The MRC published a review on autism in 2001. This comprehensive review involved not only scientists but also people with autism, parents and lay participants. Amongst other things the review addressed questions such as: Has autism increased? What are the causes of autism? How can the signs and symptoms of autism be explained by psychological theories?

Autism@ICN

I have set up a small in-house network of ICN-based researchers, run by Sarah White, who will continue to carry out autism research including work on autism, Asperger Syndrome and other disorders on the autism spectrum. The network consists largely of researchers working primarily in other areas of cognitive neuroscience. By sharing a database of participants, researchers at the ICN who would not normally work with people on the autism spectrum are able to carry out one-off experiments, broadening the base of expertise and increasing knowledge of mind and brain in normal and abnormal development.

This network was launched with a mini-workshop on 16th April, 2007. Adam Feinstein from autismconnect wrote a review of the workshop. For further information on Autism@ICN meetings, contact Sarah White.

People

Geoff Bird - imitation and empathy

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore - adolescence and social cognition

Paul Burgess - neuropsychological profiles and executive function

Iroise Dumontheil - automatic mentalising

Brad Duchaine - social perception

Uta Frith - social cognitive neuroscience

Sam Gilbert - attentional switching and BA10

Patrick Haggard - action representation

Neil Harrison - framing effects

Elisabeth Hill - economic games; alexithymia in autism

John Morton - causal modelling of developmental disorders

Cat Sebastian - self-reference and self-awareness in adolescent development

Lauren Stewart - auditory processing and music in the brain

Essi Viding - psychopathic traits and emotional problems

Sarah White - cognitive profiles, heterogeneity and cognitive subtypes in autism