Global Laboratory for the Neuroscience of Autism

Based primarily in Bangalore, India and Nottingham, England and with global reach, our research asks how domain-general cognitive capacities— which we call ‘prerequisite skills’— shape the developmental emergence of both social and non-social perception, cognition and action— giving rise to individual differences therein and autistic variations or disorders thereof. We develop, test and refine therapies that target these prerequisite skills to support communication. We draw inspiration and find application globally and across cultures. Our goal is a world where people with autism feel in charge of their senses, thoughts, feelings and behaviour and find the communicative capacity to share their unique insights, and also one that knows how to listen to what they are saying. This is the cure that we seek.

We’re always on the lookout for students with with excellent analytical reading and writing skills, an ability to design and to manage projects with a high degree of independence, working knowledge of statistical analysis, and interest in cognitive neuroscience. Computer programming also is a great asset, especially with working knowledge of MATLAB, C, C++, C#, R or SAS. To apply to volunteer with us, please send to Matthew Belmonte (belmonte at mit dot edu) a brief (one page) sample of your scientific writing, a CV if you have one or else a list of relevant skills, experiences, and coursework, and a cover letter telling us why you’re interested in autism and how you hope to be involved. If you wish to apply for a funded place to study with us, the following opportunities may be relevant and you should contact us well in advance of the relevant deadline: Vice Chancellor’s doctoral studentships (January deadline) Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships to combine one year of doctoral study in Nottingham with your doctoral study in Bangalore (November deadline) International Fellowships / Newton International Fellowships for postdoctoral training (March deadline) Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (October deadline; search EURAXESS for current offerings and scroll down to ‘How to Apply for Postdoctoral Fellowships’)     On the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal page, select Programme ‘Horizon Europe’ and then Programme part ‘Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)’ Experimental Psychology Society: small grants for study visits by scholars from low/middle-income countries

News for individuals and families with autism spectrum conditions: Matthew Belmonte debates neurodiversity in the context of profound autism as part of the UC Davis Neurodiversity Summit, 5/11/2021 Matthew Belmonte questions Helen Whately, UK Minister for Health and Social Care, at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, 14/1/2021 Feasibility Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial of Point OutWordsTM, Autistica Discover, 9/7/2020 Undergraduate Zahra Ahmed presents at UK Parliament her work on including children with profound autism in research, 11/3/2020 ‘Co-Developing Assessments and Treatments that work with— not against— People with Autism’, India Autism Centre, Kolkata, 10/1/2020 Point OutWordsTM — Can computer-assisted skills training help to develop typed communication in people with autism who lack communicative speech? Acceptance and accommodation needn’t and shouldn’t exclude treatments for people with profound autism, 26/8/2019 Autism Science Foundation blog Mobile computer-assisted screening helps connect autistic children with diagnosis and therapy in India, 30/5/2019 MaTHiSiS — computer-assisted learning tailored to the needs and abilities of individuals with autism spectrum conditions, 31/12/2018 Undergraduates Eliza Deakins & Will Simpson show that understanding paraphilic sexual interests can be important in relationship counselling for people on the autism spectrum, 10/5/2018 Beware ‘alternative’ therapies: 4/2010 Autism Network (see page 2) Undergraduate Grace Chen presents her work on how gaze aversion may aid communication in non-speaking autistic children, 19/4/2010 Cornell Chronicle ‘Virtual Games Teach Real-World Skills to Kids with Autism’, 21/12/2009 Spectrum News Inside the brain, children with autism and their non-autistic siblings have a lot in common, 31/3/2010 ‘Profs Promote Autism Outreach’, 4/11/2009 Cornell Daily Sun ‘Cornell Professor Plugs Video Games into Autism Research’, 31/10/2009 Ithaca Journal ‘What Autism Teaches Us about Normal Development’, 17/10/2009 Spectrum News ‘Belmonte Uses Video Games to Explore Facets of Autism’, 12/10/2009 Cornell Chronicle

Speakers and events: Jonathan Delafield-Butt, University of Strathclyde: Motor Disruption in Autism: Implications for Social Development, and its Early Identification by Smart Technology 25/3/2020, global Internet broadcast (philosophy at time 0, motor kinematics at 57:45) Connecting Developmental Neurobiology to Evidence-Based Developmental Therapies for People with Autism Spectrum Conditions, 30/4-4/5/2012, The Com DEALL Trust, Bangalore Autism in Central New York: Research and Practice, 24/10/2009, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York an update on current neurobiological theories of autism, and how this science relates to therapeutic practices for people with autism spectrum conditions, their parents, educators and other caregivers Antonio Persico, Università “Campus Bio-Medico,” Rome: Autism at the Crossroads between Genetics, Neurodevelopment and the Immune System: Recent Findings and Future Perspectives 22/10/2009, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York