Keywords

Autism, Anxiety, Intruder

Abstract

Background: In addition to core impairments in social communication, many individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience severe and debilitating symptoms of anxiety. Characterization of both shared and distinct neural mechanisms in ASD and anxiety may give insight into the neurodevelopmental course of ASD and improve the specificity of intervention techniques. Our aim was to measure both physiological and behavioral responses to an anxiety-provoking situation where a stranger intrudes on the environment. In monkey studies and in the wild, such situations tend to be accompanied by increased vigilance but decreased physical activity in order to avoid detection.

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

2011-02-18

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/2732

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Psychology

Included in

Psychology Commons

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