Uncovering Behavioral Clues to Childhood MaltreatmentResearchers use a non-self-rating questionnaire for identifying children at risk and understanding their difficulties to guide early interventionChildhood maltreatment has lasting effects on mental and physical health, but early identifi...

　福井大学の小坂 浩隆（こさか ひろたか）教授は、早稲田大学人間科学学術院の栗原 勇人（くりはら ゆうと）助教、大須 理英子（おおす りえこ）教授、岡本 悠子（おかもと ゆうこ）客員次席研究員らを中心とした研究グループと共同で、成人の自閉スペクトラム症（ASD）者が他者の身体をどのように認識しているのかを明らかにする研究を行いました。fMRIという脳の活動を可視化する技術を用いて、身体の各部位を見ているときの外側後頭側頭皮（LOTC）という脳領域の反応を比較しました。表象類似度分析（RSA）という解析を行ったところ、ASD者と定型発達（TD）者とのあいだで、顔や手足、胴体といった部位ごとの分...

New Clues to Autism: Epigenetic Study Identifies RABGGTB as a Novel Candidate Gene Extensive DNA methylation in key brain regions points toRABGGTB as a promising biomarker for autism spectrum disorderEnvironmental factors and DNA methylation are known to play a role in the developm...

A study reveals emotional empathy and depression as key factors in intergenerational childhood maltreatment, offering pathways for interventionChildhood maltreatment often continues from one generation to the next, perpetuating the cycle of abuse and depression. In a bid to promote healthier parent-child relationships, researchers from the University of Fukui compared mothers who engaged in maltreatment with those who did not, revealing that childhood trauma increases emotional empathy and depressive symptoms, raising the risk of abusive parenting. Their findings highlight the need for mental health support and parenting programs to help break this cycle....

Decoding Autism Through Neuroimaging: How Alterations in Brain Connectivity Shape SymptomsResearchers found that children with autism have altered brain pathways, aiding future diagnostics and treatment developmentDespite decades of research, the structural and functional brain abnormaliti...