| Neuroimaging of Language and Communication in Autism | Hadjikhani | Boston University, MA | CPEA | Children and adolescents aged 7 to 16 -- Autistic Disorder -- Specific language impaired (SLI) -- Matched controls |
Investigate the structure and function of brain regions involved in (1) face/social processing; (2) language, using MRI, DTI and fMRI activation paradigms
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This project is also being conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital, a subcontracted site of Boston University School of Medicine.
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| The Neuroanatomical Basis of Social-affective Deficits in Autism | Blatt | Boston University, MA | STAART | |
Identify possible differences in cortical integrity and in selective modulatory neurotransmitter systems that may emerge as a neuroanatomic basis for alterations in social-affective processing in the autistic brain
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| Dysfunction of Affective Circuitry in Autism | Davidson | Boston University, MA | STAART | Autistic Disorder Affected children/comparison group |
Examine the brain circuitry underlying emotion processing in autistic and comparison subjects
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This project is also being conducted at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a subcontracted site of Boston University School of Medicine.
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| Faces and Their Communicative Signals in Autism | Joseph | Boston University, MA | CPEA | Children age 8 to 16 - Autistic NVIQ>70 - Age and NVIQ-matched control group |
Assess how impairments in different aspects of face, gaze and emotion perception may be related to autism symptoms
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| Language Impairments in Children with Autism | Tager-Flusberg | Boston University, MA | CPEA | Children age 7 to 14 - Autism - Specific language impaired - Normal controls |
Investigate language impairments in autism and SLI to help refine the language-impaired subtypes in autism for future genetic and neuroimaging studies
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| Development of Children with Autism and Their Families | Carter | Boston University, MA | STAART | Children 18-33 months |
Understand the early course of core features of autism, co-occurring symptoms and temperament in the child in the context of parental well-being, stress and resources to inform parent-support and parent child interventions
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| Citalopram Treatment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and High Levels of Repetitive Behavior | King, Hollander, Sikich, Scahill, Bregman, McCracken | Boston University, MA | STAART | Children - ages 5-11 - ages 12-17 |
Determine the efficacy in improving global functioning, tolerability and safety of Citalopram
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This project is also being conducted at Dartmouth Medical School, a subcontracted site of the Boston University School of Medicine; and the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, a subcontracted site of Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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| Neurobiologic Origins and Innovative Treatment in Autism: Early detection of autism and language disorders | Landa | Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD | STAART | Group I - Infants having an older sib with Autistic Spectrum Disorder - Group II - Infants having an older sib Typical Development and no family Hx of autism - Group III - Children with late onset of language, aged 18-26m |
Develop diagnostic criteria for autism in toddlers through the study of late talkers and infants at risk for autism
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| fMRI Studies of Sensorimotor Integration in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders | Zeffiro | Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD | STAART | Children - High Functioning Autistic Disorder - Typical Development |
Elucidate the neurobiological basis of attention, motor planning and executive functioning in individuals with autism
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This project is also being conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Children’s National Medical Center, subcontracted sites of the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
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| A Mouse Model for Autism: Postnatal Serotonergic Effects | Blue/ Hohmann | Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD | STAART | Balb/CByJ mice at various developmental ages and adulthood; cognitive, sensory-motor and social behaviors; brain morphogenesis and plasticity. |
To explore the serotonin hypothesis in autism using a mouse model in which serotonergic afferents to the cortex are depleted neonatally.
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This is a project conducted at Morgan State University, a subcontracted site of the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
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| Neurobiologic Origins and Innovative Treatment in Autism | Landa | Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD | STAART | Children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder - 18 to 33 months |
Investigate the impact of early intervention targeting interpersonal synchrony on the process of communication development
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| Neuroimaging: Imaging 5HT Transporters and 5HT 2a Receptors in Asperger’s Syndrome | Laruelle | Mount Sinai, New York, NY | STAART | Adult - Asperger’s n=40 - Matched Controls n=40 |
Quantify the anatomical distribution of two key elements of the 5-HT systems that have been implicated in Asperger’s
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This project is also being conducted at Columbia University – New York Psychiatric Institute, a subcontracted site of Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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| Genetics (An Autism Susceptibility Gene and Repetitive Behaviors in Autism) | Buxbaum | Mount Sinai, New York, NY | STAART | Autistic Disorder Affected dyads n=150 families |
Identify Autism susceptibility gene on chromosome 2q
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| Citalopram Treatment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and High Levels of Repetitive Behavior | King, Hollander, Sikich, Scahill, Bregman, McCracken | Mount Sinai, New York, NY | STAART | Children - ages 5-11 - ages 12-17 |
Determine the efficacy in improving global functioning, tolerability and safety of Citalopram
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This project is also being conducted at Dartmouth Medical School, a subcontracted site of the Boston University School of Medicine; and the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, a subcontracted site of Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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| Early Pharmacologic Intervention in Autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in preschool children | Sikich, Hollander, McCracken | Mount Sinai, New York, NY | STAART | Children - 30 to 59 months |
This study will assess the safety and effectiveness of treating autistic children with fluoxetine to enhance developmental processes in core areas impacted by autism. This double-blind study will last a total of 12 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either fluoxetine or placebo. Study visits will be held every two weeks for approximately the first 3 months, or until the dose of medication is stabilized. After this initial period, study visits will be held on a monthly basis, with telephone assessments conducted in the interim periods.
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This pilot network study is currently taking place at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles
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