At the Hussman Institute for Autism, we see evidence of empathy every day among people with autism. Individuals on the autism spectrum experience powerful emotions and demonstrate concern for others. Many self-advocates on the autism spectrum report being overly in-tune with the emotions of the people around them, sometimes to such a degree that it…
Evidence is mounting that GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in autism. Genetic studies, animal models, and examination of post-mortem tissue from individuals with autism all suggest the GABA signaling pathway is wired differently in neurotypical and autistic brains. However, studies in living humans to support these claims are sparse, and much has…
Part of the human brain’s job is to make sense of that tapestry: What input is most important at the moment? What can I safely ignore? One of the core differences between individuals with autism and neurotypicals is how we process sensory information. Specifically, evidence is mounting that sensory “binding,” or integrating multiple sensory inputs…
A new study finds that adults with autism in supported employment report fewer communication problems, use more active coping strategies, and have higher “self-efficacy”—their personal judgment of their own capabilities—compared to those in unsupported employment. The new research, from the Freie Universität Berlin, surveyed 66 German, employed adults on the autism spectrum ages 22 to…
Children who practiced Nei Gong, an ancient Chinese movement/breathing practice, consistently for a month improved on a visual memory task and demonstrated increased functional connectivity between brain regions. This research joins numerous other studies that support Nei Gong and other mindfulness practices as tools to improve brain function in a variety of populations. Nei Gong…
In 2001, Dr. John P. Hussman published a novel hypothesis in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders concerning the neurological basis of autism. Drawing together findings from genetic, clinical and neurobiological lines of autism research, Hussman proposed that much of the evidence on autism to date was consistent with disruption in the balance between…
A 9-year-old girl and her parents implemented self-management training so she (“Abby”) could learn to greet unfamiliar adults, not interrupt, and ask questions during conversation. One month after her parents faded out the self-management program, Abby maintained her new behaviors and generalized them to new settings. This style of intervention empowers families to improve their…
Ample research has found that video modeling is an effective way to teach students—especially those with autism—new skills. As noted in the Hussman Institute for Autism’s guide to supporting individuals with autism, “In skills training for children with developmental delays, the passive observation of a model demonstrating the target skill is often more effective than…
People with autism often experience an utterly unfiltered world. They are constantly bombarded by sensory stimuli their brains aren’t wired to tune out. Light, sounds, and smells can be overwhelming, or even painful. Many individuals on the autism spectrum also have difficulty interpreting social cues and communicating effectively, and may engage in repetitive movements. A…
In their new review, Dr. David Hampson, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Toronto, and Dr. Gene Blatt, Director of Neuroscience at the Hussman Institute for Autism, integrate a broad range of research findings to convincingly portray the cerebellum as an important player in autism. Long believed to function primarily as a regulator of…
