WEEK OF
November 19th
Research roundup
- Repetitive behaviors in infants at risk for autism are associated with lower functional connectivity between the visual and control networks of the brain. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
- A saliva-based biomarker panel can differentiate children with autism from typical children or those with developmental delay with 85 percent accuracy. Frontiers in Genetics
- Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom tested sex differences in autism traits in half a million people, including more than 36,000 with autism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- There is limited evidence that certain techniques for teaching speech and language skills improve communication in minimally verbal autistic children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Neurotypical men with high levels of autism traits don’t rely on facial cues to judge others’ trustworthiness. British Journal of Psychology
- The ‘baseline’ human genome that researchers have been using for the past 17 years is missing nearly 300 million DNA base pairs — about 10 percent of its length — found in people of African descent. Nature Genetics
- Aggression in children with autism may lead to sleep problems; reducing aggression may help improve sleep. Research in Developmental Disabilities
- Easing gastrointestinal problems among autistic children may help alleviate their mental-health difficulties. Frontiers in Psychiatry
- Recessive genetic variants may explain a significant proportion of developmental conditions in people of Pakistani descent and a small proportion of those in individuals of European descent. Science
Science and society
- Pediatric neurologist Huda Zoghbi uses molecular genetics to create mouse models of the rare neurological conditions she sees in people. The Scientist
- Brain-computer interfaces that can decode a paralyzed person’s silent speech may finally be within reach. STAT
- An autistic student has some ideas for how college administrators and professors can support young adults on the spectrum. The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may be linked to autism diagnosis. STAT
- Cognitive scientist Anna Remington says autism may be a gift. New Scientist
- Literature featuring characters with disabilities may help “overwrite the corrosive narrative of ableism.” The New York Times
- A unique frequency of brain waves sent between the hippocampus and amygdala is “tied to feeling blue.” NIH Director’s Blog
- Lab-grown brain organoids have produced brain waves for the first time. Nature
- The human brain has an inherent ability to time-travel, connecting moments from the past to create imaginary futures. The New York Times
- Biologist James Turner explains why researchers should learn mental-health first aid. Nature
- Hate crimes targeting people with disabilities are increasing in the United States. Disability Scoop
- Teenagers with autism met Boston University medical students to help the students better understand people on the spectrum and how to care for them. CBS Boston
- Nonprofit groups are advocating for workplace inclusion and training in anticipation of 500,000 teenagers with autism entering the workforce the next 10 years. Disability Scoop
- An autistic boy’s mother talks about her family’s special Thanksgiving tradition. The Mighty
Autism and the arts
- Autistic artist Morgan Morenz uses her sketches to raise money for charity. Meriden Record-Journal
- A New York City artist and his autistic son created superhero comic books for children on the spectrum. NBC New York
Publishing
- A Stanford University researcher discusses measures to improve transparency in biomedical literature. The Scientist
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