Earlier research has shown that normally developing children as young as 6 months old show different brain activity when they see their mother and when they see a stranger. However, all three groups exhibited similar reactions when they saw images of a favorite toy versus an unfamiliar one. She believes the ability to recognize faces may turn out to be a key tool in identifying children with autism. Previous research by Dawson has shown that a child's failure to look at faces at age 1 is the best predictor of autism. What usually catches parents' attention around 12 months is that their child is not picking up language.
Parents are also especially sensitive to picking up autism symptoms in a younger sibling.
Also being reported at the Minneapolis meeting is related research by Dawson and UW doctoral student James McPartland that shows adults and adolescents with autism have abnormal reactions to faces. The Autism Center is part of the UW's Center on Human Development and Disability. Dawson and an interdisciplinary team are attempting to find the neurobiological and genetic causes of autism and design interventions to help autistic children. Autism is characterized by an impaired ability to communicate or relate socially with others. People with the disorder typically have a limited range of activities and interests.