Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

News /

Toolbox

Emerging tools and techniques that may advance autism research.

Previous articles
March 2018
Tiny particles (blue), along with light-sensitive proteins (green) and light, excite neurons (red) in a reward region of the mouse brain.

Tiny particles safely stimulate neurons buried in brain

by  /  30 March 2018

A new technology that converts near-infrared light to visible light can manipulate neurons nestled deep in the brain.

Comments
water droplets contain and concentrate the materials needed to synthesize genes.

New tools speed genome assembly, tests of gene function

by  /  23 March 2018

Two new techniques could help reveal the molecular basis of conditions such as autism.

Comments
honeycomb shape with arrows shows the pattern of activity of rats in the maze

‘Honeycomb’ maze elevates testing of rodents’ spatial skills

by  /  16 March 2018

A maze comprising 37 hexagonal platforms may offer researchers an accurate measure of rodents’ ability to navigate their surroundings.

Comments
boy lying down on the floor touching a metal object

New instrument could assess effects of behavioral treatments

by  /  9 March 2018

A new questionnaire assesses the frequency and severity of various behaviors in children with autism.

Comments
A section of loosely packed DNA points to genes that a cell is actively turning into proteins.

Map of DNA structure marks autism risk regions

by  /  2 March 2018

A new map of DNA structure highlights sequences that regulate the formation of neurons in the developing brain.

Comments
February 2018
More than 4,000 types of brain cells show distinct gene expression patterns.

Map of gene expression gives new clues to brain development

by  /  23 February 2018

A new map that analyzes gene expression one cell at a time shows how various cell types mature and form the brain’s distinctive structures.

Comments
Newly flagged genes for developmental conditions (triangles) cluster in networks with previously identified risk factors (circles).

New software mines data for autism risk genes

by  /  16 February 2018

An algorithm combs through genetic data to identify variants involved in autism and four other brain conditions.

Comments
slice of mouse brain showing neuron connection

Interactive mouse brain atlas helps researchers share data

by  /  9 February 2018

An online software suite charts individual neurons and their connections across the mouse brain.

Comments
marker genes in cells

New databases decode gene expression in brain cells

by  /  2 February 2018

Researchers have generated two new databases that catalog which genes are expressed in specific brain cells.

Comments
January 2018
two women sitting in a coffee shop

Survey assesses well-being in adults with autism

by  /  24 January 2018

A brief questionnaire written with guidance from people with autism is the first of its kind to assess quality of life among adults with the condition.

Comments

Browse Articles by Topic

Click on the arrows or swipe to view topics.
  • Genes

    Genes

  • The Brain

    The Brain

  • Diagnosis

    Diagnosis

  • Signs and Symptoms

    Signs & Symptoms

  • Treatments

    Treatments

  • Environment

    Environment

  • Science and Society

    Science & Society