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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: language

September 2023
An illustration of a hand placing letters spelling the word voice on a black board.

Debate unfurls over inclusivity and authenticity in research involving minimally verbal autistic people

by  /  25 September 2023

Autism researchers can’t agree on how far to go to validate the input they gather from minimally verbal autistic people who use certain communication devices.

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August 2023
Five high-school-aged students sit on a bench looking at notebooks and a laptop.

Social skills decline during adolescence for a sliver of autistic youth

by  /  24 August 2023

Most children with the condition, however, gain communication and social abilities over time.

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Illustrated portrait of Carla Mazefsky.

Emotion dysregulation in autism with Carla Mazefsky

by  /  1 August 2023

The director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Autism Center of Excellence talks about her new work investigating suicidality in autistic adults.

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July 2023
Portrait of Ashura Buckley.

The sleep/wake cycle and autism with Ashura Buckley

by  /  1 July 2023

The NIH neurologist talks about her research, her family and how mental health labels can be limiting.

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June 2023
Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results.

Null and Noteworthy: Modified MRI; father findings

by  /  22 June 2023

This month’s newsletter tackles null findings from an attempted replication of a “revolutionary” MRI approach and an analysis of family genetics.

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Research image of brain activity during conversation.

AI model helps decode brain activity underlying conversation

by  /  15 June 2023

A text-predicting chatbot parses text from conversations in a way that parallels brain-activity patterns associated with speech production and comprehension.

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Dorothy Bishop stands in a dark room wearing a turquoise shirt.

Retraction, She Wrote: Dorothy Bishop’s life after research

by  /  12 June 2023

A renowned researcher’s eye for detail has given her a second career and a new following.

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April 2023
Research image showing FOXP1 gene expression in female zebra finch brains.

Lacking autism-linked gene, female birds tune out favorite songs

by  /  21 April 2023

The gene, FOXP1, influences an animal’s motivation to listen to social communication, a new study suggests.

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March 2023
Photograph of a doctor taking notes on a toddler who is playing with their mother.

Journal Club: Meta-analysis oversells popular autism screen

by  /  14 March 2023

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) accurately flags autistic toddlers, a new systematic review and meta-analysis suggests, contrary to past evidence that the tool’s validity varies depending on a child’s age and traits. Experts weigh in on the discrepancy.

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January 2023
Three groups of people meet and mix at a crossroads.

Autism research at the crossroads

by  /  25 January 2023

The power struggle between researchers, autistic self-advocates and parents is threatening progress across the field.

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