A woman with autism had to fight for her sterilization surgery, a mother’s tactics with her son on the spectrum generate controversy, and gifted students with autism have unique struggles.

Researchers find a surprising link between certain pollutants and reduced autism risk, the world welcomes — and fears — the first primate clones, and new U.S. clinical trial rules reverberate globally.

This year’s list of top papers highlights nuances in the genetics of autism and new leads on early treatment.

We waded through the sea of autism studies published in 2017 and spotted several themes.

A sweeping analysis covers evidence of regression in autism, gender dysphoria is linked to autism features, and animal models of autism receive full treatment in a special tribute.

The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin promote social interactions in male monkeys but make female monkeys more aggressive than usual.

Eye-tracking studies cement monkeys’ promise for studying autism and related conditions.

A virus that delivers a working copy of the Rett syndrome gene to the brain improves features of the condition in mice, and appears to be safe in monkeys.

Researchers have used light to manipulate neurons that dampen brain activity in rhesus macaques.

Two researchers balk at talk that Wi-Fi and autism are linked, changes in an autism risk gene are tied to obsessive-compulsive traits in three species, and scientists plan to conduct a census of all of the brain’s cell types.