Tiered Mentoring Program

Defining the Autonomic Brain in Autism

Ronald R. Seese, M.D., Ph.D., developmental neurologist at Akron Children’s Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at NEOMED

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Note: Any student chosen for this project will be responsible for providing their own transportation to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

Neuron 1.pngDefining the Autonomic Brain in Autism

Are you passionate about neuroscience, autism, or the brain's complex control systems? We are seeking a motivated UA student to join a small research team working on an exciting project linked to a larger, grant-funded study aimed at understanding and treating dysautonomia in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This project explores how the brain, specifically the cerebellum, controls the body’s autonomic responses, such as adrenaline release, and how this is disrupted in ASD.

Why This Research Matters: Over 70% of autistic children experience dysautonomia—issues with autonomic responses that lead to physical and behavioral challenges. Current treatments are non-selective and often ineffective. We aim to change that by identifying specific brain regions responsible for these dysregulated responses and exploring new, targeted therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Your Role:

  • Contribute to ground-breaking experiments using advanced neuroscience techniques.
  • Develop expertise in immunohistochemistry and then computationally map out autonomic brain networks.
  • Help test how the cerebellum influences autonomic responses in an animal model of ASD by assisting with behavioral neuroscience experiments.
  • Assist in analyzing how these brain regions may be altered in autism, with the potential to uncover new treatment targets.

Neuron 2.pngWhat You’ll Gain:

  • Hands-on experience in behavioral and systems neuroscience.
  • A chance to be part of research that could transform the way we treat ASD.
  • Collaboration with a dynamic research team full of undergraduates in an interdisciplinary environment.
  • If you're interested in neuroscience, autism research, or making a real-world impact with your studies, this is your opportunity!

Apply now to be part of a research team that's pushing the boundaries of what we know about the brain and autism!