Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

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

 


TAGS:   autism