Spectrum: Autism Research News

Pups born to mothers that experience low oxygen during sleep have overactive mTOR signaling, which has been linked to some forms of autism.

An overreliance on small studies with limited reproducibility has slowed the advancement of neuroimaging, a new analysis suggests.

In the lab, neuroscientist Ben Rein studies mouse models of autism. But on TikTok, he’s fighting pseudoscience about his field, one video at a time.

Given the known link between severe maternal infections and autism, some scientists are investigating whether COVID-19 during pregnancy can affect a child’s neurodevelopment.

Andrew Jaffe, head of data sciences at Neumora Therapeutics, answers Spectrum’s questions about how his new career in biotech differs from his previous one in academia.

Last month, the International Society for Autism Research launched the INSAR Community Collaborator Request (ICCR), an online forum to foster collaborations between autistic people and autism researchers. Its creator, Zachary Williams, explains how researchers can make the most of this new resource.

Mutations in a newly identified protein complex that interacts with the Rett protein also lead to a Rett-like condition in mice, researchers say.

Targeting the molecule, 4EPS, with an experimental drug may be a way to ease anxiety for autistic people, the researchers say. But not everyone is convinced.

Mutations in all three accelerate the maturation of inhibitory neurons, which could upset the brain’s balance of excitation and inhibition early in development.

The protein, FMRP, shapes cell signaling near synapses but switches to regulate genes in the cell body, according to new research.