Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Autism spectrum disorder is believed to affect one in every 110 American children, and the causes of the disorder remain unknown. A number of theories have been debunked, including an old theory that autism was caused by bad mothers, whose chilly behavior toward their child led their youngsters to withdraw into a private world, and the theory that vaccines led to autism. This program presented the latest theories about the causes of autism, both genetic and nongenetic, and also gave an overview of what are currently thought to be the best treatment options for both children and adults.
SPEAKERS:
Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, and Psychology and Neuroscience
Duke University
Daniel Geschwind, MD, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics
Director, Center for Autism Research and Treatment
Gordon and Virginia MacDonald Distinguished Chair, Human Genetics
University of California, Los Angeles
Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
School of Medicine Genome Center MIND Institute
University of California, Davis
MODERATOR:
Barry Gordon, MD, PhD
Therapeutic Cognitive Neuroscience Professor, and Professor of Neurology and Cognitive Science
Director, Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology Division Department of Neurology
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
The Neuroscience and Society series is a partnership between AAAS and the Dana Foundation.
Autism spectrum disorder is believed to affect one in every 110 American children, and the causes of the disorder remain unknown. A number of theories have been debunked, including an old theory that autism was caused by bad mothers, whose chilly behavior toward their child led their youngsters to withdraw into a private world, and the theory that vaccines led to autism. This program presented the latest theories about the causes of autism, both genetic and nongenetic, and also gave an overview of what are currently thought to be the best treatment options for both children and adults.
SPEAKERS:
Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, and Psychology and Neuroscience
Duke University
Daniel Geschwind, MD, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics
Director, Center for Autism Research and Treatment
Gordon and Virginia MacDonald Distinguished Chair, Human Genetics
University of California, Los Angeles
Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
School of Medicine Genome Center MIND Institute
University of California, Davis
MODERATOR:
Barry Gordon, MD, PhD
Therapeutic Cognitive Neuroscience Professor, and Professor of Neurology and Cognitive Science
Director, Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology Division Department of Neurology
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
The Neuroscience and Society series is a partnership between AAAS and the Dana Foundation.
