Seminar of Cognitive Science - Daniela Ostatníková (26.11.2019)
Tuesday 26.11.2019 at 16:30, Lecture room I/9
prof. MUDr. Daniela Ostatníková, PhD. (Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava)
Autism Spectrum Disorders – Targeting Pathomechanisms
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, restricted interests and repetitive behaviour. The aetiology of autism is poorly understood. ASD is diagnosed four times more frequently in males than in females. Previous studies have revealed that autism may arise as a result of exposure to high concentrations of prenatal testosterone. Ratio of the second and the fourth digits (2D:4D) is usually used as a proxy for prenatal testosterone. Our research findings on children with autism diagnosed at Academic Research Centre for Autism are discussed with the reference to the “extreme male - brain” theory of autism.