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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: mouse models

July 2012

Molecular mechanisms: Mock virus alters offspring’s brain

by  /  20 July 2012

Pregnant rats exposed to a virus give birth to offspring with significantly altered levels of three proteins important for brain development, according to a study published 9 June in Molecular Brain.

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Radio implants help study social interactions in mice

by  /  18 July 2012

Radio sensors that track multiple frequencies from devices implanted into mice allow researchers to track the animals’ social behavior, according to a report published 12 June in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

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Cognition and behavior: Maternal infection linked to anxiety

by  /  18 July 2012

Offspring born to pregnant rats with an activated immune system emit more distress calls when they receive electrical shocks than do controls, according to a study published 9 June in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

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Molecular mechanisms: FMRP target linked to cognitive skills

by  /  11 July 2012

The protein missing in people with fragile X syndrome may activate the expression of a signaling protein dubbed NOS1 during prenatal development of brain regions involved in language and social skills, according to a study published 11 May in Cell.

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Brain hack

by  /  6 July 2012

The Allen Institute convened a five-day ‘hackathon’ to create new tools that take advantage of the petabytes of brain mapping data in the institute’s massive databases.

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Researchers debut ‘virtual microscope’ for mouse brain

by  /  4 July 2012

Researchers have released the first set of data from the Mouse Brain Architecture Project, which uses light microscopy to trace neuronal circuits in the mouse brain.

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Molecular mechanisms: Fragile X clumps function at synapses

by  /  3 July 2012

FMRP, the protein missing in people with fragile X syndrome, localizes in clusters of proteins at neuronal junctions that relay sensory and motor information, according to a study published 23 April in The Journal of Comparative Neurology.

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June 2012

Cognition and behavior: Williams gene linked to social anxiety

by  /  29 June 2012

The duplication of a chromosomal region missing in people with Williams syndrome is associated with separation anxiety, according to a study published 8 June in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

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SHANK2 mouse models show opposite brain signaling

by  /  25 June 2012

Two new strains of mice carrying different mutations in the SHANK2 gene show similar autism-like behaviors but opposing effects on brain signaling, according to two independent studies published 14 June in Nature.

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Rett protein in adult brain key for survival

by  /  21 June 2012

The gene missing or mutated in Rett syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, is critical for the survival of adult mice, according to a study published 31 May in Human Molecular Genetics.

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