National Institute of Mental Health: Keeping Tabs on Research

There is so much interesting and excellent research on Autism out there, and while I love a wonderful article to read, there is also something to be said for one already nicely summarized for you.  Especially many here:
Recent Autism Research that are compiled from the National Institute of Mental Health.  I'm especially thankful for the comprehensive and comprehendible summary of genetic research- those medical journals can be wordy- not on this site- easily understood.

The Power of Thought

I found myself thinking about individuals on the spectrum who sometimes display rather static imagination, while their neurotypical counter parts display dynamic/ever changing imaginary play.  The leap I considered was if just the "imagination" of these scenarios changes neural connections... that so too would the static strengthen static connections.

Quite humbling exactly how pervasive a spectrum disorder is... and on the flip side how absolutely complex our neurology is.

Powerful Research

Employment and Post-Secondary Educational Activities for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders During the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract: Abstract This report describes the post-high school educational and occupational activities for 66 young adults with autism spectrum disorders who had recently exited the secondary school system. Analyses indicated low rates of employment in the community, with the majority of young adults (56%) spending time in sheltered workshops or day activity centers. Young adults with ASD without an intellectual disability were three times more likely to have no daytime activities compared to adults with ASD who had an intellectual disability. Differences in behavioral functioning were observed by employment/day activity group. Our findings suggest that the current service system may be inadequate to accommodate the needs of youths with ASD who do not have intellectual disabilities during the transition to adulthood.

Taylor, J., & Seltzer, M. (2011). Employment and Post-Secondary Educational Activities for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders during the Transition to Adulthood. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 41(5), 566-574.

Quite powerful

Fixed & Growth Mindsets

I've long been an avid reader of Carol Dweck's research.  I see how nicely her ideas dovetail with remediation programs.  It has certainly been my experience than a measurable shift takes place in an individual with autism's program when we begin to see that shift from a fixed to a growth mindset.

Some of my favorite research of hers has been on Praise and Motivation.  The first article I read about this was here, The Power (and Peril) or Praising Your Kids.  The following is a video that also summarizes the research (though I have to say, I like the article a better).

Children with autism and siblings share brain 'signature' — SFARI

"Children who have autism and their healthy siblings share patterns of brain activity that are different than those seen in children with no family history of the disorder, according to unpublished research presented Thursday at the IMFAR 2010 conference in Philadelphia."


Children with autism and siblings share brain 'signature' — SFARI

The Social Brain and ASD

New research from Ami Klin

The Social Brain and ASD

"The discovery of distinctive brain activity patterns for individuals with ASDs and their siblings has great potential to advance autism research and clinical practice. By looking at the functioning of socially- activated regions of the brain, we may be able to tell who does and does not have ASD. We may also be able to tell who seems fine but carries (and perhaps overcame) genetic risk for ASD. There may come a time when a diagnosis of ASD -- and even a measure of its severity -- is based not just on observation of external behavior but on this "neural signature." In addition, new treatments focused on social deficits may intentionally target activation of crucial brain regions, while the effectiveness of older treatments might be measured by how activation of the social brain changes over time."

 It has certainly been my experience that as children on the spectrum are given the opportunity to make those important neural connections make true progress in remediation.

Intersubjectivity and Mirror Neurons

It's long, 54minutes, but very interesting.

Survey Participants Needed

Aloha,

A doctoral candidate on the Big Island is looking for research participants.

Here is a bit about the study:

Research Purpose

Understanding the effects of advocacy training on the perceived self-efficacy and parental stress in parents of children diagnosed with autism could provide compelling evidence that parents need advocacy training to protect their mental health.  Healthy parents promote a healthy family system that benefits all children.  Such a link may also provide evidence for the need to make advocacy training more accessible for parents who are new to caring for their child diagnosed with autism.  This study was expected to provide valuable information for parents of children diagnosed with autism as well as those involved in providing assistance and training for these parents.  If the study found a decrease in parental stress and an increase in perceived self-efficacy in parents of children diagnosed with autism who participated in Wrightslaw Advocacy Training (WLAT), it could measure the benefits of such advocacy training programs.  

Perceived self-efficacy is the belief in one’s personal abilities to complete a task.  It is more concerned with the judgment of how well one can perform rather than how well one actually performs.  

Find out more or particpate here:  http://www.autismparentresearch.com/index.html

Mirror Neurons & Empathy

Fascinating research clip.

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