The Autism Science Foundation Weekly Science Podcast is a summary of the latest research in autism spectrum disorders. This podcast will discuss new science, research discoveries, meetings and discussions, news reports, and other information important to those affected by autism especially families.
http://asfpodcast.org
Females with autism and the idea of an ‘extreme male’ brain
New studies were published this week highlighting differences, or lack of differences, in males and females with autism. This podcast explores one of these theories called the 'Extreme Male Brain' theory which is actively studied by Simon Baron-Cohen's lab in the United Kingdom. While this theory suggests that males and females with autism are more alike than different, another study focused on those individuals with autism who were not diagnosed until later in life. Were they able to mask their symptoms for autism and slide under the radar and how? In this group, males and females are more different than alike, which reinforces the ideas that you can't study people with autism without studying people without autism, and that the differences between males and females may be subtle, based on context, and time of life.