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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Laura Dattaro

Former Senior News Writer

Laura Dattaro was a senior reporter at Spectrum from 2020 to 2023, where she covered genetics, mental health, public policy and other areas of autism research. She proposed and wrote the Null and Noteworthy newsletter, a monthly recap of studies with null results and replications. Dattaro has worked as a science journalist and editor for more than 10 years and has written for the Columbia Journalism ReviewPopular MechanicsSlate and The New York Times, among other publications. Before joining Spectrum, she also worked as associate producer for the World Science Festival. Dattaro has an M.A. in science and health journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. in English and music from the University of Delaware. You can find her on Twitter at @LauraLauraDat.

January 2021
3D image of a rat with motion sensor nodes on, in a clear cage.

Motion-capture videos reveal atypical grooming in fragile X rats

by  /  27 January 2021

A Hollywood-inspired video tool that captures movement in three dimensions over extended time periods shows that rats lacking the autism-linked gene FMR1 have different grooming patterns than controls do.

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3D glasses viewing a group fo people.

The promise of scientific partnerships with people on the spectrum

by  /  14 January 2021

Five collaborations involving autistic scientists and experts are advancing autism research, from lending support for theories of the condition to shoring up trials of new treatments.

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Mouse brain scan video still in black and white.

New mouse brain atlas traces connections in fine detail

by  /  13 January 2021

A new wiring diagram of the mouse brain could help autism researchers better study how brain connections vary in mice with different genetic backgrounds.

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Face stimuli displaying neutral emotions and EEG electrode recording sites.

Brain response to facial features may lag in autistic people

by  /  13 January 2021

Looking at eyes, noses and mouths may prompt slower recognition in the brains of autistic people than in those of non-autistic people.

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Four white mice on a rotarod, blue background.

Motor skills, brain volume affected in mouse model of DDX3X syndrome

by  /  13 January 2021

Mice missing one copy of the autism-linked gene DDX3X have smaller brains and worse motor skills than mice with both copies of the gene, according to a new unpublished study.

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Neurons show structural changes, seen in black and white.

Loss of a top autism gene may alter neuron structure

by  /  12 January 2021

Mutations in the autism-linked gene ASH1L change how neurons grow and develop.

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grid of clocks showing different times

Missing autism gene may affect time perception in mice

by  /  11 January 2021

Mice missing a copy of the autism-linked gene NRXN1 appear to perceive some time intervals as shorter than control mice do, according to a new study.

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computational neural network in red and blue lines.

Computational technique recapitulates neuron shapes

by  /  11 January 2021

A new method automatically reconstructs the 3D branching shapes of neurons from images.

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Young man at the kitchen sink next to open dishwasher.

Daily living skills influence autistic adults’ education, employment options

by  /  5 January 2021

Autistic people’s skill at managing the demands of daily life decline after they leave high school, according to a new study. But those who maintain more abilities are more likely to pursue further education than those who don’t.

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December 2020
portrait of Dr. Waganesh Zeleke.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Waganesh Zeleke

by  /  22 December 2020

Waganesh Zeleke studies how cultural views can shape autistic people’s lives, as well as the lives of those around them.

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