The First International Symposium on Autism Held at Sun Yat-sen University

Last updated:2013-09-29

Source: News Center

The first International Symposium on Autism, jointly organized by Department of Psychology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, School of Foreign Languages and Department of Statistical Science, was held at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) on September 21, 2013. Over 200 people attended the conference. The invited guest speakers were: Karen Dobkins from University of California, San Diego; Lane Strathearn from Baylor College of Medicine; Agnes Chan from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Wang Liang-hui from China Medical University, Taiwan; Wang Suiping from South China Normal University; Fan Yuebo from Guangzhou Cana School; Zou Xiaobing from The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Li Yi and Lisa Joseph from Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University.

The two focuses of this symposium were psychological characteristics and intervention for children with autism. For the psychological characteristics of children with autism, the talks mainly focused on: 1. Atypical visual processing patterns; 2. pitch perception and phonetic acquisition; 3. perception of biological motion and action recognition; 4. rust and deception; 5. Repetitive behaviors. For intervention, the talks mainly focused on: 1. the potential new medicine for autism----oxytocin; 2. Chinese Chan-Based prospective neuropsychological intervention; and 3. The practical intervention methods and effects in educational institutions for special children in China. Dr. Zou Xiaobing, the Director of the Child Developmental Behavior Center in The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yet-sen University, reviewed the current research on autism in China.

On the basis of empirical studies, this symposium discussed the hotspot issues in the field of autism research. The symposium promotes the international academic exchange and collaboration between China and foreign countries, facilitates the research of the attendees, and shares the valuable experience about autism with autism-related professionals, young scholars, and students.

In collaboration with Dr. Zou Xiaobing, Director of the Child Developmental Behavior Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Dr. Fan Yuebo, Principal of Guangzhou Cana School, and Dr. Kang Lee from the University of Toronto, Yi Li, Gao Dingguo and students from the Department of Psychology published a series of research papers in the top journals in the field of autism and child psychology, including Autism Research, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Journal of Vision, and Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. These studies investigated cognitive characteristics and early intervention of children with autism, and found that children with autism displayed atypical patterns in trust behaviors, face processing, eye movements, working memory and executive functions. The successful convening of the symposium also indicated the positive influence of Sun Yat-sen University in the field of autism research.