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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: neural circuits

August 2013

Cognition and behavior: Oxytocin linked to brain connections

by  /  2 August 2013

An autism-linked variant in the receptor for oxytocin may alter connections in the brain, according to a study published 17 May in Neuroimage.

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June 2013

Researchers reveal obsession circuits in the brain

by  /  27 June 2013

Researchers can shut down or trigger compulsive behaviors in mice by using light to target certain brain circuits, according to two studies published 7 June in Science.

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Regression in Rett syndrome may inform autism

by  /  18 June 2013

Studying regression in Rett syndrome may help us understand the phenomenon in autism, as it occurs at the same time in both disorders and includes many of the same features, says Jeffrey Neul.
 

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Micrograph of interneuron and pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus.

Signaling imbalance may underlie tuberous sclerosis complex

by  /  17 June 2013

The mutation that causes tuberous sclerosis complex, an autism-related disorder, may disable calming signals in the brain, leading to hyperactive neurons, according to a study published 8 May in Neuron.

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February 2013

Scientists follow brain activity as fish find their dinner

by  /  27 February 2013

Using a sensitive new imaging molecule, researchers can watch neurons in the larval zebrafish brain spring into action when the fish sees a potential meal, according to a study published 29 January in Current Biology.

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The 2003 paper proposing signaling imbalance in autism

by ,  /  26 February 2013

In 2003, John Rubenstein and Michael Merzenich first described the theory, now popular in autism, that the disorder reflects an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in the brain. Takao K. Hensch and Parizad M. Bilimoria review the paper and its impact on the field.

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Vikaas Sohal on abnormal neural circuits in autism

 /  6 March 2013

Watch the complete replay of Vikaas Sohal’s webinar on abnormal neural circuits in autism. Submit your own follow-up questions.

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January 2013

Brain’s motor region disrupted in children with autism

by  /  3 January 2013

The motor cortex of children with autism is wired differently than that of typically developing children, reports a study published 22 October in Human Brain Mapping.

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December 2012

Can we crowdsource autism research?

by  /  17 December 2012

Sebastian Seung launched a new online community game that aims to map the trillions of connections in the human brain. How might crowdsourcing advance autism research?

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Coloring book

by  /  10 December 2012

Sebastian Seung invites an online community of citizen scientists to revolutionize neuroscience by mapping connections between the brain’s neurons.

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