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Society for Neuroscience 2019

SFN 2019
Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) showing several unmyelinated (green) and myelinated (green with blue border) axons. Schwann cell cytoplasm is red and a nucleus (bottom left) is yellow. The pink lines are the basement membranes.

Loss of insulation on neurons may contribute to autism

by  /  6 March 2020
Genes involved in the formation of myelin, a fatty substance that sheathes neurons, are altered in autistic people and in several mouse models.
SFN 2019

In brain imaging studies of autism, location may alter results

by  /  27 January 2020
A new analysis hints at the source of the rampant inconsistency among brain imaging studies in autism: significant differences among study sites.
SFN 2019
Micrograph of brain organoid in green and red

Spheres of brain cells may offer crystal ball for autism’s origins

by  /  24 January 2020
Researchers have monitored the active genome in brain organoids over the course of nearly two years — and may find clues to autism’s roots.
October 2019
detail of image in collection of brain images
SFN 2019

Decades-old collection of monkey brain tissue goes virtual

by  /  22 October 2019

A new free online library contains a vast assortment of digitized macaque brain slides.

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SFN 2019

Enlarged amygdala may forecast anxiety, depression in autistic children

by  /  22 October 2019

A tiny chunk of the brain’s emotion enter, the amygdala, is enlarged in some autistic children; the larger this piece, the more anxious and depressed the child is likely to be.

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Monkey face with heatmap overlay
SFN 2019

Monkey avatar may provide clues to face-processing problems in autism

by  /  22 October 2019

Researchers have created an animated monkey avatar that makes realistic facial expressions — and that may yield insight into how autistic people interpret facial expressions.

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SFN 2019

Mouse study hints at why fragile X drugs fail in trials

by  /  22 October 2019

Drug after drug has failed in clinical trials for fragile X syndrome. A new study provides an explanation — a decrease in the drugs’ effectiveness over time — and points to a new strategy that could circumvent this problem.

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A new technique helps reveal patterns in the migration of neurons (green) to their destination (red).
SFN 2019

A stop-motion movie of the whole brain, starring new neurons

by  /  21 October 2019

A method that visualizes nascent and migrating neurons in the mouse brain may shed light on brain development in autistic people.

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Rodent drinks water in machine-learning experiment
SFN 2019

Algorithms may predict mouse behavior from brain activity

by  /  21 October 2019

Researchers have created a suite of digital tools that break complex mouse behaviors into discrete parts and link them to the animals’ brain activity.

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Neurons in a mouse brain are highlighted green and yellow
SFN 2019

Autism gene’s loss hampers neurons’ trek through developing brain

by  /  21 October 2019

Deleting an autism gene called TRIO derails neurons’ journey to their destination.

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two young people in conversation
SFN 2019

Computer games could boost social skills in people with autism

by  /  21 October 2019

Playing games designed to hone the ability to intuit others’ thoughts and feelings increases activity in regions of the social brain.

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SFN 2019

Maternal infection may accelerate expression of autism genes

by  /  21 October 2019

Exposure to infection in utero may speed up the expression of many genes linked to autism — and hasten changes in brain anatomy.

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Two dark brown research mice
SFN 2019

Mice with autism mutation reflect social difficulties seen in people

by  /  21 October 2019

A new autism mouse model carries the same mutation in a gene called ADNP that is seen in autistic people.

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