Differences between male and female brains in autism

Dr Melissa Kirkovski

by Anne Crawford

Australian males are estimated to be four times more likely than females to be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The mechanisms that make them more prone to the condition are currently a hot topic of research in the field. 

A former Central Clinical School (CCS) graduate student was part of a study by the MonashAlfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc), the CCS and others that found gender differences in a region in the brain implicated in social understanding – a core part of impairment in people with ASD. The research was part of a PhD thesis that later earned Dr Melissa Kirkovski an international award.

Congratulations to MAPrc students on completing their PhDs

Congratulations to Melissa Kirkovski and Eric Tan from Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre who have both recently completed their PhDs.

Melissa, who was supervised by Professor Paul Fitzgerald and Associate Professor Peter Enticott, completed her thesis which looked at gender differences in the brain basis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. She enjoyed working with a great research team and being exposed to a variety of different types of research in mental health.

Eric's research explored the origins, causes and impacts of speech problems in schizophrenia and was particularly interested in how these speech problems impact a patient’s quality of life. Eric was supervised by Dr Susan Rossell and Dr Gregory Yelland. His other research interests include other language disorders, memory, cognition, quality of life and early/pre-psychosis phenomena.

Healthy participants sought: Linking sensory and social difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience difficulties in processing social information, such as complex facial expressions. In addition, individuals with ASD demonstrate abnormal processing of sensory information, often reporting hypo- and/or hyper-reactivity to sensory stimuli. This study aims to explore the relationship between these social and sensory processing difficulties in ASD.

We are looking for healthy volunteers, aged 18-50 years, to act as controls. Volunteers will be required to attend the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (located on St Kilda Rd) for a single four-hour session. During the session, activities designed to assess sensory processing and empathy will be completed.

Contact: kimberley.meates@monash.edu
See more: ccs-clin-trials.med.monash.edu.au/trials/linking-sensory-and-social-difficulties-autism-spectrum-disorder

World first trials bring autism hope

Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) researchers are currently using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate the brain basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is expected that this ground-breaking research will lead to new developments for diagnosis and treatment. MAPrc is also running a clinical trial for adults with ASD that assesses whether TMS can be used to improve social aspects of ASD.