Sensory Processing and Brain Development - UCLA

03/22/2023

Advances in Autism 2023 is happening on April 28, 2023! You can attend in-person or virtually! Presented by the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART), this annual symposium is designed for all those interested in learning about the latest breakthroughs in research and treatment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including health care providers, teachers, autism service providers, self-advocates and families. This year’s theme is “Co-occurring Conditions and Mental Health for Autism Spectrum Disorder.” 7.5 CME credits are available! Register today for this informative event! Learn more and register here: https://www.cme.ucla.edu/courses/event-description?registration_id=1307007&client_view_p=f

07/04/2022

Happy Fourth of July from the UCLA SCAN Lab! We hope families can enjoy the holiday together. As your family gathers today, here are some 4th of July safety tips from Healthy Children to stay safe today!

​Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. The AAP continues to urge families view public fireworks displays rather than buying fireworks for their own or their children's use. Learn more here.

07/01/2022

Thank you California State University, Long Beach Camp Nugget through Long Beach State APE for hosting our STEM neuroscience presentation to teach their campers about how the brain relates to the senses!

Check out the article about the presentation: "Camp Nugget welcomes UCLA SCAN Lab"

https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-health-human-services/article/camp-nugget-welcomes-ucla-scan-lab

Do you know an autism-related camp, group, or school that would like a free STEM presentation from a UCLA Neuroscience lab?

The UCLA Sensory, Cognitive, and Affective Neurodevelopment (SCAN) Lab is available for a fun and educational presentation about how senses relate to the brain! Our group is passionate about supporting science education and we have presented to more than a dozen schools and groups in the LA area. The presentation is appropriate for ages 8-15 (approximately second through 10th grade) and we will tailor it based on the age and developmental level of the group. Kids will participate in a fun sensory activity and learn about how our brain interprets sensations and how neuroscientists collect brain imaging data. Contact SCANlab@mednet.ucla.edu or (323) 391-8795 to learn more about our STEM presentations today!

06/08/2022

We are currently recruiting for research participants for our study!

Interest form: https://uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekRUV3ii4aCep02?

We are seeking participants ages 8 to 15 who:
- Are typically developing
- Are on the autism spectrum

Study participation consists of:
- One brief phone call to complete a phone screener to determine eligibility
- One mock scan visit (1-2 hours)
- Two scan/behavioral assessment visits (3-4 hours) over the course of two years
- Questionnaires at each time point

Benefits:
- Up to $270 ($25 for the mock scan, $110 at each time point, a bonus $25 for the follow-up visit)
- A picture of their brain
- An optional research report on their sensory processing

For more information, contact us:
Phone: 323-391-8795
Email: ucla.scan.lab@gmail.com
Interest form: https://uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekRUV3ii4aCep02?
Website: scanlab.dgsom.ucla.edu

Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) is a very common feature of autism spectrum disorders: an estimated 50-75% of ASD children experience SOR, ranging from tactile discomfort to distress in loud or complex environments. However, we know very little about what happens to SOR over time, and why some children grow out of it while others do not.

The purpose of this research is to examine how brain, behavioral, and physiological responses to sensory stimuli develop over time in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing children. Results will help us develop better treatments for SOR.
We are seeking participants ages 8 to 15 who:
- Are typically developing
- Are on the autism spectrum

Study participation consists of:
- One brief phone call to complete a phone screener to determine eligibility
- One mock scan visit (1-2 hours)
- Two scan/behavioral assessment visits (3-4 hours) over the course of two years
- Questionnaires at each time point

Benefits:
- Up to $270 ($25 for the mock scan, $110 at each time point, a bonus $25 for the follow-up visit)
- A picture of their brain
- An optional research report on their sensory processing

For more information, contact us:
Phone: 323-391-8795
Email: ucla.scan.lab@gmail.com
Interest form: https://uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekRUV3ii4aCep02?
Website: scanlab.dgsom.ucla.edu

09/08/2021

We are now recruiting for a new study!

Purpose:
Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) is a very common feature of autism spectrum disorders: an estimated 50-75% of ASD children experience SOR, ranging from tactile discomfort to distress in loud or complex environments. However, we know very little about what happens to SOR over time, and why some children grow out of it while others do not. The purpose of this research is to examine how brain, behavioral, and physiological responses to sensory stimuli develop over time in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing children. Results will help us develop better treatments for SOR.

We are seeking participants ages 8 to 15 who:
1. Are typically developing or
2. Are on the autism spectrum

Study participation consists of:
• One brief phone call to complete a phone screener to determine eligibility
• One mock scan visit (1-2 hours)
• Two scan/behavioral assessment visits (3-4 hours) over the course of two years
• Questionnaires at each time point

Benefits:
• Participants will receive:
o Up to $270 ($25 for the mock scan, $110 at each time point, a bonus $25 for the follow-up visit)
o A picture of their brain
o An optional research report on their sensory processing

For more information, contact Sapna Ramappa:
• Phone: 323-391-8795
• Email: ucla.scan.lab@gmail.com
• Interest form: https://uclahs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekRUV3ii4aCep02?
• Website: https://scanlab.dgsom.ucla.edu/