From sensory to social: how infant sibs studies help unveil developmental mechanisms of autism

Centre for Translational Neuroimaging in Mental Health Seminar series 2016-17

Speaker: Dr Teodora Gliga, Birkbeck

Title of talk: From sensory to social: how infant sibs studies help unveil developmental mechanisms of autism 

Date/time: 14th February 2017, 1-2pm

Location: Room A08, Institute of Mental Health, Jubilee Campus

Abstract: Prospective studies of infants at familial risk for autism, because of having an older sibling with the disorder) can finally tease apart between existing theories of autism. I will review a decade of studies from the British Autism for Infant Siblings and other similar studies around the world. I will show that 1) it is possible to see atypicality as early as 6 months of age, 2) that we can rule out some theories (e.g. poor social motivation) and bring support for others (e.g. atypical perception/prediction) and 3) that we begin to shed light on the origin of sex differences in the incidence of this disorder and the origin of co-morbidities.

All welcome - no registration required.