Inactivating TAOK1 prompts tentacle-like protrusions to form all over a neuron’s surface, revealing the gene’s role in molding the membrane. The post Mutations in autism-linked gene cause membrane mischief appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

The questionnaire, designed to screen children for autism, isn’t ready for clinical use without further validation, contrary to what some overblown newspaper headlines reported. The post Tempering tales of a new autism measure: A conversation with Thomas Frazier appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

A new measure shows how greatly movement influences associations between traits and brain activity, revealing abundant false positives and false negatives.

This edition takes aim at the autism-intervention evidence base with a slew of null results, plus findings that challenge a prevailing autism brain theory. The post Null & Noteworthy: Intervention flops; neural noise; gender care appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

CRISPR-edited prairie voles that lack receptors for the so-called "social hormone" still bond with their mate and pups, raising questions about the molecule's role.

Serious differences in autism identification persist, according to an analysis of autistic children in New Jersey over 16 years.

Shortly after the study’s publication, experts critiqued it on PubPeer and other online platforms. The post ‘Science working as it should’: Autism blood signature study earns open post-publication review appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

The power struggle between researchers, autistic self-advocates and parents is threatening progress across the field.

‘Tis the season for grad school meet and greets. But what are interviewers looking for, and how can early-career researchers bring their best? The post Spectrum Launch: What makes a good graduate school interview? appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

To include more autistic people in research, here's what scientists need to know about informed consent procedures for study participants who have impaired decision-making capacity.

Memories from Diering’s life trace the rising star’s scientific path from raising lizards as a child and later exploring home brewing to heading a lab that investigates memory, sleep disturbances and early development in animals with autism-linked mutations. The post Asleep in the Mouse House with Graham Diering appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

The questionnaire, designed to screen children for autism, isn't ready for clinical use without further validation, contrary to what some overblown newspaper headlines reported.

Inactivating TAOK1 prompts tentacle-like protrusions to form all over a neuron's surface, revealing the gene's role in molding the membrane.

Most people with the X-linked syndrome have autism traits, and about one-quarter meet diagnostic criteria for the condition. The post Turner syndrome tied to autism appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

This edition takes aim at the autism-intervention evidence base with a slew of null results, plus findings that challenge a prevailing autism brain theory.

Postmortem brain samples from people with one of six conditions, including autism, show distinct signatures of over- and underexpression of immune genes. The post Immunity-linked genes expressed differently in brains of autistic people appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Many autism-linked genes are somehow tied to cilia, the tiny hair-like sensors that stud a cell’s surface. But the question remains whether, and how, cilia differences contribute to the condition. The post Autism and the cell’s antennae appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Common diagnostic and research practices may be adding to autism’s sex bias, but there are some simple steps scientists can take to counteract it. The post How scientists can counteract their unwitting contributions to autism’s sex bias appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Brazil could learn from the challenges and successes of other nations to become a leader in planning for the needs of autistic people. The post How to plan policies that support the autism community in Brazil: Lessons from a U.S. experience appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

This year saw the debut of ever-more complex techniques to grow and analyze brain organoids and other 3D tissue cultures, among other advances. The post Hot topics in autism research in 2022 appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Rumbaugh, who studies how the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 shapes brain development, describes how he has embraced coastal living and which aspects of his career he wouldn’t do over. The post Beyond the bench: Finding balance with Gavin Rumbaugh appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Having an infection during pregnancy is tied to a small increase in the chances of having an autistic child, but the connection may not be causal. The post The link between maternal infection and autism, explained appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

Faulty mTOR signaling, implicated in syndromic forms of autism, also hinders cells grown from people with idiopathic autism or autism-linked deletions on chromosome 16. The post Autism subgroups converge on cell growth pathway appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

The approach could help test hypotheses about how atypical function of the brain’s immune cells contributes to autism. The post Mapping tool reveals microglia’s shape-shifting secrets appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.

The in-depth approach shows mutations in the autism-linked gene disrupt neuronal growth and communication, as well as mitochondrial gene expression. The post Multi-omics study captures CNTNAP2’s far-ranging effects appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News.