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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: autism

November 2011

Neurexins present only in select neurons

by  /  15 November 2011

Neurexins, autism-linked proteins that organize synapses, the junctions between neurons, function in only a subset of cells in the brain, according to data presented in a poster Monday at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Mouse study points to potential therapy for fragile X syndrome

by  /  15 November 2011

A protein involved in the cascade of interactions at the junctions between neurons points to a potential therapy for fragile X syndrome, according to unpublished data presented at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Video: What is the fragile X protein’s role in a neuron?

by  /  15 November 2011

The fragile X protein FMRP helps make proteins at the synapse, the junction between neurons, even when the genetic instructions for doing so are located far away in the nucleus, says Kimberly Huber.

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Normocentric world

by  /  15 November 2011

In a Nature commentary, Laurent Mottron, professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal, argues that autism is not a defect that needs fixing.

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Amygdala’s links to other brain regions wane with age

by  /  15 November 2011

Connections between the amygdala — a deep nub involved in processing emotions — and other parts of the brain are more numerous in children than in adults, according to unpublished research presented at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Meta-analysis refines understanding of brain function

by  /  15 November 2011

Scientists are analyzing more than 7,000 studies of functional magnetic resonance imaging to refine the role of various regions in the brain, according to unpublished work presented Monday at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Different doses of Rett protein produce similar effects

by  /  15 November 2011

Mice that have an excess of the Rett syndrome protein MeCP2 have biochemical and neuronal characteristics that are strikingly similar to those of mice that completely lack the protein, according to unpublished research described Sunday at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Genetics: Middle East study tags intellectual disability genes

by  /  15 November 2011

By focusing on recessive mutations inherited from both parents, researchers have identified 50 new candidate genes for intellectual disability.

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Schizophrenia deletion could rouse silent mutations

by  /  14 November 2011

Deletion of 22q11, a schizophrenia-associated chromosomal region, may activate previously silent mutations, according to unpublished work presented Sunday at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Optogenetics method moves into monkeys

by  /  14 November 2011

Researchers can delay a monkey’s reaching movement by shining a beam of light into its brain, according to unpublished research presented at a poster session Sunday at the 2011 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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