Why is studying the brain important for understanding autism?

Speakers
David Amaral, Ph.D.
Director of Research, The MIND Institute, University of California, Davis
Autism BrainNet Scientific Director

Cynthia Schumann, Ph.D.
Associate professor, University of California Davis,
Director, Autism BrainNet Sacramento node

On November 19, 2019, David Amaral and Cynthia Schumann talked about the importance of brain tissue research to deepen the understanding of the causes of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. In this webinar, they also provided an overview of how studying the human brain can help develop new and effective treatments to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families. Last, they discussed research on a brain structure called amygdala, and how this research may help understand emotion processing and anxiety in autism.

This webinar was hosted by SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge), a SFARI-supported initiative that aims to recruit, engage and retain a community of 50,000 individuals with autism and their family members living in the U.S.