Associate Provost for Research Boston University Medical Campus
NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders	Research Resources

Abstract

Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) This application has been submitted as a request for continuing support for a program of projects that has been designed to better understand the neurobiology and genetics of autism. The central organizing theme of the project is on studies of processes associated with language and social deficits in this syndrome. In its initial funding cycle the program included 3 funded projects designed to: a) provide a longitudinal study of the relations between language and theory of mind; b) develop a battery of computer based tasks that would differentiate nonverbal children with autism from children with severe autism, and c) explore the neurobiological underpinnings of language and communication abnormalities in autism with MRI. Three new projects are described in this continuation proposal. Project I proposes a detailed comparison of face processing in children with autism and controls. Project II proposes to examine the similarities and differences in language impairments in children with autism versus those with and without specific language development. Project III has been designed to provide a morphometric and functional MRI exploration of the neural substrates of social and language impairments in autism. These projects are to be carried out as a collaborative effort across Boston University Medical School; Tufts / New England Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital. These projects will be coordinated by a clinical and administrative core.

Thesaurus Terms:
autism, cooperative study, language
behavioral /social science research tag, children, clinical research, human subject

Institution:	BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
	715 ALBANY ST, 560
	BOSTON, MA 021182394
Fiscal Year:	2006
Department:	ANATOMY AND NEUROBIOLOGY
Project Start:	01-AUG-1997
Project End:	31-AUG-2007
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
IRG:	ZHD1