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Mikle South Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Brigham Young University 234 TLRB Provo, Utah 84602 (801)422-4058 mikle_south@byu.edu |
Education
- B.A. in Psychology, Yale University, 1994
- M.A. in Child Clinical Psychology, University of Utah, 2001
- Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology University of Utah, 2005
- Post-doctoral Fellowship, Developmental Neuroimaging Program, Yale Child Study Center, 2005-2007
Research Interests
Autism spectrum is a term used to describe a wide range of behaviors, including atypical styles of social interaction, that are often extremely challenging for individuals diagnosed with autism as well as their families and community systems. My research is geared toward trying to understand how brain networks related to social and emotional motivation develop across individuals, and whether there are recognizable differences in developmental patterns between people diagnosed with autism and their more mainstream peers. I am especially interested in the role of emotional regulation systems of the brain (such as amygdala and orbital frontal cortex) as related to the frequent occurrence of symptoms of anxiety that affect individuals with autism, and how anxiety and emotional learning might contribute to the autism story. I have a related interest in special interests and other repetitive behaviors in autism. I am currently working on studies using behavioral, psychophysiological (such as skin conductance and EMG), and especially functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)techniques. More generally I am excited to see how progress in many areas of neuroscience may help us to understand variations in brain and behavior, and to eventually discover new avenues for growth and success for those who do not easily fit into the typical everyday world.
Selected Publications
- South, M., Ozonoff, S., Suchy, Y., Lainhart, J. E., & McMahon, W. M. (in press). Intact emotional facilitation for learning and decision making in autism: is amygdala impairment specific for social information? To appear in The Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
- South, M., Ozonoff, S., & McMahon, W. M. (in press). The relationship between executive functioning, central coherence, and repetitive behaviors in the high-functioning autism spectrum. To appear in Autism: the International Journal of Research and Practice.
- South, M., Ozonoff, S., & McMahon, W.M. (2005). Repetitive behavior profiles in Asperger Syndrome and High-functioning Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, 145-158.
- South, M., Williams, B. J., McMahon, W. M., Owley, T., Filipek, P. A., Shernoff, E., Corsello, C., Lainhart, J., Landa, R., & Ozonoff, S. (2002). Utility of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales in research and clinical populations. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 593-599.
- Florsheim, P., Behling, S., South, M., Fowles, T. R., & DeWitt, J. (2004). Does the system work?: Tracking the effectiveness of intervention efforts with delinquent boys in state's custody. Psychological Services, 1, 126-139.
- Owley, T., McMahon, W., Cook, E. H., Lauhere T. M., South, M., Mays, L. Z., Shernoff, E.S., Lainhart, J., Modahl, C. M., Corsello. C., Ozonoff, S., Risi, S., Lord, C., Leventhal, B., & Filipek, P. A. (2001). Multi-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine secretin in autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1293-99.
- Ozonoff, S., South, M., & Miller, J. N. (2000). DSM-IV-defined Asperger Syndrome: Cognitive, behavioral, and early history differentiation from high-functioning autism. Autism, 4, 29-46
