Stewart H. Mostofsky, M.D.

In the Laboratory for Neurocognitive and Imaging Research (LNIR), Dr. Mostofsky investigates the biological bases of developmental disorders using both structural and functional imaging techniques and experimental neurobehavioral paradigms, including motor/oculomotor and cognitive testing. These methods are used to improve our understanding of the neurologic basis of autism and ADHD. This work has been supported by grants from the NIH (NINDS and NIMH) and the Autism Speaks Foundation.

Dr. Mostofsky’s research with children with autism is focused on careful examination of the motor function, as increased insight into the brain mechanisms underlying the disorder might be gained from careful consideration of the motor signs associated with autism. Dr. Mostofsky has made important contributions to identifying the common factors underlying motor impairments in autism and has begun to understand how anomalous patterns of motor learning in autism may contribute to the impaired social and communicative deficits that define the disorder.

Dr. Mostofsky is also working to pinpoint the neural systems affected in ADHD and to help identify mechanisms for effective therapeutic intervention. This investigative work has led to important insights into how impairments in response selection and control (of behavior ranging from basic motor execution to higher level cognition) contribute to the excessive impulsive, hyperactive, and off-task ("distractible") behavior.