Dr. Peter J. Marshall received his B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and he completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland. He joined the faculty at Temple University in 2004. Dr. Marshall's research primarily focuses on early social and cognitive development with an emphasis on combining behavioral and neuroscience research methods.     

In this lecture, Dr. Marshall will present current research from developmental psychology which has implications for understanding the social deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  Dr. Marshall will discuss current theories of infant social development, including one known as "Like Me" which proposes that infants begin to understand others through the lens of their own experiences. While much of the related research with infants has not directly concerned autism, the "Like Me" theory has been suggested as having important implications for understanding the developmental origins of ASD. The lecture will make links between this theory and research examining how individuals with ASD view themselves in relation to other people. Dr. Marshall will also discuss how developmental cognitive-neuroscience research can help to partly explain problems with social interaction in ASD. 

This lecture is intended for families of individuals on the autism spectrum and professionals supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. We also invite anyone who is interested in learning more about ASD.

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss theories from developmental psychology about how infants develop a sense of themselves and other people.
2. See the relevance of current research in early social development for understanding atypical development in autism.
3. Describe recent empirical findings in cognitive neuroscience that are relevant to understanding problems with social engagement in ASD.

Please RSVP to hold your seat!