Behaviors

Behavioral traits in kids can predict autism

By on May 3, 2005

A recent study by Canadian researchers has revealed that certain behavioral traits in infants, some as young as 12 months can predict whether a child will develop autism in later life.

The study, which appears in the International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, states that certain traits like not smiling in response to the smiles of others or not responding when one's name is called are some of the indications that can tell whether a...

Eye contact triggers threat response in autistics

By on March 8, 2005

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have discovered that in autistics, direct eye contact leads to increased activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with 'fight or flight' responses.

Read the original article from Scientific American here.

Just can’t face it: Why kids with autism may avoid eye contact

By on March 8, 2005

Brain tests at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggest that children with autism shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat. The work deepens understanding of an autistic brain's function and may one day inform new treatment approaches and augment how teachers interact with their autistic students.

Mother: Autistic son mistreated in Barnegat school

By on December 9, 2004

The Asbury Park Press reports:

A Barnegat mother, who has said school officials in June used a chair to restrain her autistic son in a room, has filed complaints with the state Department of Education to investigate whether the district broke any laws while educating her two sons.

D-Cycloserine May Improve Autism Symptoms

By on November 23, 2004

Yahoo News Reports:

D-cycloserine, a drug that has shown to reduce symptoms in schizophrenics, appears to significantly improve social and communication skills in children with autism, according to the results of a small pilot study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Misdiagnosing Narcissism – Asperger’s Disorder

By on July 26, 2004

Zongoo.com writes: Asperger's Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), though evident as early as age 3 (while pathological narcissism cannot be safely diagnosed prior to early adolescence).

Crying for mummy may shed light on autism

By on June 26, 2004

The Weekend Australian reports:
The discovery of a gene that controls the bonding process between infants and their mothers promises new insights into autism and other behavioural disorders.

An experiment in Italy has shown that knocking out a single gene transforms the way in which newborn mice relate to their mothers.