Challenging behaviour - including aggression, self-injury, meltdowns, repetitive behaviours, and emotional dysregulation - is one of the most common reasons families seek support. Research in this area spans Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and its evidence base, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), cognitive-behavioural approaches adapted for neurodivergent children, sensory integration therapy, and the neuroscience of emotion regulation. SpecialCircle Research summarises the latest behavioural science in parent-accessible language - including honest discussion of both the benefits and controversies in evidence-based approaches.
Early research
This study investigated how the brains of children and teenagers with autism process visual attention, finding specific differences in brain activity when focusing on the right side compared to typically developing peers.
Source: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Gene therapy
Researchers found that a new antisense therapy can fix brain signaling issues in lab models of autism caused by SHANK mutations.
Source: Nature Communications
Review article
A recent review explains how sleep disturbances are common in Rett Syndrome and how they relate to a child's mood and behavior during the day.
Source: PubMed
Gene therapy
A 'one-shot' viral gene therapy has been developed to restore a critical protein needed for brain development in MEF2C-related disorders.
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Clinical trial update
An international clinical trial is currently testing a new oral medication designed to help young people with Down Syndrome manage daily tasks and memory.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
Approved treatment
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new training program to help caregivers of children with autism manage stress and provide effective home support.
Source: World Health Organization
Review article
A 2019 review study found that children with Rett syndrome may show subtle signs of the condition before the well-known regression at age 2, suggesting there may be an earlier window for diagnosis and support.
Source: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Challenging behaviour - including aggression, self-injury, meltdowns, repetitive behaviours, and emotional dysregulation - is one of the most common reasons families seek support. Research in this area spans Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and its evidence base, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), cognitive-behavioural approaches adapted for neurodivergent children, sensory integration therapy, and the neuroscience of emotion regulation. SpecialCircle Research summarises the latest behavioural science in parent-accessible language - including honest discussion of both the benefits and controversies in evidence-based approaches. SpecialCircle Research summarises the latest evidence on Behavior from PubMed, NIH, FDA, and clinical trial databases in plain language. This is educational information only, not medical advice.
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