In July 2024, the NDL was awarded the third renewal of A Family Genetic Study of Autism and Fragile X Syndrome (NIMH R01MH09113110). After we began the first phase of this project in 2012, our lab investigated clinical, language, and social-cognitive features that are characteristic of ASD and FMR1 conditions (fragile X syndrome (FXS) and FMR1 premutation (PM) carriers). We also identified overlapping traits among individuals with ASD and FXS and their first-degree relatives (in the case of FXS, PM carriers), suggesting that there are heritable traits associated with these conditions. In the next phase of this project, we are excited to delve deeper into understanding the overlapping and distinct language and clinical-behavioral features across ASD and FMR1 conditions by using sophisticated clinical-behavioral, computational, and neural measures. Findings from this project may illuminate how the brain processes different aspects of speech and language in ASD and FMR1 conditions which can contribute to improved understanding of the underlying biological processes impacted in these conditions.
