About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the benefit of humanity.
Apr 01, 2013... More and more children are being diagnosed with autism and related conditions, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimating that about 1 in 88 children has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. The reason for this increase is unknown, and scientists and doctors worldwide are trying to help affected persons – primarily girls – and their families. At the Weizmann Institute of Science, researchers from across many disciplines are working together to understand the cause or causes of ASDs and develop new treatments. Examples of the Weizmann Institute’s autism research include:
Dec 05, 2019...
Distinct stink: Mice missing a key autism gene respond similarly to nonsocial and social smells. (Shutterstock)
Neurons in mice that lack an autism gene called CNTNAP2 do not differentiate well between social and nonsocial smells, according to a new study1. These neurons are located in the prefrontal cortex — a brain region that controls social behavior — and fire haphazardly.
The findings suggest that these differences drive the social problems in the mice and perhaps in autistic people with mutations in the gene. The results appeared 25 November in Nature Neuroscience.
Nov 29, 2017...
The smell of skydiver sweat was used in a new study to determine the response to the ‘smell of fear’ in people with autism. AFP/Stringer
The lack of ability to “smell fear” may reveal clues about behaviour and brain development in people with autism, according to a new study.
We may not be aware of it, but research suggests many people are able to smell fear.
In fact, the ability to subliminally detect and respond to odours may relate to a variety of emotions we feel, ranging from happiness to aggression.
Jun 22, 2011...
Researchers studying autistic toddlers have discovered their brain activity appears to be out of sync at a very early stage – a finding that sheds light on the biology of the condition and might help in earlier diagnosis.
In research published in the journal Neuron, scientists in Israel used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to look at the brains of sleeping toddlers and found that certain types of neural activity are disrupted in autistic children, but not in typical children or in others with delayed language development.
Jan 21, 2015...
Unfortunately, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains a condition that presents more questions than answers.
Some studies have found a lack of connection or synchronization between different parts of the brain while other studies have found the exact opposite – an over-synchronization in the brains of those with ASD.
Now, new research by scientists at the Weizmann Institute and Carnegie Mellon University suggests that the various reports of both over- and under-connectivity may, in fact, reflect a deeper principle of brain function.
Nov 27, 2017...
ISTOCK MRKORNFLAKES
While humans aren’t as smell-dependent as many other animals, studies have shown we respond differently to others when they’re emitting certain olfactory signals—even if we can’t consciously detect them. In a study published today in Nature Neuroscience, researchers find that men with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), researchers find that men with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) sometimes respond differently to these chemical cues in human sweat than do people without the disorder, indicating that such responses may partly explain the disorder’s symptoms.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/autism-and-the-smell-of-fear/
Nov 27, 2017...
Skydivers provided the smell of fear for investigating how autistic men react to odors
REHOVOT, ISRAEL—November 27, 2017— Autism typically involves the inability to read social cues. We most often associate this with visual difficulty in interpreting facial expression, but new research at the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that the sense of smell may also play a central role in autism. As reported in Nature Neuroscience, Institute researchers show that people on the autism spectrum have different – and even opposite – reactions to odors produced by the human body. These odors are ones that we are unaware of smelling, but which are, nonetheless, a part of the nonverbal communication that takes place between people, and which have been shown to affect our moods and behavior. Their findings may provide a unique window on autism, including, possibly, on the underlying developmental malfunctions in the disorder.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/fellowship-awarded-via-video-from-israel/
Mar 28, 2012...
About 50 territory residents got to meet one of the world’s mostpromising young researchers Tuesday when she appeared at the Universityof the Virgin Islands via video conference from the Weizmann Instituteof Science in Israel.
Patricia Gruber, left, presents a fellowship in Israel via telecast at UVI. At right, Marshall S. Levin, Executive Vice President & CEO, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Apr 07, 2016... The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now states that about 1 in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and that ASDs are five times more common in boys (1 in 42) than girls (1 in 189). ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and ability to relate to others. The condition’s cause or causes are still unclear, and seem to be multiply determined – for example, a combination of genetic and environmental factors could be to blame.
Jul 02, 2015...
It may be possible to diagnose autism by giving children a sniff test, a new study suggests.
Most people instinctively take a big whiff when they encounter a pleasant smell and limit their breathing when they encounter a foul smell.
Children with autism spectrum disorder do not make this natural adjustment, said Liron Rozenkrantz, a neuroscientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and one of the researchers involved with the study.
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