Society for Neuroscience 2014 Society for Neuroscience 2014 | Spectrum | Autism Research News Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

NEWS /

Society for Neuroscience 2014

November 2014
SFN 2014

Songs, squeaks combine to tell story about human language

by  /  17 November 2014

Birdsong is a valuable tool for studying language, and mice are the models of choice for genetic manipulation of behavior. Together, birds and mice can yield unparalleled insights into human language, suggests unpublished research presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Non-starring cells may be key in fragile X syndrome

by  /  17 November 2014

Mice missing the FMR1 gene only in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes recapitulate key features of fragile X syndrome. Researchers presented the unpublished results today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Minute patterns of movement mark autism parents

by  /  16 November 2014

Children with autism and their parents share movement patterns imperceptible to the human eye, according to unpublished results presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Researchers refine cerebellum’s role in autism

by  /  16 November 2014

People with autism have trouble moving in response to something they see, a process tuned by the cerebellum. Researchers presented the unpublished study today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Another study presented today links defects in a section of the cerebellum to language problems in autism, underscoring the region’s importance in the disorder.

2 Comments
SFN 2014

Tadpole model links epilepsy drug’s effects to chromatin

by  /  16 November 2014

Valproic acid, an epilepsy drug that increases the risk of autism, may alter neural circuits by opening up chromatin, a tightly packaged form of DNA in the nucleus. Researchers presented the unpublished data today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Brains of Angelman mice show altered response to motion

by  /  16 November 2014

Mice modeling Angelman syndrome, an autism-related disorder, show abnormal brain responses when they see movement, according to unpublished work presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Treatment prevents autism-like symptoms in ‘teenage’ mice

by  /  16 November 2014

A treatment that targets the genetic defect in tuberous sclerosis prevents autism-like symptoms in mice at 6 weeks of age — the mouse equivalent of adolescence. Researchers presented the unpublished results yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
 

1 Comment
SFN 2014

The next hot topic in autism research? Immune cells

by  /  16 November 2014

Some cases of autism may result from glitches in immune cells in the blood: This provocative idea stems from a series of unpublished mouse studies presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

13 Comments
SFN 2014

Autism-linked genetic region affects size of brain structures

by  /  16 November 2014

Deletion or duplication of 7q11.23, a chromosomal region linked to Williams syndrome and autism, alters the size of several brain structures, according to unpublished results presented Sunday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments
SFN 2014

Family of autism-linked proteins helps neurons communicate

by  /  16 November 2014

The SHANK family of proteins, some of which are strong autism candidates, work together to facilitate brain signaling, according to unpublished results presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

0 Comments