Pets May Help Kids With Autism Develop Social Skills

Study found if animal came into home after child was born, communication improved

By Amanda Gardner | HealthDay Reporter

Introducing a pet into the home of a child with autism may help that child develop improved social behaviors, new research finds.

The study, from French researchers, is the first strong scientific evidence that animals may help foster social skills in individuals with autism, but it also reinforces what clinicians have been hearing anecdotally for years.

"We hear from parents a lot that having a pet or interacting with an animal really helps their child's social behavior, but there hasn't been a study so far that has looked at that scientifically," said Alycia Halladay, director of environmental research at Autism Speaks. "This offers some intriguing evidence to confirm what parents...  READ MORE >>

More informationThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on autism spectrum disorders.
Image courtesy of Witthaya Phonsawat | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Researchers Identify Protein Necessary for Behavioral Flexibility

Released: 5/17/2012 8:00 AM EDT
Embargo expired: 5/24/2012 12:00 PM EDT
Source: New York University

Newswise — Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings, which appear in the journal Cell Reports, may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.

Our stored memories from previous experiences allow us to repeat certain tasks. For instance, after driving to a particular location, we recall the route the next time we make that trip. However, sometimes circumstances change—one road on the route is temporarily closed—and we need to make adjustments to reach our destination. Our behavioral flexibility allows us to make such changes and, then, successfully complete our task. It is driven, in part, by protein synthesis, which produces experience-dependent changes in neural function and behaviour. [ READ MORE ]

New York University | Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net