The UJI and Castelló Asperger Association collaborate to investigate brain abnormalities in children with Asperger's disorder

The Universitat Jaume I and Castelló Asperger Association have signed a collaboration agreement for carrying out the research project "Structural and functional alterations in children with Asperger's disorder". The project aims to improve the understanding of brain function of children with Asperger's disorder to improve their quality of life. The research is part of the doctoral thesis project written by Francisca Castellano and led by César Ávila, professor of Basic Psychology and director of the Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group from the UJI.

Thanks to the collaboration agreement, the association will provide 3,400 euros for carrying out the study that seeks to improve the understanding of the structural and functional alterations in brain development of children who have Asperger's disorder, a chronic disorder that is included within the category of autism spectrum disorders.

The study uses modern and advanced functional imaging techniques that allow the realization of morphometric analysis with which delimit the structural alterations typical of the disorder. These techniques also make possible to analyze functional impairments by studying functional brain networks at rest, something that can help to better understand the symptoms and characteristics that define the disorder, and design with more precision and accuracy future intervention programmes.

The signing was attended by Encarna Cubero, member of the Board of the Castelló Asperger Association; Ana Ballesteros, technical director of the association; Francisca Castellano, author of the study; and Cesar Avila, director.