In an article released yesterday in Scientific American, UCLA neuroscientist Marco Lacoboni discusses mirror neurons and how the role of social cognition relies heavily on their function. Impaired or reduced mirror neuron activity impacts social interaction making it difficult for those on the spectrum to relate to people, read body language, understand mental states.

Legistlation was signed in Missouri by Gov. Matt Blunt that throuhg HB 2023 designates $5 million for planning, design, renovation, construction, and/or purchase of a facility for the Thompson Center. The Thompson Center assists many children throughtout the state of Missouri.

Josh Hartnett will star alongside Olivier Award winning actor Adam Godley in the stage adaptation of the popular 1988 film Rain man at London's Apollo Theatre. Performances are set to being on August 28th.

Some exciting findings surround Fragile X and the many effects this can have on the brain. From autism and mental retardation to anxiety, early menopause, dymentia and ADHD, Fragile X can be a contributing factor.

Looking for something to watch on daytime TV? Days of Our Lives will soon feature a story on autism involving three of their characters, Abe & Lexie Carver and their on screen son Theo Carver. Head writer Dena Higley's son Connor was diagnosed with the disorder at age 3 and knows all to well the battles that plague us daily.

New information about nueral stem cell development and the lack of a protein called myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEFC2) resulted in smaller brains, fewer nerve cells, and similar behaviors in mice. This work represents the first direct link between a developmental disorder of neural stem cells and the subsequent onset of autism.

A consortium of researched led by scientists at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine have found that a lack of both the fragile X syndrome gene and a related gene is most likely the culprit in disturbing the sleep patterns in many diagnosed with autism. they have found mice that were deficient in the fragile X gene (FMR1) and a similar gene (FXR2) had no rhythm to the wake and sleep patterns.