Switched On has gone on sale today, and people are already reading and talking about it. The book tells the story of my participation in experiments where Harvard neuroscientists used high-powered magnetic energy to “switch on” the ability to see emotions in other people. One effect of the experimen…

He’s a young man with Autism and Intellectual Disability who has been incarcerated since August 2013 as a result of behavior that results from his disability.  He has been held in solitary confinement for most of that time and is presently at a Virginia state prison. You can learn more about th…

If you have ever walked into a restaurant and looked at a menu of food options, you more than likely understand what it is like to be presented with a choice of food reinforcers such as the burger with cheese and pickles vs. the burger with no cheese or the burger with no pickles or cheese. The…

By Megan Amodeo If you are reading this, you, a friend, or loved one most likely has received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Even if you have not been diagnosed with ASD, you might be interested to know how challenging it can be to get the right diagnosis. I am a prime example of mis…

Mice with the mutations linked to tuberous sclerosis make too little protein in their brains, according to a new study1. The finding contradicts the idea that the mutations stimulate protein synthesis — a leading theory about the condition — and may have implications for its treatment. Tuberous scle…

By Alice Farion It’s going to be ok. I’m going to be ok. It’s just 8 hours. I’m going to be normal. But I’m not. I am faking it, I am not ok. I am not normal. Everyday, I play an act. I have been an actress my whole life. I am a researcher too. Everyday, I observe other people, list facts, organise …

This year’s top papers deepen our understanding of autism’s genetics and reveal mixed results from trials of autism therapies. As we do every year, we asked autism researchers to help us pick the most ‘notable’ papers of the previous 12 months — ones that greatly enhanced our knowledge of autism or …

Neurons from people with autism have an unusual pattern of chemical tags that turn genes on and off, a study of postmortem brains suggests1. Though preliminary, the results add to mounting evidence that these tags, called methyl groups, contribute to autism, says lead investigator Evan Elliott, assi…

Acts of kindness can touch our hearts, especially when we receive blessings from strangers. One new mother, Rebekka Garvison, found that a stranger's compassionate actions transformed a potentially negative experience for her and her baby.Source: The Autism Site

Young autistic children fall into three groups based on the number and type of co-occurring conditions they have, according to a study of more than 3,000 autistic children1. Some of these conditions, such as seizure disorders and developmental delays, may serve as early red flags for autism. Autism …

Seven years ago, Peter Kind, a neuroscientist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, found himself in an uncomfortable situation. He was reading a study about fragile X syndrome, a developmental condition characterized by severe intellectual disability and, often, autism. The paper had appeared…

Areva Martin is an award-winning attorney, best-selling author, legal commentator, talk show host, and a critical voice for social justice. By Ron Sandison Areva Martin has a son Marty who has autism. I interviewed Areva Martin for Black History Month because her advocacy for Marty reminded me of m…

A good night’s rest isn’t guaranteed for anyone, but it is downright elusive for many people with autism. Individuals on the spectrum often have trouble falling and staying asleep. And that may worsen certain features of their condition, such as repetitive behaviors, which can, in turn, make sleepin…

Many individuals with autism have hearing problems. In fact, Leo Kanner included this trait in his original description of autism. The type and severity of these problems vary: Some autistic people are hypersensitive to sound, such that a doorbell can trigger intense fear or panic; others have diffi…