Angelman
Learning in Angelman syndrome
Over the past three years, researchers at the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders have been conducting research examining preference and reinforcement in Angelman syndrome. Two projects, led by Prof Chris Oliver, Dr Dawn Adams and Mary Heald, were designed to further explore the reported heightened sociability and preference for certain sensory experiences often associated with Angelman syndrome. To download a summary of the studies and their findings, download the document at the bottom of this page.
The first study showed that the use of social and sensory experiences as rewards with children with Angelman syndrome may increase children’s speed of learning. In the second study, it was shown that certain cues may be a useful way to make the environment more predictable for children, for example wearing a bright jacket indicates that attention is not available.
In the video below, Dr Mary Heald discusses these research findings.
Learning in Angelman Sydrome - Summary