The drug popularly known as ecstasy may boost sociability through brain circuits distinct from that underlying its ‘high.’

Boosting the levels of the chemical messenger serotonin makes mice that model autism more social — and brings new hope to a shelved theory in autism.

Benefits of diets for autism features remain unproven, variants of the same DNA region make brains big or small, and STAT announces a new CRISPR tracker.

Male monkeys that avoid touching, grooming or playing with others have low brain levels of the hormone vasopressin.

The male-dominated sex bias in autism is reversed in a related syndrome, a researcher’s gender could influence her study’s outcome, and an award-nominated ad featuring a young man with autism draws criticism.

The agency that oversees the drug approval process in Europe is moving to Amsterdam, gene editing gets its first human trial, and a tiny sensor detects even a few oxytocin molecules in blood.

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

A cannabis gel may ease features of fragile X syndrome, omega fatty acids show promise for autism in two trials, and oxytocin reinforces social behaviors through the brain’s reward pathway.

A small clinical trial shows that treatment with the hormone oxytocin improves social skills in some children with autism.