Neuroscientist sees video games as a tool to help youth with autism

\”After her nephew was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, neuroscientist Leanne Chukoskie immersed herself in the subject, and changed her research focus to helping those with the diagnosis.

“When I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute, I had a family member diagnosed with autism,” Chukoskie said. “My family came to me; everyone’s asking ‘What is this, what should we do?’ and it wasn’t what I studied.”

Chukoskie is now the associate director of UCSD’s Research for Autism and Development Lab (RADLab). She applies eye movement research to ASD and develops attention-training video games for those on the spectrum.

“We have moved from a focus on measuring different aspects of perception and attention and movements in individuals on the spectrum to try to take what we’ve learned and intervene,” Chukoskie said.\”

Click here to read more of Vanessa Castellon\’s article.