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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Angie Voyles Askham

News Writer

Angie Voyles Askham is a reporter for Spectrum, where she covers neural circuits and gene therapy, among other topics. She proposed and writes Spectrum Launch, a monthly newsletter for early-career researchers. Before joining Spectrum in 2020, she worked in radio journalism and academic publishing. Voyles Askham has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. You can email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter @avaskham.

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June 2021
Micrographs of mouse astrocytes with high levels of inflammatory molecules.

Immune-regulating cells contribute to autism-like traits in mice

by  /  21 June 2021

The link between autism and prenatal exposure to an immune response may involve altered levels of immune cells, according to a new study.

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lab technician pipetting in dramatic light

Alternative gene-therapy approaches take aim at Rett syndrome

by  /  16 June 2021

Methods that selectively increase levels of the Rett protein make for safer and more effective treatment strategies, some researchers say.

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Brain activity patterns may distinguish girls with autism

by  /  2 June 2021

Atypical patterns of neuronal activity and gene expression in the striatum may characterize autism in girls, according to a new study.

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May 2021

Q&A with Sébastien Jacquemont and Clara Moreau: Why brain imaging signatures for autism are so elusive

by  /  20 May 2021

The field of neuroimaging will need to combine two strategies before it can find patterns of brain activity or structure unique to autism, the researchers say.

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Two women making eye contact while talking with each other.

Social attention shows sex difference in autism

by  /  14 May 2021

Autistic boys and men are less attuned to social stimuli than autistic girls and women are, according to new unpublished work.

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Neurons in red and green

‘Neurons on a chip’ reveal patterns across autism-linked conditions

by  /  7 May 2021

Activity patterns of neuronal networks link different genetic subtypes of autism that have similar traits, according to new unpublished research.

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Brown rat mother and pup in rustic setting with burlap and wheat.

Maternal antibodies tied to autism bind to budding rat neurons

by  /  6 May 2021

Certain antibodies may shape neurodevelopment by attaching to and invading new neurons in the brain.

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Autism-related conditions linked to altered visual perception

by  /  5 May 2021

A test of binocular rivalry may distinguish between autism subtypes and help researchers screen the efficacy of certain drugs.

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Younger brother giving older brother a haircut at home.

Siblings boost autistic people’s daily-living skills

by  /  4 May 2021

Autistic people with at least one sibling make greater gains in adaptive functioning than their only-child counterparts do.

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April 2021
Brain scan showing communication from amygdala to hypothalamus about social reward.

Brain circuit makes social interactions rewarding, may be altered in autism

by  /  30 April 2021

Blocking connections between the amygdala and hypothalamus prevents mice from finding social interactions as rewarding as they would otherwise.

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