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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Holly Barker

Holly Barker is a freelance writer specializing in biology, medicine and psychology. She has a Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience from King’s College London in the United Kingdom and a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from the University of Manchester. She has previously written for Discover and BioNews. She is based in London.

September 2022
Brain scans demonstrating differences in mice with TBR1 mutations.

Mutation-specific models highlight autism’s heterogeneity

by  /  12 September 2022

The brains of mice carrying different mutations in the autism-linked gene TBR1 display different molecular changes yet similar structural changes, resembling those previously found in autistic people with TBR1 mutations.

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May 2022
Two people in cafe seen through window, crowded street beyond.

Autistic adults in Japan stay active in their communities, households

by  /  5 May 2022

A new longitudinal study paints a favorable picture of the outcomes for many autistic adults in the city of Yokohama.

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3D rendering of a mouse brain showing axons coming from the prefrontal cortex in various colors.

New atlas maps neuronal wiring in mouse brain

by  /  3 May 2022

The ‘projectome’ charts axonal pathways between individual cells in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in autism.

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March 2022

New MRI probe illuminates neuronal interactions

by  /  30 March 2022

The calcium-sensing instrument translates neuronal activity into signals that can be detected via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

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New human neuron assays set stage for high-throughput autism drug screens

by  /  22 March 2022

The ability to conduct large-scale screening in human neurons could accelerate the discovery of autism treatments.

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Silenced X chromosome genes reawaken in new mouse model

by  /  3 March 2022

The new animal line could accelerate the discovery of gene-activating therapies for the autism-linked condition Rett syndrome.

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February 2022

Probe captures neuronal conversations in people

by  /  9 February 2022

A modified version of a probe commonly used in animals detected neuronal activity across different cortical layers in three people undergoing brain surgery.

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Software automatically measures mouse's gait and posture by tracking various points on the mouse's body.

Algorithm spots subtle gait changes in autism mouse models

by  /  4 February 2022

By automatically quantifying gait and posture in videos of mice, a new machine-learning tool could accelerate research on how autism-linked mutations or drug treatments affect motor skills.

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January 2022

Neuron-specific virus overcomes barriers to brain-related gene therapy

by  /  14 January 2022

A new viral variant can deliver genes exclusively to the brain, overcoming a key hurdle in treating neurological conditions using gene therapy.

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New method spotlights synaptic plasticity in living mice

by  /  5 January 2022

Mice that express a fluorescent synaptic receptor reveal the interactions between neurons in unprecedented detail.

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