Objective Predispositions for newly hatched/born vertebrates, including humans, to attend to and preferentially learn about conspecifics, are pervasive and can be of vital biological importance. Such predispositions are, however, very poorly understood. Studying them, and their physiological, genetic, molecular and neural bases, is crucial for an understanding of typical and atypical human development. Indeed, some have suggested that lack of such predispositions may contribute to autism. We will develop a detailed animal model of vertebrate social predispositions using the domestic chick, relating this work closely to equivalent behavioural and neural measures in human newborns including those at risk of autism, for which there is no widely accepted animal model. We aim to:(1) identify in chicks neural systems underlying known social predispositions; (2) study their physiological, genetic and molecular bases; (3) pursue behavioural parallels between chick and human predispositions; (4) study brain structures activated in human newborns as they view social stimuli; (5) by studying social attachment in chicks not expressing specific predispositions, develop a secure animal model of autism. Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-SH4 - ERC Advanced Grant - The Human Mind and its complexity Call for proposal ERC-2011-ADG_20110406 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO EU contribution € 2 367 922,00 Address Via calepina 14 38122 Trento Italy See on map Region Nord-Est Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Giorgio Vallortigara (Prof.) Administrative Contact Vanessa Ravagni (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO Italy EU contribution € 2 367 922,00 Address Via calepina 14 38122 Trento See on map Region Nord-Est Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Giorgio Vallortigara (Prof.) Administrative Contact Vanessa Ravagni (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data