For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | February 2016
&
Autism’s Location in the
Brain Found
French scientists have found autism
can be seen in the brain’s folds. There,
a new biomarker was discovered that
can be detected in children as young
as 2 years old. The abnormality shows
itself in a shallower-than-usual fold
located in Broca’s area, the region of
the brain responsible for language and
communication that autism affects.
The researchers focused on the sulcal
pit, a new geometric marker situated
at the deepest point of every sulcus in
the cerebral cortex, which is where all
the folds of the brain develop. Features
in these folds are built at a very early
stage in brain development and are
probably genetically influenced. This
means the characteristics will be
different in every individual and can
be compared. The scientists found a
direct correlation between the depth
of the folds and a child’s social abilities.
The less deep the sulcus in autistic
children, the more skewed the child’s
performance in communication and
language production. The researchers
are confident these finding will help
with autism diagnoses and management
of patients. Before these findings,
doctors could only diagnose autism
by monitoring interaction for clinical
signs. Now, a diagnosis can be made
from inside the brain instead of just
using observational opinions. The
results were published in the January
issue of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive
Neurosciences and Neuroimaging.
Researchers focused on the sulcal pit, a
new geometric marker situated at the
deepest point of every sulcus in the
cerebral cortex, which is where all the
folds of the brain develop.
ACU. continued from Page 17
and/or hypertension. We emphasize an integrative approach by working with the
body’s energetic systems through acupuncture and by relaying thousands of years
of wisdom about the benefits of Chinese herbs, teas, diet, meditation, breathing
techniques and gentle exercise.
Like Western medicine, Chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of stress
reduction and an appropriate amount of good-quality sleep. One thing many
people do not realize about acupuncture is that most people fall asleep during
their treatments. At my clinic, we refer to these as “acu-naps.” There is nothing like
lying on a warm table in a cozy room with good body alignment (using props and
pillows, if needed), soothed by soft music or precious quiet to allow the body to
remember how to relax and heal!
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