Children and Teens with Autism More Likely to Become Preoccupied with Video Games
New research suggests children with ASD spend more time playing video games and watching TV than participating in social media and pre-social activities compared to their typically developing peers.
Humanoid Robot Helps Train Children with Autism
Vanderbilt researchers develop a humanoid robotic system to help teach autistic children to coordinate their attention with objects and other people in their environment.
Atypical Brain Circuits May Cause Slower Gaze Shifting in Infants Who Later Develop Autism
Infants at 7 months of age who go on to develop autism are slower to reorient their gaze and attention from one object to another when compared to 7-month-olds who do not develop autism, and this behavioral pattern is in part explained by atypical brain circuits.
Network Analysis of the Brain may Explain Features of Autism
Researchers find that, compared with neurotypical children, those with autism have multiple redundant connections between neighboring brain areas at the expense of long-distance links.
BPA May Affect the Developing Brain by Disrupting Gene Regulation
New research suggests environmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastics and resins, could suppress a gene critical to nerve cell function and the development of the central nervous system. Exposure to BPA could predispose humans to a number of neurodevelopmental and other health disorders.
Ultrasound Reveals Autism Risk at Birth
Low birth weight babies with ventricular enlargement are at greater risk for developing autism, a new study suggests.
Higher Levels of Several Toxic Metals Found in Children With Autism
In a recent study, researchers report children with autism had higher levels of several toxic metals in their blood and urine compared to typical children.
Genes for Autism and Schizophrenia Only Active in Developing Brains
Genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are only switched on during the early stages of brain development, according to a study in mice led by researchers at the University of Oxford.
Researchers Spot Attention Deficits in Babies who Later Develop Autism
Researchers detect deficits in social attention in infants as young as six months of age who later develop Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Children with Autism at Significant Risk for Feeding Problems and Nutritional Deficits
A comprehensive analysis of feeding behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders indicates that these children are five times more likely to have a feeding problem, including extreme tantrums during meals, severe food selectivity and ritualistic mealtime behaviors.
