Autism through art and mice

When we think about emotions, we first think about facial expressions: smiling, crying, frowning. But can we also communicate emotions through art? In this talk, I will address the following questions: How do autistic and non-autistic people communicate emotions through abstract drawings compared to through facial expressions? Do the artist and the viewer brains sync up when they communicate through drawings? Can art serve as a bridge to foster empathy and communication between people of different neurotypes? Join the talk to find out about the power of artistic and autistic communication!

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect millions of people worldwide, but we still do not fully understand what causes them. In our lab at ISTA, we study ASD using different scientific methods, including special genetically modified mice and tiny lab-grown brain models made from human cells. These tools help us see how changes in genes affect brain growth and function. By linking genetics to behavior, we hope to uncover important clues about how neurodevelopmental disorders develop. Our research aims to contribute to a better understanding of ASD and related conditions which could lead to better diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.