Autism Spectrum Disorders
A spectrum disorder diagnosed based on impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors.
What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
A childhood disorder characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
What is ADHD?
A genetic condition caused by having an extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21.
What is Down syndrome?
The most common learning disability, marked by difficulty reading despite normal intelligence.
What is dyslexia?
The basic functional unit of the nervous system that transmits information using electrical and chemical signals.
What is a neuron?
Approximately 1 in every __ American 8-year-olds meets diagnostic criteria for ASD.
What is 68?
There is no objective diagnostic test for ADHD; diagnosis relies on this type of evaluation.
What is a comprehensive behavioral evaluation?
The risk factor most strongly associated with Down syndrome incidence.
What is advanced maternal age?
A diagnosis given after two or more unexplained seizures.
What is epilepsy?
This brain structure is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and linking the nervous system to the endocrine system.
What is the hypothalamus?
A major cellular signaling pathway implicated in ASD that regulates cell growth and metabolism.
What is the mTOR pathway?
This neurotransmitter involved in reward processing shows unusual activity in some people with ADHD.
What is dopamine?
This Alzheimer’s-related protein is overexpressed in Down syndrome due to an extra gene copy.
What is amyloid precursor protein (APP)?
The brain region on the left side involved in recognizing printed letters and words.
What is the word-form area?
The sensory system that detects changes in body position and movement to maintain balance.
What is the vestibular system?
These drugs, including rapamycin and lovastatin, are being tested for ASD because they inhibit mTOR signaling.
What are mTOR inhibitors?
To receive an ADHD diagnosis, symptoms must interfere with functioning in more than one of these.
What are settings or contexts? (ie. homes and school)
A form of Down syndrome in which not every cell has trisomy 21.
What is mosaic Down syndrome?
A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that can reduce seizures in some epilepsy patients.
What is the ketogenic diet?
This brain structure acts as the body’s master circadian clock.
What is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)?
This brain region shows unusual development in ASD and is crucial for memory, attention, perception, and language.
What is the cerebral cortex?
Research suggests that individuals with ADHD may exhibit differences in this process, which can impact how the brain adapts and changes over time.
What is brain plasticity?
This brain structure involved in memory shows poor neural connectivity in Down syndrome.
What is the hippocampus?
A surgical procedure that cuts the structure connecting the two brain hemispheres to prevent seizure spread.
What is split-brain surgery (corpus callosum section)?
Damage to this brain region impairs fear processing and emotional learning.
What is the amygdala?