Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Our research addresses a fundamental challenge in ASD: how to map complex behavioral constructs, such as social communication deficits, onto mechanistic processes in the brain. We primarily target low-level (and particularly non-social) cognitive processes, such as working memory and auditory processing, that may not be specific to the ASD diagnosis, but that can be linked to genetic, neurophysiological or neuroanatomical domains, and that impact socio-communicative behavior. The aim is to better understand the pathology of ASD by linking research at the molecular level (genetics), at the neurofunctional level (brain imaging), and at the behavioral level (symptomatology): We aim to connect complex behaviors to underlying genetic mechanisms. Click on the "projects" link for more detail on current research projects.

Congrats, Yael Dai, on new RASD paper on bilingual children with ASD

August 7, 2018

Dai, Y. G., et al. (in press). Language abilities in monolingual- and bilingual-exposed children with autism or other developmental disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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New grant awarded!

January 29, 2018

We are delighted to have receiving funding from the NIMH for a project examining Optimal Outcomes in ASD: Adult Functioning, Predictors, and Mechanisms. This study follows our prior research showing that some individuals show clear-cut Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prior to age 5, but later lose all symptoms, and have IQ and adaptive skills that are average […]

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A new article about our research

December 14, 2017

https://iancommunity.org/ssc/recovery-losing-autism-diagnosis

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Very excited about the new SLAC grant!

October 12, 2017

Science of Learning Project Wins $3 Million NSF Award

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Congrats to Anders Hogstrom on his new paper!

April 24, 2017

Stewart, C. E., Lee, S. Y., Hogstrom, A., & Williams, M. (2017). Diversify and conquer: A call to promote minority representation in clinical psychology. The Behavior Therapist, 40(3), 74-79.

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Our new paper on gestures!

March 5, 2017

Silverman, L. B., Eigsti, I. M., & Bennetto, L. (in press). I tawt I taw a puddy tat: Gestures in Canary Row narrations by high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research

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Interview with Ashley de Marchena, Lab Alum, on diagnostic “frankness”

December 13, 2016

http://blog.research.chop.edu/frankly-dear-thats-clear-expert-qa-frank-presentations-autism/

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DCNLab celebrates the end of the semester!

December 8, 2016

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Lab alum Ashley de Marchena takes a faculty position at University of the Sciences

March 17, 2016

Congrats, Ashley!!

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Congrats to Brian Castelluccio on his grant!

March 2, 2016

Brian will be investigating the neural underpinnings of generalization learning in adults with ASD. We look forward to learning more!

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