Christina Fuentes graduated from MIT in 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in brain and cognitive sciences. As a Hopkins neuroscience doctoral student, Christina is interested in studying patient populations in order to both develop better therapies and to also gain a better understanding of basic brain function. Currently, Fuentes is focusing on autism spectrum disorders. In autism, unknown brain abnormalities cause atypical perception of sensory input. Depending on the situation, this atypical perception can lead to enhanced or diminished performance, possibly contributing to common symptoms in this population, such as repetitive behaviors and interests, poor social skills, and impaired imitative abilities. She hopes to better characterize this atypical perception and its cause. This knowledge could uncover potential training strategies to improve the lives of autistic patients, as well as provide insight into how the brain processes sensory input.