Autism
How Virtual Reality is Helping Autism Patients
Imagine stepping into your favorite movie, show, or video game—surrounded by a fantasy world. That is the power of virtual reality (VR): to immerse someone in an experience they can’t get in real life. But what if we were able to use that power to reflect reality and…
More than “Bird-Brains”: Parrots Show How to Teach Autistic Children
Dr. Irene Pepperberg, a chemist and "bird-scientist" at Harvard University, spends her time teaching African Grey parrots how to talk and is applying the same concepts in teaching autistic patients. Could these "bird-brained" parrots crack the code to understanding and re-wiring autism?
What Cows Can Teach Us About Autism
A team at Yale University analyzed the effects of a new oxytocin nasal spray on social functioning of autistic children. They reported that the medication facilitated social functioning. Other experiments using animal models have shown that the medication promotes social behavior and bonding. With a little help from a few run-of-the-mill dairy cows, the role of oxytocin in social behaviors and anxiety is now paving the way towards new treatments for autism.