James McPartland, PhD, is the director of the Developmental Disabilities Clinic and Harris Professor at Yale Child Study Center He has written seven books and more than 200 scholarly works on autism and related topics. His research investigates the brain bases of neurodevelopmental conditions to develop tools that improve detection, treatment, and quality of life for autistic people and their families.
In a recent interview, McPartland shared some of his expertise about autism also known as autism spectrum disorder which is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact, learn, and behave.
“Autistic people are born with brains that process information differently than neurotypical people,” he explains. As these neurodiverse brains grow and develop, differences shape attention and social interactions, which can influence how the brain continues to develop.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity and formatted into a three-part Q&A series.
In the second Q&A of this three-part series, McPartland explores biomarker research in greater depth, sharing insights into promising work in this area and discussing future directions of autism research at Yale. In the third installment, he discusses ways to involve autistic people in related research and how the neurodiversity movement has impacted autism awareness. He also suggests ways to support the needs of people of all ages who are affected by autism.
