The mutation increases the activity of an autism-linked protein and leads to social difficulties and other behavioral differences in mice.

Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?

A new technique used to create see-through rodents can help scientists analyze how the nervous system interacts with other body systems.

The inhibitory cells misfire and contribute to social difficulties in mice that model the syndrome.

When combined with tissue-inflation methods, the microscope can image axons without the need for tissue slicing, the researchers say.

The gene-editing advances make it easier to target specific tissues in mice and detect off-target effects.

Many genes related to the condition play a role in the internal scaffolding of cells, and cytoskeletal disruptions can affect neurodevelopment and behavior.

The approach provides an “off-the-shelf” way for researchers to compare oxytocin function across species, the team says.

The results lend support for clinical trials of arbaclofen in people with an autism-linked condition, the researchers say.

The drug clemastine and other compounds that fortify the protective sheath around neurons may prove therapeutic for some genetic neurodevelopmental conditions.