Psychiatry

E-mail: janet.lainhart@hsc.utah.edu
Address: Utah Autism Research Program, 421 Wakara Way
Phone: 585-9098

Research Title: Brain-Behavior Relationships in Autism: the Cerebellum

Research Description:

Autism is a very interesting disorder involving complex symptoms and widespread brain dysfunction. Dysfunction in the cerebellum is involved in autism, but exactly how cerebellar abnormalities are related to clinical symptoms is not yet now. This project test the hypothesis that abnormalities of motor activity and attention are related to the volume of cerebellar verbal lobules VI-VII. The student will learn about autism, brain research in autism,including neuroimaging research, the increasingly recognized role of the cerebellum in cognitive, sensory, and emotional functioning, acquisition of neuroimaging and clinical data, and imaging data processing and analysis. All clinical and imaging data are already collected. The student will focus on study of the relationship between total and regional cerebellar volumes and clinical parameters, and writing up the findings for scientific presentation and publication.

Does this research involve human subjects or animals? Yes

If yes, what is the protocol number? IRB 10391 (approved and ongoing 5 year study)

11/2003