Postmortem brains
‘SNAP’ dance of astrocytes and neurons falls out of step with age, disease
The findings add to growing evidence that astrocytes are star players in cognition.
‘SNAP’ dance of astrocytes and neurons falls out of step with age, disease
Cortical interneurons derive differently in human brains
Excitatory neurons and some inhibitory neurons in the adult human cortex share parents, challenging the longstanding idea that the two cell types have different origins.
Cortical interneurons derive differently in human brains
Vast diversity of human brain cell types revealed in trove of new datasets
The collection offers a glimpse into differences in cell composition — across people and brain regions — that may shape neural function.
Vast diversity of human brain cell types revealed in trove of new datasets
Head size parts autism into two major subtypes
An imbalance in the number of excitatory neurons in early brain development may account for the difference.
Head size parts autism into two major subtypes
Preprint questions validity of postmortem brain studies
But the alternatives, including living-brain biopsies, raise logistical and ethical questions, experts say.
Preprint questions validity of postmortem brain studies
Atlas of gene activity in prenatal brain holds clues to autism
Genes exert their strongest influence on the brain in the first half of gestation — a key window for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Atlas of gene activity in prenatal brain holds clues to autism
Immunity-linked genes expressed differently in brains of autistic people
Postmortem brain samples from people with one of six conditions, including autism, show distinct signatures of over- and underexpression of immune genes.
Immunity-linked genes expressed differently in brains of autistic people
Highly expressed genes may buffer against autism-linked mutations in girls
Such high expression levels may account for the condition’s sex bias, a new preprint suggests — but not everyone agrees with that logic.
Highly expressed genes may buffer against autism-linked mutations in girls
Autism’s sex bias tied to glial, immune cell gene expression
The function of microglia and astrocytes in the brain may mediate the intersection of sex-differential biology and autism biology.
Autism’s sex bias tied to glial, immune cell gene expression
Consistent, convergent pathways link two forms of autism
People with dup15q syndrome and those with idiopathic autism have similar patterns of altered gene expression in early brain development and later in life.
Consistent, convergent pathways link two forms of autism
Explore more from The Transmitter
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.
Spina bifida; MDMA effects in a mouse model of autism; maternal autoantibodies
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 13 May.
Spina bifida; MDMA effects in a mouse model of autism; maternal autoantibodies
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 13 May.
Autism research is becoming more diverse but not yet more global
Hosting the International Society for Autism Research annual meeting—which starts tomorrow—in Australia takes a step in that direction, making it easier for researchers, clinicians and advocates from the Western Pacific Region to participate.
Autism research is becoming more diverse but not yet more global
Hosting the International Society for Autism Research annual meeting—which starts tomorrow—in Australia takes a step in that direction, making it easier for researchers, clinicians and advocates from the Western Pacific Region to participate.