Welcome to the UNO Autism, Brain, & Language Lab

The Autism, Brain, and Language (ABL) Lab of Dr. Tracey Knaus (Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of New Orleans) was established in 2017 and serves the Greater New Orleans area. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social and communication abilities with the presence of specialized interest or repetitive behaviors. Language ability is one of the strongest predictors of prognosis in children with ASD and is integral to one's quality of life. As a result,  it is our goal to further understand the differences in language ability in those with ASD as well as the neural components that underlie it.  Additionally, we are interested in using our findings to develop evidence-based interventions that improve language ability. We use various methods and research techniques to examine the differences in language related areas of the brain.  Dr. Knaus and her lab members are committed to the continued research in the community to help support families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.