in the Research Field?

100 Families With Two or More Children With Autism Sought For Genetics Study - One hundred families with two or more autistic children in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Alaska are needed for an on-going University of Washington study that is searching for the genetic causes of autism. The $10.2 million study, which is also designed to find the neurobiological causes of autism and develop intervention programs to assist children with the development disorder, is funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. To be eligible families must have two or more children at least three years of age who have autism. Eligible children may be of adult age.

Memory mediation is studied - Stanford University scientists say there are separate brain systems mediating actual memory and whether people believe they will remember something.Yun-Ching Kao and colleagues found activity in a brain region called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex increases when subjects think they will remember an item, even when it will actually be forgotten later. Using a functional imaging study, subjects were scanned while they predicted whether they would later remember scenes presented to them. Outside the scanner, they saw these same scenes again, this time intermixed with new ones, and had to indicate which scenes they had previously seen.

'Singing' mice surprise, aid scientists - Songbirds may be the Sinatras of the animal world, but male mice can carry a tune too, say Washington University researchers who were surprised by what they heard. Scientists have known for decades that male lab mice produce high-frequency sounds - undetectable by human ears - when they pick up the scent of a female mouse. But it turns out those sounds are more complex and interesting than previously thought. By the AP

Fish oil helps hyperactive kids - Parents across the country have been fascinated by an intriguing experiment on the BBC's Child Of Our Time documentary. Professor Robert Winston has been giving daily doses of fish oil supplements containing Omega 3 fatty acids to two children, each with different behavioural problems. Three months later, the changes have been significant. One boy's aggressive behaviour almost vanished and the other, once withdrawn and uncommunicative, has become popular and outgoing. / UK

Dan Marino Foundation funds research institute at Kennedy Center - This fall the Dan Marino Foundation pledged $1.2 million to establish the Marino Autism Research Institute at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders. The foundation also co–sponsored the University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities in the effort, according to the Vanderbilt Register. “This will be the first philanthropically funded ‘virtual institute’ designed to sponsor cross–university collaborative research and community outreach on autism,” said Mary Partin, the foundation’s chief executive officer.

Scientists explain brain development - MIT and UCSF neuroscientists say their new theory of how the brain's cortex forms disproves the old "protomap" and "protocortex" hypotheses. The cerebral cortex processes particular aspects of sensation, movement and cognition. The protomap and protocortex theories claimed the task-specific regions are either spawned by a zone of "originator" cells; or long nerve fibers from the thalamus -- a large ovoid mass that relays information to the cortex from other brain regions -- are activated by external stimuli to impose identity in the cortex. / Release

View  how the cortex forms, MIT - A leading neuroscientist at MIT and one from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) report in the Nov. 4 special issue of Science dedicated to the brain that the controversy is over: The "protomap" and "protocortex" theories of brain development are dead. The cerebral cortex is a sheet of around 10 billion neurons divided into distinctly separate areas that process particular aspects of sensation, movement and cognition. To what extent are these areas predetermined by genes or shaped by the environment? The protomap and protocortex theories developed before 1990 claimed, respectively, that the task-specific regions of the cortex are spawned by a zone of "originator" cells; or that long nerve fibers from the thalamus, a large ovoid mass that relays information to the cortex from other brain regions, are activated by external stimuli to impose identity on the homogeneous blob.

Social robots could help diagnose and treat autistic children - For the past four years, Brian Scassellati has been researching the uses of humanoid robots that can interact with people by natural social cues. Scassellati spoke last Friday on “Social Robots, Social Development and Social Disorders,” in which he demonstrated the uses of social robots when applied to autism diagnosis and therapy. Scassellati, a computer science professor at Yale, developed a social robot named Kismet. Kismet has a physical body and is autonomous. By Christine DeBriffault

Neuronal protein may lead to schizophrenia - Johns Hopkins scientists say a change in the function of a cerebral cortex protein may contribute to subtle neuronal defects observed in schizophrenia.  Such small changes in the brain's architecture have been thought to be contributing factors in the development of the disease. Now Akira Sawa and colleagues find in the absence of the DISC1 gene, or when the mutant form of DISC1 is present, normal movement of cells within the developing cerebral cortex is altered. / Science News

Study Puts a New Face on Autism - When people with autism look at a face, the brain area that responds to that information is activated in a way that's very similar to the brain activity of people without autism, new research shows. This finding comes as a surprise, since it's widely recognized that people with autism tend to avoid looking directly at other people's faces. The result also contradicts previous research that found that the face-processing area in the back of the brain is under-responsive in people with autism. By ABC News

Researchers Claim Vaccine Ingredient Causes Autism / Some In Medical Community Reject Thimerosal Theory - You may have never heard of Thimerosal, but if you or your children were vaccinated before 1999, chances are, it was injected into you. The mercury preservative has sparked a medical controversy because some people claim it may be responsible for an increase in autism, reported 5 On Your Side's Curtis Jackson.

New Clinical Trial in Children with Autism Begins Enrollment - Hardy Healthcare Associates opens clinical trial site in Hingham to research a treatment for gastrointestinal problems in autistic children - Hardy Healthcare Associates has begun accepting candidates for a research study to evaluate an investigational medication for treatment of persistent gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in autistic children. Hardy Healthcare Associates is one of only 12 sites in the nation to be selected to participate in this medical study. The study aims to determine the impact on GI function through treatment as well as assess the effect of GI symptoms on physical or emotional behavior. By PRNewswire

Lacking Gene, Mice Become Nearly Fearless - Mice are proverbially timid, but they become daredevils if they're missing a gene expressed mainly in the amygdala, researchers here say.  The gene -- known as stathmin -- is known to play a role in the internal construction of cells, according to Gleb Shumyatsky, Ph.D., a professor of genetics at Rutgers University here. But mice without it are less afraid than normal animals, both of things they instinctively fear and things they have learned to fear. By Michael Smith, MedPage Today Staff Writer.  Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Psychologists glimpse biological imprint of childhood neglect - The absence of a loving caregiver in the earliest years of life could sway the normal activity of two hormones - vasopressin and oxytocin - that play an essential role in the ability to form healthy social bonds and emotional intimacy. Announced by psychologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the new finding demonstrates for the first time that severe neglect and social isolation can directly affect a young child's neurobiology in ways that potentially influence emotional behaviors. The work is reported online in the Nov. 21, 2005 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Questions about how children regulate emotions and form social bonds has not really made contact with recent advances in the neurosciences," says senior author Seth Pollak, a UW-Madison professor of psychology, psychiatry and pediatrics and researcher at the Waisman Center for Human Development. "But this work makes a link between complex emotional behaviors and the developing brain." By Seth Pollak

New Scientist - Issue 26 November 2005 - HOW LIFE SHAPES THE BRAINSCAPE
Our life experiences can profoundly change the structure and connectivity of the brain. Neuroscientists in the US found a thickening of certain brain regions in experienced meditators. While another study found that those who had experienced an early life trauma, such as divorce or neglect, had structural changes in the hippocampus – the area of the brain important for memory. On the flip side, if experiences can cause changes which trigger problems, experience could also treat it. A preliminary study has shown that for people with depression who had been through an early trauma, psychotherapy was far more effective than drug treatment. Pages 12-13

Families share 'autistic traits' / Relatives of people with autism may display autistic brain differences and behaviours despite not having the condition themselves, a study shows. New Scientist says the work could make it easier to spot families at risk of having an autistic child. - It could also help in the quest to find genetic and environmental triggers for the condition, experts hope. Autism is a disorder that makes it hard for the individual to relate socially and emotionally to others. / BBC News

The 1st International Symposium on Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Forensic Context
2nd and 3rd of September 2005, Copenhagen, Denmark

ABA4Autism.com and the Psychology department at the University of Tennessee at Martin are conducting a second survey on the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)This survey is for mothers of children with ASD as well as mothers of normally developing children who are ten years of age or younger.  Mothers who participate in the survey will receive a free ABA program to teach their children to follow directions as well as free ABA mini programs for common problems like sharing. To take the surveys please go to http://www.aba4autism.com

Study shows that monkeys can do deductive reasoning - A study of Macaca mulatta monkeys in Puerto Rico reveal that by using visual cues, monkeys are able to figure out what other monkeys and humans think. The study involved presenting or holding up grapes, with the last test showing the person’s eyes or mouth as covered. It showed that the monkey took the grapes if it saw that the person holding the grape either could not see them or were not paying attention.  Source: http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1318239.htm

Students to walk for autism research - Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings or form relationships with others. There is no known cure for the disorder, but local residents want to help find it. On Saturday, students from Sweetwater High School will be participating in the Walk for Autism Research event in Abilene. To help raise funds, the students are selling wristbands. The wristbands will be sold Tuesday and Wednesday at the school.  By Sweetwater Reporter

X factor explains the difference - The part of humanity’s genetic inheritance that most unites the sexes also explains many of the deepest differences between men and women, a groundbreaking new study has indicated. The first map of the X chromosome — one of the two coils of DNA that determine gender - has revealed that Homo sapiens essentially boasts not one genome but two: the male and the female. The findings, from a research team led by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge, suggest that a powerful new genetic mechanism may underlie many of the characteristics that vary between the sexes. Traits such as aggression and empathy, which are more common on average in one sex, could be influenced by the differing behaviour of the X chromosome in men and women, scientists said. By The Times, London

MRC Boosts Autism Research in National Brain Awareness Week, UK / Funding for a major new clinical trial to develop communication skills for pre-school autistic children and their parents has been unveiled by the Medical Research Council (MRC) today. It is one of two new awards for studies in autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that together have received funding of approximately £1.5 million.  - The four-year PACT trial ( Pre-school Autism Communication Trial), led by Professor Jonathan Green at the University of Manchester, will study the effectiveness of a treatment to enhance parent/child communication and the social and language development of the child. Families will attend sessions with a therapist every two weeks for six months to learn new ways of understanding and communicating with their autistic child, with monthly booster sessions for a further six months. A pilot study of this treatment, published last year, showed promising initial evidence of its effectiveness. The multi-site trial, developed in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, will involve 144 children on three sites in Manchester, Newcastle and London. By I-newswire

Phoenix Becomes Nation's Newest Biocluster With Opening of Downtown Biomedical Center & TGen HQ / Vibrant Urban Setting Creates Unique Ambiance for 28-Acre Biocenter - The City of Phoenix has officially become the nation's newest biotech cluster with the grand opening of its Downtown Biomedical Center and worldwide headquarters for TGen (Translational Genomics Institute) and IGC (International Genomics Consortium). The City of Phoenix and State of Arizona have invested and laid the foundation for becoming one of the industry's foremost research centers with regards to neurogenomics and related research areas of alzheimer's, autism, cancer, and diabetes. The city expects to attract biotech and related companies to Phoenix and Arizona from around the nation and world for business opportunities in R&D, collaboration, partnering, and office expansion. / Press Release

University of South Florida, St. Petersburg First to Offer Courses With Portable Media Centers - Taking advantage of cutting-edge technology, USF St. Petersburg is offering a new pilot course on autism that will enable students to take classes anytime, anywhere.  The university course will use the hand-held Microsoft Windows' Creative Zen Portable Media Center, just released September 2004. This hand-held device can show videos, TV programs as well as music - much like an iPod with video. V. Mark Durand, PhD, an autism expert who recently received a nearly $900,000 research grant to investigate the best ways to help parents assist their autistic child, converted his autism course to Windows Media Video files for students to watch regardless of their location.

Marijuana Use Affects Blood Flow in Brain Even After Abstinence - People who smoked marijuana had changes in the blood flow in their brains even after a month of not smoking, according to a study published in the February 8 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

New Study Finding Increased Autism in Kids Whose Mothers Have Psoriasis /  Underscores Dramatic Need for More Psoriasis Research - A new study in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found a troubling association between a mother's psoriasis and her children's autism. The study, which reviewed more than 88,000 children born between 1995 and 1999, found that only one immune disorder present in the mother, psoriasis, was "significantly associated" with an autism spectrum disorder. "Psoriasis Cure Now!," a psoriasis patient advocacy group, responded to the troubling new findings. By Michael Paranzino of Psoriasis Cure Now!

OHSU scientists, others study ailments of autistic children / The Autism Treatment Network seeks standards of care and will look at sleep and stomach disorders. - Oregon Health & Science University scientists hope to start searching this fall for health problems common in autistic children, part of a national effort led by a Lake Oswego group. The Autism Treatment Network unites six health centers, including OHSU and the University of Washington, whose scientists will test ideas about autism-related diseases. The nonprofit models itself after the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and related groups, whose research has led to new national standards for medical care.

Study Links Autism and Mother's Illnesses -  Expectant mothers suffering from asthma, allergies or a type of skin disease have a higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child, a study said on Monday.  Asthma, allergies and psoriasis symptoms during pregnancy -- especially if diagnosed in the second trimester -- doubled the risk of autism in children compared to children who were not afflicted, researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California, said.  Autism is a mysterious condition that strikes roughly six in 1,000 children, mostly boys, and is associated with diminished social skills and an adherence to routines.  By Reuters

Why left-handers may not see the wood for the trees - Left-handed people really do see the world differently, according to research published today. A team from the University of Birmingham has found that, when shown the same image, left-handed and right-handed people use different parts of the brain. They report in Nature Neuroscience that where right-handers use the right hemispheres of their brains to take in the big picture - a forest, for example - left-handers use the right part of the brain to focus on detail, such as the trees. The researchers used a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation: they applied a magnetic field either to the left or right parietal lobes of the brain. Stimulation of the left side made it harder for right-handers to focus on the detail. By Tim Radford, science editor / UK

Researcher says cancers, other illnesses stem from structures that provide cells energy - "...For nearly two hours, the UC Irvine professor tells the crowd that the genes inside a mitochondrion are the real predictors of disease, as opposed to the nuclear DNA that most researchers evaluate. Whether a person is predisposed to develop Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's or other age-related ailments, as long as that mitochondria is healthy, we'll stay healthy.  Hands shoot up after his lecture. The assembled scientists and medical students at UCSD want to know the particulars about what the small man with the big ideas has been talking about.  Does mitochondrial damage accumulate in human eggs? Is each generation getting sicker? How does this play out in a clinical setting?  By Mayray Saar

Autism's Fogged-up Mirror - People with autism experience less activity in the brain neurons that specifically trigger human empathy, according to a new study by University of Montreal researcher Hugo Théoret. The professor in the Department of Psychology is trying to understand the link between ‘mirror neurons’ and autism.  Mirror neurons, a theory developed in the ‘90s, are at the basis of all imitative learning such as language acquisition. So, a person who watches another performing a certain activity actually experiences the same activity in their brain circuitry. The theory also explains why laughing can become so contagious.  Source: University Of Montreal

Primitive Brain Is 'Smarter' Than We Think, MIT Study Shows - Primitive structures deep within the brain may have a far greater role in our high-level everyday thinking processes than previously believed, report researchers at the MIT Picower Center for Learning and Memory in the Feb. 24 issue of Nature. - The results of this study led by Earl K. Miller, associate director of the Picower Center at MIT, have implications about how we learn. The new knowledge also may lead to better understanding and treatment for autism and schizophrenia, which could result from an imbalance between primitive and more advanced brain systems. Our brains have evolved a fast, reliable way to learn rules such as "stop at red" and "go at green." Dogma has it that the "big boss" lobes of the cerebral cortex, responsible for daily and long-term decision-making, learn the rules first and then transfer the knowledge to the more primitive, large forebrain region known as the basal ganglia, buried under the cortex. By Science Daily

Rhesus Monkeys Can Assess The Visual Perspective Of Others When Competing For Food - Researchers Jonathan Flombaum and Dr. Laurie Santos, both from Yale University, have found that rhesus monkeys consider whether a competitor can or cannot see them when trying to steal food.  Working with semi-free-ranging rhesus monkeys on the island of Cayo Santiago in Puerto Rico, Flombaum and Santos set up a food competition game: Lone monkeys were approached by two human "competitors." Each competitor had a grape affixed to a platform by his feet. In each experiment, one of the competitors could see the monkey in front of them, but the other could not. For example, in Experiment 1, one of the competitors stood with his back to the monkey subject, while the other stood facing the subject. Monkeys in this experiment spontaneously chose to approach and steal a grape from only the competitor with his back toward the monkey. In five more experiments, the monkeys revealed similar preferences for an experimenter who could not see them, rather than one who could. Most notably, they reliably stole food from a competitor with only his eyes averted, rather than one facing perfectly forward, as well as an experimenter with a piece of cardboard over his eyes rather than one with cardboard over his mouth. Together, these results reveal not only that rhesus monkeys prefer to steal food from a competitor who cannot see them, but also that they know exactly how blocking or averting one's eyes can render one unable to see. Thus, even without any training, these monkeys were able to accurately consider the visual perspective of others when deciding from whom to steal. Source: Publishing in Current Biology, Volume 15, Number 5, March 8, 2005, pages 447–452.

Study: Monkeys Do Read Minds - Monkeys can deduce what other monkeys and humans think, want and see based on visual cues, according to a new paper in this week's Current Biology. The study is the first to show that monkeys, like humans, not only react to visual information, but also that they can use it to reason about the behavior of others. The findings suggest that certain human cognition skills are not as rare as once thought. They also indicate that the ability to reason did not evolve in humans. Instead, the brainy trait probably passed down to us from our ape ancestors. By Jenifer Vargas

The Secret to Man's Aggression: in His Finger? - How long a man's second finger is relative to his fourth finger appears to predict whether he is prone to be physically aggressive toward others, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.  But it's not finger length that causes aggression, study author Allison A. Bailey warned in an interview. She explained that the important factor is the male hormone testosterone. Fetuses are exposed to various levels of this hormone in the womb, and research shows that men who were exposed to higher levels tend to have shorter second fingers, relative to their fourth fingers. "More testosterone, relatively longer ring finger," co-author Dr. Peter L. Hurd told Reuters Health.

Primitive brain is 'smarter' than we think - Primitive structures deep within the brain may have a far greater role in our high-level everyday thinking processes than previously believed, report researchers at the MIT Picower Center for Learning and Memory in the Feb. 24 issue of Nature. The results of this study led by Earl K. Miller, associate director of the Picower Center at MIT, have implications about how we learn. The new knowledge also may lead to better understanding and treatment for autism and schizophrenia, which could result from an imbalance between primitive and more advanced brain systems.

Rhesus monkeys can assess the visual perspective of others when competing for food -  Researchers Jonathan Flombaum and Dr. Laurie Santos, both from Yale University, have found that rhesus monkeys consider whether a competitor can or cannot see them when trying to steal food. Working with semi-free-ranging rhesus monkeys on the island of Cayo Santiago in Puerto Rico, Flombaum and Santos set up a food competition game: Lone monkeys were approached by two human "competitors." Each competitor had a grape affixed to a platform by his feet. In each experiment, one of the competitors could see the monkey in front of them, but the other could not. For example, in Experiment 1, one of the competitors stood with his back to the monkey subject, while the other stood facing the subject. Monkeys in this experiment spontaneously chose to approach and steal a grape from only the competitor with his back toward the monkey. In five more experiments, the monkeys revealed similar preferences for an experimenter who could not see them, rather than one who could. Most notably, they reliably stole food from a competitor with only his eyes averted, rather than one facing perfectly forward, as well as an experimenter with a piece of cardboard over his eyes rather than one with cardboard over his mouth. Together, these results reveal not only that rhesus monkeys prefer to steal food from a competitor who cannot see them, but also that they know exactly how blocking or averting one’s eyes can render one unable to see. Thus, even without any training, these monkeys were able to accurately consider the visual perspective of others when deciding from whom to steal.

The science of love - I get a kick out of you - Scientists are finding that, after all, love really is down to a chemical addiction between people - Over the course of history it has been artists, poets and playwrights who have made the greatest progress in humanity's understanding of love. Romance has seemed as inexplicable as the beauty of a rainbow. But these days scientists are challenging that notion, and they have rather a lot to say about how and why people love each other. From The Economist print edition

Putting art and science to music - When listening to Mozart, cows milk well. Music has always been therapeutic not only for humans, but also it seems for animals. It's no wonder then that music therapy - a new medical term that combines music and medicine - has become one treatment option as an increasing number of people suffer from mental illness and depression. Music therapy is the skillful use of music and musical elements by a music therapist to promote, maintain and restore mental, physical and emotional health. Specifically, music can be applied therapeutically to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression and communication.  By the Korea Herald

Researchers unlock fairytale-autism connection -  For centuries, fairytales and folklore have contained hidden messages for successive generations. But researchers today are taking a closer look at some of these ageless stories, to see if they can teach us about medical disorders. A recent Australian study says some fairytales dating back hundreds of years contain descriptions of autism.  The authors say the discovery shows that autism may not be new, and supports scientific evidence that the disorder isn't caused by recent medical changes, like vaccinations. By Paula Kruegar

Baby talk at root of human understanding - How do babies learn to talk? How to decipher what's syllable? What's smile? What's significant? What's sneeze?  For eons, babies have been routinely cracking the speech code. For almost as long, nobody thought much of that feat, or of infant intellect, except, perhaps, their mothers, who sensed those first words were pure genius, but not appropriate to brag about in the supermarket, and certainly not the basis for revolutionary scientific research. By Paula Bock

Scientists baffled as autism cases soar in state, with no relief in sight / Treatment centers, schools inundated by kids needing help - California's mysterious explosion of autism cases worsened in 2004, disappointing researchers who had hoped the number of new diagnoses would level off as they searched for an explanation for the neurological disorder. The number of people treated for autism at regional centers operated by the state Department of Developmental Services increased 13 percent last year from 2003, according to agency figures. Autism now accounts for a little more than half of the new cases handled at the centers, which treat a variety of developmental problems. An average of nine new autism cases a day come to the state's attention, the vast majority in children 13 and younger.  Scientists have various theories, but there is little agreement about what is driving the growth of autism cases in California. The number of autistic people getting services at the centers has increased from 5,000 in 1993 to more than 26,000 now.  "I'm really worried," said Jim Burton, head of the state-funded Regional Center for the East Bay, which provides treatment referrals and services for people with autism. "The burden is huge, and it's going to strain all our resources." By Katherine Seligman

Clam Embryo Study Shows Pollutant Mixture Adversely Affects Nerve Nerve Cell Development - "...The study, which is reported in the January 2005 issue of Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, is the first step toward understanding how exposure to BCE might affect human nerve cell development—knowledge that may one day provide clues about such neurological mysteries as autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."  By Science Daily

In the blink of an eye - "...Gladwell has published "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking," a thrilling exploration of what goes on behind split decisions, what the brain is processing when police fire their guns and the choices made in speed dating, to the devastating mistakes made in a $250 million U.S. military war game. The two-second blink, argues Gladwell, can be a good thing in decision-making, used by doctors to diagnose heart attacks to save lives and for psychologists to determine if a marriage will survive. "The blink is what pops into your head in the first two seconds," said Gladwell. "It is the unthinking, unbidden response. It is thinking, but rapid thinking."  By Dylan Foley

Commentary: Are men and women watching the same game? - A lot of men and women will watch the Super Bowl next week, some of them together. It's a perfect opportunity to use humans as lab mice, which after all is what sports are really good for. While the game's on, ask yourselves this question: Do men and women see games differently, and if so, does this mean they have different innate abilities?  The president of Harvard asked a question sort of like this the other day, for which he was beaten about the head and shoulders with a lot of handbags. Larry Summers was addressing the question of why women are underrepresented in the upper ranks of science and engineering, when he wondered aloud if one of several possible factors might be that they are genetically different in their aptitudes. I'm going to risk being smacked with the same handbags, when I tell the following story.  By Sally Jenkins

Increased cases of autism probably due to improved awareness - Over the past 20 years, there has been speculation about a connection between immunizations and an increase in autism. However, a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests the increase may be due to improved awareness, changes in diagnostic criteria and availability of services, not environmental factors or immunizations. "This study is the first to measure the incidence -- the occurrence of new cases -- of autism by applying consistent, contemporary criteria for autism to a specific population over a long period of time," says William Barbaresi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic developmental pediatrician and one of the study authors. "In doing so, the study accounts for improvements in the diagnostic criteria for autism, the medical community's improved understanding of this disease and changes in federal special education laws." by Medical News Today

Romancing the voles brings insights into love / A researcher suspects that brain chemicals make the tiny rodents more fiercely monogamous than humans - Forget Romeo and Juliet. Dr. Thomas Insel knows that the world's real romantics are mousy little rodents called voles.  Insel started his psychiatric career by helping show that antidepressants can treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. But his fancy soon turned to studying how such chemicals change brains and behavior in humans and other animals by Andy Daworkin

I know what you're thinking / Our ability to put ourselves in another person's shoes and 'read their mind' is what makes us human. But how do we do it? - The author Henry James once wrote: "There was an extraordinary mute passage between her vision of this vision of his, his vision of her vision, and her vision of his vision of her vision." This passage in What Maisie Knew describes an essential essence of the human mind. As convoluted as James's prose is, he had deciphered what it is that makes us human; now scientists have discovered where in the brain this essential element lies, by Sanjida O'Connell

The future of genes - Although some people consider twins to be double trouble, the duos actually are a double benefit to genetic research, says Lindon Eaves, distinguished professor of human genetics and psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.  "We can't manipulate the genes or the environment in humans so what we have to look for is a natural experiment," says Mr. Eaves, who holds a doctorate in genetics. "They come in two kinds, identical twins and nonidentical twins." By Jen Waters

DNA pioneer says government's wide disbursement of funding hurts genetic studies - "..."If you want to work on autism and can only get $500,000, I'd tell you just to give it up. If we're going to do this, we had better think Texas-style. You need a sort of we'll-get-to-the-moon attitude, that money isn't an obstacle." By Eric Berger

Sexes Get Smarts From Different Brain Areas / Intelligence may be more of a gray matter for men and a white matter for women, according to a new study. - Researchers found major differences in the amount of gray and white matter in the brains of men and women of the same intelligence, suggesting that men and women may derive their intelligence in different ways. Researchers say white and gray matter are both necessary for general intelligence, but they perform different functions. Gray matter (search) represents information processing centers in the brain, and white matter (search) represents the network or connections between those processing centers.  By Jenifer Warner

Israeli researchers discover gene for altruism - Why are some people more prone to give charity or put themselves in danger in order to help others?  A team of Israeli psychologists claim they have the answer - they've located the first gene linked to altruistic behavior.  According to a study conducted by Prof. Richard Ebstein and colleagues at the Hebrew University and Herzog Memorial Hospital in Jerusalem, a link exists between people who appear selfless and seek to help others, and a gene variant on chromosome No. 11.  Volunteers who filled out a questionnaire exhibiting these traits then had DNA samples taken where the gene variant was discovered - which boosts receptors for the neurotransmitter dopamine, giving the brain a good feeling. The study appears in the online edition of the journal Molecular Psychiatry. By David Brinn

Bad Women Drivers: Not A Male Myth after All - Study - "...It has been suggested that very high levels of foetal testosterone might be directly linked to autism, which is much more common in boys. Autism is a condition in which spatial abilities are often exaggerated, but at the expense of emotional interaction and empathy. It is hormone levels in unborn babies, rather than adults, that seem to be important.  By John von Radowitz

Eye Contact - it's All in the Brain - Scientists have identified the parts of the brain that decide if we look a person straight in the eye or act shifty, it was revealed today. Researchers who scanned volunteers’ brains found two distinct regions in the medial frontal cortex involved in directing gaze. By John von Radowitz

Monkeys pay per view / Adaptive valuation of social images by Rhesus Macaques - In a finding that deepens our understanding of animal social cognition, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have demonstrated for the first time that monkeys, like humans, value information according to its social content. People readily pay to see powerful or sexually attractive individuals, and, according to this new study, monkeys will also "pay" to view these kinds of images.

Researcher identifies cellular defect that may contribute to Columbia - The causes of autism have long remained a mystery, but new research from Columbia University Medical Center has identified, for the first time, how a cellular defect may be involved in the often crippling neurological disorder. The research, which is published in today's issue of Science, examines how a defect in neuroligin genes may contribute to autism. Neuroligins are components of synapses, which connect individual neurons in the brain. The researchers found that the loss of neuroligins perturbs the formation of neuronal connections and results in an imbalance of neuronal function. This imbalance provides an explanation for the neurodevelopmental defects in autistic children.  "Understanding the cellular defects that may underlie autism-spectrum disorders represents an important step towards the goal of providing therapies," said Peter Scheiffele, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology and cellular biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center, and principal investigator on the study. - Press Release

Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic Implicated in Autism -  In a study released this week, the antibiotic Augmentin TM has been implicated in the formation of autism. The study published in Medical Hypotheses strongly suggests the possibility of ammonia poisoning as a result of young children taking Augmentin.- In a study released this week, the antibiotic Augmentin TM has been implicated in the formation of autism. The study strongly suggests the possibility of ammonia poisoning as a result of young children taking Augmentin. Augmentin has been given to children since the late 1980's for bacterial infections. Composed of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, Augmentin has proven a potent antibacterial, especially for ear infections which quickly become resistant to amoxicillin alone. - Press Release

Brain mapping leads to optimal function / Offers holistic way of treating mental woes - As recently as 15 years ago, medical science considered the human brain complete at birth and unchangeable. Now, proof of brain plasticity - that the brain can be physically changed - is leading neuroscientists to discover innovative ways of treating brain dysfunction. When the Dr. Phil television show hosted a feature on alternative treatments for attention deficit Disorder and other cognitive problems this fall, Jeffrey Fannin, Ph.D., director of the Center of Cognitive Enhancement in Glendale, took note, by Pat Whitney

Study targets brain area that helps reads emotion - Ballplayers stare deeply into their opponents' eyes looking for signs of nervous fear; Western movies often display cowboys looking into one another's eyes before shootouts, trying to get the upper hand by identifying any trace of fear.  And now science has validated the common belief that eyes tip us off to fear, by Kimm Groshong

Mayo Clinic Study Suggests No Link Between Autism And Immunizations - Over the past 20 years, there has been speculation about a connection between immunizations and an increase in autism. However, a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests the increase may be due to improved awareness, changes in diagnostic criteria and availability of services, not environmental factors or immunizations.

New Study Shows Benefits for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome With Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation - Nordic Naturals, Inc., a leading supplier of fish oil and essential fatty acid nutritional supplements, announced today the results of a successful pilot trial that showed beneficial effects of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on language and learning skills in children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The study, completed in 2004, was conducted by Louise Patrick, a licensed speech and language pathologist, and Ronald Salik, MD at a pediatric clinic in Arizona. A report of the pilot trial can be found in the January/February 2005 issue of Autism-Asperger’s Digest.

Clam Embryo Study Shows Pollutant Mixture Adversely Affects Nerve Cell Development - A scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) has published the results of an EPA-funded clam embryo study that supports her hypothesis that, when combined, the pollutants bromoform, chloroform, and tetrachloroethylene—a chemical cocktail known as BCE—can act synergistically to alter a key regulator in nerve cell development. While scientists have previously studied the effects of these pollutants individually, this is the first time anyone has demonstrated that BCE’s components can work together to adversely affect neuron growth in a model organism. - The study, which is reported in the January 2005 issue of Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, is the first step toward understanding how exposure to BCE might affect human nerve cell development—knowledge that may one day provide clues about such neurological mysteries as autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. - Germany

Some Gene Research Just Isn't Worth the Money - How should we set priorities in medical research? Officials at the National Institutes of Health will grapple with this question as they allocate billions of dollars from the agency's budget this year.  Two geneticists, Dr. Kathleen Merikangas of the National Institute of Mental Health and Dr. Neil Risch of Stanford University, have taken on this challenge by introducing an intriguing framework for setting priorities for genetic research, by the NY Times

Brain donation not for everyone, but vital, backers say -  Dr. Peter Bridgman spends much of his life trying to understand the brain. But Bridgman, a neurologist in Brunswick and the father of a 14-year-old with autism, knows the brain's mysteries are too deep to be solved in his lifetime. So he carries a card in his wallet saying that when he dies, he'll give his brain to scientists, in hopes it eventually will help people like his daughter, Sarah.  "(Autism) is a very complex disorder," Bridgman said. "Those of us who know how bad this can be are very invested in this." A growing number of Mainers plan to donate their brains to science, whether to help understand autism, mental illness, Alzheimer's disease or a long list of other brain disorders. It's a deeply personal decision, they say, and may not be for everyone. But they hope controversy surrounding a suspended brain donation program in Maine does not discourage people from offering up the body's preeminent organ.  The suspended program, which was operated by Maine's former funeral inspector, sent 99 brains to The Stanley Medical Research Institute, a lab in Maryland studying mental illness.

Chimps hand over new clue to brain - Southpaws, give chimps a hand. New research in chimpanzees says being left-handed has little to do with the language part of the brain, as has been thought, and more to do with motor skills. That means lefties have probably been around much longer than believed -- at least 5 million years, when scientists say humans and apes branched on the primate family tree. And evolution has purposely kept them, by David Wahlberg

Gene defect is linked to autism - "...Dr. Steve Sommer, a molecular geneticist at the medical center, reported in the current issue of the journal Molecular Psychiatry that 3 percent of 148 unrelated autism patients his team studied had a defect in a gene called neuroligin 4 or NLGN4. The defective gene was not found in any of 336 healthy patients," by Thomas H. Maugh II

NIH Center of Excellence in Autism Research Seeks Research Participants - Our Center is seeking individuals with High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome between the ages of 8 and 55 to participate in our current studies. The individuals must be verbal and not be in the gifted  program at school. We are also seeking families with more than one child with autism of any level of severity. Both children need to be 2.5 years of age or older.

Eye Contact - it's All in the Brain - Scientists have identified the parts of the brain that decide if we look a person straight in the eye or act shifty, it was revealed today. Researchers who scanned volunteers’ brains found two distinct regions in the medial frontal cortex involved in directing gaze. By John von Radowitz

The mystery of autism / Tracking down the culprit behind this baffling disease. - Neurologists and parents desperately want to unlock the mystery of autism, a brain disorder that strikes as many as 5 of every 1,000 children and causes difficulty in communication, socialization, and learning. Numerous theories have been offered to explain the baffling disease, including genetic causes, environmental factors, and an attack on the brain by an immune system gone haywire. While there is evidence of a hereditary link, the disease is increasing quickly enough to suggest other factors are also involved, so scientists are busy studying those possibilities. (The scientific studies looking at vaccination as a potential cause have largely discounted this theory.) By Katherine Hobson

International Coalition to Fund Autism Genetics Research - An international public/private partnership of government health agencies and private advocacy organizations has committed more than $21 million for research to identify the genes associated with autism spectrum disorders, a range of developmental disorders that impair communication and other mental abilities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is spearheading the coalition, whose members include the Canadian and Irish governments and three private autism foundations by NIH News

Researchers Develop MRI Technique To Study Brain Anatomy Invertebrates - Scientists with the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, a research consortium based at Georgia State University, have for the first time used a form of magnetic resonance imaging to reveal anatomical features of the nervous system in a live crayfish, a crustacean whose brain measures only 3 millimeters wide.  The technique, which is reported and highlighted in an accompanying commentary in the Dec. 15 issue of The Journal of Experimental Biology, provides a powerful new tool for understanding the neurobiology of behavior in invertebrate animal models, by Scientists with the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, a research consortium based at Georgia State University, have for the first time used a form of magnetic resonance imaging to reveal anatomical features of the nervous system in a live crayfish, a crustacean whose brain measures only 3 millimeters wide.  Source: Georgia State University

Natural Birth and Longevity is Preserved In the Absence of the Mercury Preservative - Scientists need funding in toxicology to prevent and undo the damage done by mercury - these populations exposed to mercury were never in the industrial sector. - Mercury Exposure at www.mercuryexposure.org plays a significant role in the discovery process in its information system on which no connection can be found to suggest mercury in autism is a genetically inherited disease.  In 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency scientists said that new research had shown that 630,000 U.S. newborns had unsafe levels of mercury in their blood in 1999-2000.  For the first time scientists measured mercury levels in the fetus's umbilical cord, these figures are based on children's blood levels, not the mothers'. The EPA analysis is showing that even if the mother is below the danger zone she can give birth to a baby that's over the limit, by PRweb / Press release.

Medical Breakthrough - Life-Changing Autism Intervention - The most recent statistics show as many as one in 200 children have a condition that falls under the category of autism. There are many drugs for the behavioral symptoms. But new research shows you may not need them, instead a drug-free treatment can change lives, by News Channel 8

Genetic counseling advances / News from Boston's medical and scientific community - As a growing number of patients undergo tests to learn their genetic risk for diseases, Simmons College and Brandeis University are preparing to offer New England's first program in genetic counseling for people working in health care. The course, to be offered over the Internet, will guide nurses, social workers, and others through issues such as what to advise a couple whose first child has a genetically inherited disease and who are deciding whether to risk having another, by Scott Allen