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Cognition and Neuroimaging in Females with Autism Spectrum Conditions
 Meng-Chuan Lai, Mike Lombardo, Bhismadev Chakrabarti, Renate van de Ven, Greg Pasco, Sally Wheelwright, John Suckling, Ed Bullmore, Simon Baron-Cohen, Amber Ruigrok
This project is a follow-up study of the MRC Autism Imaging Multicentre Study (AIMS). The latter focused exclusively on males, and this follow-up will focus exclusively on females with ASC. This is because females with ASC are a neglected group in ASC research. The study will scan female adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) or high functioning autism (HFA) and age-matched female controls using structural MRI, resting and task fMRI, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Participants also undergo a set of comprehensive cognitive and behavioural assessments. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Prof. Declan Murphy and Dr. Michael Craig at the Institute of Psychiatry, London.
People who have a formal diagnosis on the autism spectrum (AS or HFA), are over 18 and do not have a general learning disability are eligible to take part. Participating this project involves filling out online and paper-and-pencil questionnaires, completing tasks using puzzles, words and pictures, a session in an MRI scanner and providing a DNA sample by non-harmful brushing of your cheek. Your parents may also be invited to provide a DNA sample and we will need to interview one of your parents about your development.
To take part in the study, you must be female, between the ages of 18 and 45 years. You must have a diagnosis of AS or HFA, with English as your first language, and must have a parent who is willing to give an interview about your development. You must not be claustrophobic (because the scanner requires lying still in a contained space for up to one hour), or have any metallic or electrical implants in your body (because the scanner is a magnet). Travel expenses will be reimbursed and we will compensate you for your time.
If you are interested in taking part in this project, and you meet all the criteria listed above, please email Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai.
Please note that the diagnosis must have been made by a suitably qualified professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. If you are currently waiting for a diagnosis or you suspect that you may have autism or AS but do not have a formal diagnosis, then at this point you would not be eligible to take part in our research.
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