Autism

Picower Institute researchers identify brain cell aberration tied to autism

Is that smile real or fake?A computerized system developed at MIT can tell the difference between smiles of joy and smiles of frustration.

Patterns of connections reveal brain functionsNeuroscientists identify face-recognition areas based on what parts of the brain they link to.

$26.5 million Simons gift to catalyze autism research at MITCreates the Simons Center for the Social Brain

A new piece to the autism puzzleNeuroscientists find that two rare autism-related disorders are caused by opposing malfunctions in the brain.

Connecting neurons to fix the brainNew technology helps scientists discover drugs to strengthen synapses.

How the brain assigns objects to categoriesNew findings may explain why children with autism tend to fixate on details instead of seeing the big picture.

Re-creating autism, in miceMice with a particular gene mutation avoid interacting with other mice and show compulsive, repetitive behavior.

What blame can tell us about autismNeuroscientists find evidence that autistic patients have trouble understanding other people’s intentions.

NSF award funds Media Lab researchers work on Autism spectrum disordersCollaboration is the first large-scale effort of computer and behavioral scientists to jointly address ASD.

Postdoc awarded Otto Hahn medal of the Max Planck SocietyHonored for thesis on neural correlates of visual illusions

Guoping Feng, expert on synapses and psychiatric disorders, joins MIT faculty

McGovern Institute video wins Telly AwardGiven top honors in fundraising category

Yingxi Lin named a John Merck scholarAwarded a four-year, $300,000 grant

Multitasking is no problem for these brain cellsScientists find that neurons in the brain’s planning center can handle more than one kind of job.

NIMH Director Tom Insel on AutismHosted by the Simons Initiative on Autism and the Brain at MIT

McGovern Institute to acquire new brain imaging technology

Back to (brain) basicsMIT neuroscientists are using their knowledge of the brain to generate promising treatments for autism, mental retardation and Alzheimer’s disease.