Dr. Gemma, Autism Consultant

Dr. Gemma, Autism Consultant Dr Gemma is an award‑winning educator who specialises in autism, inclusion, and behaviour science.

She offers support through a neurodivergent lens to build capacity, independence and good mental health for autistic individuals and their teams.
​

Common and rare variants shape distinct genetic architecture of autism in African AmericansCertain gene variants may hav...
15/01/2026

Common and rare variants shape distinct genetic architecture of autism in African AmericansCertain gene variants may have greater weight in determining autism likelihood for some populations, a new study shows.

Certain gene variants may have greater weight in determining autism likelihood for some populations, a new study shows.

Early Screen Time Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes, Teen AnxietyNew research following children for more than a decade ...
30/12/2025

Early Screen Time Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes, Teen AnxietyNew research following children for more than a decade links high screen exposure before age two to accelerated brain maturation, slower decision-making, and increased anxiety by adolescence. Infants with more screen time showed premature specialization in brain networks involved in visual processing and cognitive control, which later reduced flexibility during thinking tasks.

New research following children for more than a decade links high screen exposure before age two to accelerated brain maturation, slower decision-making, and increased anxiety by adolescence.

AI Brain Model Shows How Neurons Learn, and Where They FailA biologically grounded computational model built to mimic re...
29/12/2025

AI Brain Model Shows How Neurons Learn, and Where They FailA biologically grounded computational model built to mimic real neural circuits, not trained on animal data, learned a visual categorization task just as actual lab animals do, matching their accuracy, variability, and underlying neural rhythms. By integrating fine-scale synaptic rules with large-scale architecture across cortex, striatum, brainstem, and acetylcholine-modulated systems, the model reproduced hallmark patterns of learning, including strengthened beta-band synchrony between regions during correct decisions.

A biologically grounded computational model built to mimic real neural circuits, not trained on animal data, learned a visual categorization task just as actual lab animals do, matching their accuracy, variability, and underlying neural rhythms.

Study Finds Way to Reverse Alzheimer’sA new study challenges the long-held belief that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be rev...
27/12/2025

Study Finds Way to Reverse Alzheimer’sA new study challenges the long-held belief that Alzheimer’s disease cannot be reversed. Researchers showed that a severe drop in NAD+—a core energy molecule—drives Alzheimer’s pathology in both human brains and mouse models.

Researchers showed that a severe drop in NAD+—a core energy molecule—drives Alzheimer’s pathology in both human brains and mouse models.

Working Nights May Increase Cancer RiskChronic circadian disruption — such as night-shift work, irregular schedules, or ...
26/12/2025

Working Nights May Increase Cancer RiskChronic circadian disruption — such as night-shift work, irregular schedules, or frequent jet lag — accelerates the development and spread of aggressive breast cancer. Researchers found that disrupted internal clocks not only weaken immune defenses but also reshape healthy breast tissue, creating conditions that tumors exploit.

Chronic circadian disruption — such as night-shift work, irregular schedules, or frequent jet lag — accelerates the development and spread of aggressive breast cancer.

Spectrum 2025: Year in reviewRevisit some of the conversations and debates—on topics from leucovorin to the gut microbio...
24/12/2025

Spectrum 2025: Year in reviewRevisit some of the conversations and debates—on topics from leucovorin to the gut microbiome—that have shaped autism research in the past 12 months.

Revisit some of the conversations and debates—on topics from leucovorin to the gut microbiome—that have shaped autism research in the past 12 months.

Autism in Kenya, organoid research, and moreHere is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web...
23/12/2025

Autism in Kenya, organoid research, and moreHere is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 22 December.

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 22 December.

Smiling Faces Trigger Mimicry, and Make Us Trust Them MorePeople instinctively mimic others’ facial expressions, but new...
22/12/2025

Smiling Faces Trigger Mimicry, and Make Us Trust Them MorePeople instinctively mimic others’ facial expressions, but new research shows we do this far more with joyful faces than with sadness or anger—and that the intensity of mimicry predicts how much we trust someone. Across three experiments using EMG and behavioral tasks, participants copied smiles more readily and rated smiling individuals as more attractive, confident, and trustworthy.

People instinctively mimic others’ facial expressions, but new research shows we do this far more with joyful faces than with sadness or anger—and that the intensity of mimicry predicts how much we trust someone.

22/12/2025

Scientific Progress During a Challenging Year 2025 has been a monumentally challenging year for scientists in general and for autism researchers in particular, but despite drastic federal funding cuts, scientists […]
The post 2025 Autism Research Year in Review first appeared on Autism Science Foundation.

Scientific Progress During a Challenging Year 2025 has been a monumentally challenging year for scientists in general and for autism researchers in particular, but despite drastic federal funding cuts, scientists continued to make progress toward understanding autism’s causes, improving diagnosis,...

Emotional Stress Triggers Instant Arousal From Deep SleepA new study uncovers a precise brain pathway that rapidly conve...
19/12/2025

Emotional Stress Triggers Instant Arousal From Deep SleepA new study uncovers a precise brain pathway that rapidly converts emotional stress into sudden wakefulness during NREM sleep. Researchers found that GABAergic neurons in the BNST activate glutamatergic neurons in the DpMe, causing immediate arousal.

A new study uncovers a precise brain pathway that rapidly converts emotional stress into sudden wakefulness during NREM sleep.

Depression Quietly Damages the Heart Through Stress CircuitsDepression and anxiety may heighten cardiovascular disease r...
18/12/2025

Depression Quietly Damages the Heart Through Stress CircuitsDepression and anxiety may heighten cardiovascular disease risk through chronic stress pathways in the brain and body. In a large analysis of more than 85,000 adults, those with depression or anxiety — especially both — were significantly more likely to experience heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Depression and anxiety may heighten cardiovascular disease risk through chronic stress pathways in the brain and body.

Dopamine Acts as a Movement Support System, Not a Speed ControllerDopamine may not control the force or speed of movemen...
17/12/2025

Dopamine Acts as a Movement Support System, Not a Speed ControllerDopamine may not control the force or speed of movements as long believed. Instead, it appears to function as a foundational chemical that enables movement in the first place.

Dopamine may not control the force or speed of movements as long believed.

Address

Perth, WA
6000

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Gemma, Autism Consultant posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category