The Radiological Society of North America met recently and researchers unveiled new technology that may assist in assessing the severity level associated with autism by using a method called magnetoencephalography, or MEG for short. This technology will measuer the speed in which an autistic child's brain processes sound and will provide crucial information about the severity on the patient's condition. When tested, children on the spectrum had an average delay of roughly 20 milliseconds compared to those tested that were not on the spectrum.

Two scientists, having combed over recent genetic findings combined with their own research and observation theorize that genes of a mother and a father are in direct competition with one another. The theory is that during fetal growth if the father's genes are more dominant there is a greater risk of autism. If the gene bias favors the mother, the brain development may lean toward a spectrum associated with schizophrenia, depression, and/or bipolar disorder.

The Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center at UC San Diego was awarded a $12 million grant to continue funding a study over the next 3 years. The study will look at the many aspects of time, from the timing of neurons firing messages in the brain, to the timeing of social interactions between teachers and students.

An interesting article released in Scientific American speaks in detail in the roots of brain development and genius thinking. The article has no mention of autism, but provides a good insight into intelligence.

Noted differences shown on a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show distinct differences between the brains of adults with autism versus adults without. These differences lend to the theory that the brain is wired "differently" in those with autism, and may give an explantion as to why social impairments are so common amongst those with autism.

Research recently released by Carnegie Mellon University points to neural mechanisms that are responsible for social difficulties often associated with autism. Inefficient pathways in between the frontal and posterier areas of the social brain, lead to problems transmitting data making it difficult to understand human intentions.

Researchers from the United States reported on Tuesday that a gene that assists in making brain connections, when suffering with a disruption called Contactin 4, fails to work properly. This may account for a diagnosis of Autism