In this episode, my guest is Dr. Karen Parker, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Social Neurosciences Research Program at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss the biology of social connections and bonding in babies, children and adults. Dr. Parker explains our current understanding of autism and autism spectrum disorders: what they are, why the incidence of autism has increased so dramatically in recent years and both the current and emerging treatments for autism. We also discuss the condition formerly called “Asperger’s.” This episode ought to be highly relevant for anyone interested in child and human development, how social bonds form, and to those curious about autism and other spectrum conditions. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Dr. Karen Parker Stanford academic profile: https://stan.md/3RjIkyY Parker Lab website: https://stan.md/3NicqBV Publications: https://stan.md/3RkO5N1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-parker-52485 Journal Articles Prenatal exposure to ultrasound waves impacts neuronal migration in mice: https://go.hubermanlab.com/ptyyU8HyYT Lancet retracts 12-year-old article linking autism to MMR vaccines: https://go.hubermanlab.com/dsvVI1uTYT Mother love: what turns it on?: https://go.hubermanlab.com/pdgfu9CEYT Intranasal oxytocin treatment for social deficits and biomarkers of response in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/a8XJjHAVYT Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: https://go.hubermanlab.com/roEfpTB5YT The effect of oxytocin nasal spray on social interaction in young children with autism: a randomized clinical trial: https://go.hubermanlab.com/JF1DoSnWYT Autism-associated biomarkers: test–retest reliability and relationship to quantitative social trait variation in rhesus monkeys: https://go.hubermanlab.com/lw3BnJ47YT Early Predictors of Impaired Social Functioning in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta): https://go.hubermanlab.com/mGm2a7KEYT Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin and symptom severity in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/vKY2h2EVYT A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial shows that intranasal vasopressin improves social deficits in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/CpRAxmCsYT Probiotic Therapy with Lactobacillus reuteri Rescues Social and Emotional Recognition Behavior in an Environmental Mouse Model of Autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/5gXuKmcXYT Oxytocin and the microbiome: https://go.hubermanlab.com/dsP3pfl8YT Balovaptan vs Placebo for Social Communication in Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder: https://go.hubermanlab.com/8bT6VLhWYT Articles & Other Resources MAPS “Can Ecstasy [MDMA] Treat Autism?”: https://maps.org/news/media/can-ecstasy-treat-autism Dr. Robert Malenka: How Your Brain's Reward Circuits Drive Your Choices (Huberman Lab episode): https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-robert-malenka-how-your-brains-reward-circuits-drive-your-choices Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org/ Chimp Empire (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81311783 Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Karen Parker 00:01:30 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, LMNT & Aero Press 00:06:25 Autism, Frequency, Diagnosis 00:10:41 Early Interventions; Heritability & Autistic Traits 00:13:00 Autistic Spectrums; Studying Autism 00:21:29 Environment, Risk Factors & In Utero Development 00:29:55 Sponsor: AG1 00:31:26 Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Social Behavior & Parent-Child Bonding 00:43:24 Oxytocin in Humans; Social Features of Autism, Intranasal Oxytocin 00:54:14 Sponsor: InsideTracker 00:55:16 Oxytocin & Autism; Benefit & Risks 01:06:30 Neuroplasticity & Autism; Early Intervention; Challenges of Early Diagnosis 01:14:30 MDMA & Autism 01:17:05 Vasopressin, Social Interaction; Voles & Parenthood 01:27:07 Human Social Connection, Oxytocin Levels & Autism 01:33:45 Primate Model of Social Impairment 01:42:47 Preclinical Animal Models, Mouse & Primates 01:47:11 Primates, Biomarkers & Social Connection; Vasopressin 01:52:20 Vasopressin Levels & Autism, Children & In Utero 02:03:06 Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) & Vasopressin; Urination; Alternative Therapies 02:10:32 Intranasal Vasopressin, Children, Autism & Social Responsiveness 02:19:15 Vasopressin & Social Connection, Mechanism & Future Studies 02:26:35 Gut Microbiome & Vasopressin; Scientific Funding 02:34:52 Vasopressin Pathways, Social Behavior, Autism 02:43:00 Vaccine Theory & Autism; Immunology 02:54:06 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter #HubermanLab #Science #Autism Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com/ Disclaimer: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer