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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Bahar Gholipour

Bahar Gholipour is a freelance science journalist based in New York. She focuses on the brain, neuroscience and psychology, and is passionate about reporting on artificial intelligence, genetics and the politics of healthcare. Her writing has appeared in various print and online publications including WIRED, New York Magazine and Scientific AmericanBahar has a Masters degree in neuroscience from Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, and has done graduate-level work at Stony Brook University’s School of Journalism.

October 2019
white mouse

Double immune hit challenges female mice’s resistance to autism

by  /  23 October 2019

Female mice can withstand a maternal antibody that triggers brain abnormalities and autism-like behaviors in males. But additional immune challenges spell trouble.

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Group of images of neurons glow green

New technique records neuronal teamwork in live mice

by  /  23 October 2019

A new imaging technique detects specific groups of firing neurons in the brains of moving mice, enabling scientists to study brain activity linked to a particular behavior.

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Mitochondrion, coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM). Mitochondria are a type of organelle found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. They oxidise sugars and fats to produce energy in a process called respiration. A mitochondrion has two membranes, a smooth outer membrane and a folded inner membrane. The folds of the inner membrane are called cristae, and it is here that the chemical reactions to produce energy take place. Magnification: x62,800 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

Leaky mitochondria may play central role in fragile X syndrome

by  /  23 October 2019

Some traits of fragile X syndrome may be due to problems with mitochondria, the cell’s energy factories.

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Smart phone with augmented reality app

Augmented-reality app brings research images to life

by  /  22 October 2019

A new mobile app enhances scientific images by displaying augmented-reality renderings of the complete data over printed figures.

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Marijuana plant

Cannabis compound improves sociability in autism mouse model

by  /  22 October 2019

A single dose of cannabidiol, a component of marijuana, eases seizures and improves learning and sociability in mice with mutations in an autism gene called CDKL5.

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A new technique helps reveal patterns in the migration of neurons (green) to their destination (red).

A stop-motion movie of the whole brain, starring new neurons

by  /  21 October 2019

A method that visualizes nascent and migrating neurons in the mouse brain may shed light on brain development in autistic people.

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Breaks in long genes may underpin some forms of autism

by  /  20 October 2019

Neurons derived from autistic people with enlarged brains show extensive damage to long genes.

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Algorithm may help identify subgroups of autism

by  /  20 October 2019

A new algorithm accurately separates highly similar people into subgroups based on their brain activity — and could do the same for autistic people.

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May 2019
Image of DNA made up of hundreds of tiny images in a mosaic effect.

New algorithm identifies rare mutations in single neurons

by  /  3 May 2019

A new computational method sifts true mutations from spurious ones in a single cell’s genome.

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March 2019

Faulty mitochondria may fuel features of fragile X syndrome

by  /  14 March 2019

Problems with the minute ‘factories’ that yield energy for cells — the mitochondria — may contribute to learning problems and other traits of fragile X syndrome.

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