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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: sex

May 2019
A group of boys and girls holding hands walking on a school hallway

Diagnostic tests don’t miss girls with autism, study suggests

by  /  2 May 2019

Boys and girls with autism get virtually identical scores on three commonly used diagnostic tests, suggesting that sex doesn’t affect the scores.

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The female protective effect, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

One of the leading theories of autism posits that girls and women are biologically protected from the condition.

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Illustration of a strong man holding up a oversized brain

The extreme male brain, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

The ‘extreme male brain’ theory suggests that autism is an exaggeration of systematic sex differences in ways of thinking.

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March 2019

New maps plot hot spots of diversity across human genome

by  /  29 March 2019

A pair of maps that depict variation in the human genome may help reveal the genetic roots of autism.

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Women pushing to broaden the definition of autism to be more inclusive

Righting the gender imbalance in autism studies

by  /  13 March 2019

Autism doesn’t just affect boys and men, but research on the condition still predominantly focuses on them. Some scientists are finally beginning to include women and nonbinary people in their studies.

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February 2019
3D models of the human brain

Changes in brain anatomy may reflect autism traits

by  /  21 February 2019

Some traits of autism are associated with obvious differences in brain structure, and the scope of these alterations may depend on the person’s sex.

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December 2018
DNA helix shows blue spots as mutations.

Five hot topics in autism research in 2018

by  /  21 December 2018

This year, researchers made big headway on autism’s most perplexing questions.

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Two brain images highlight social areas.

Sex differences in brain hint at roots of ‘camouflaging’ in autism

by  /  10 December 2018

Autistic women’s activity in a ‘social’ brain region tracks with the extent to which they mask their autism.

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November 2018
illustration shows figure with many different colors and shapes indicating fluidity of identity.

Why we need to respect sexual orientation, gender diversity in autism

by  /  27 November 2018

Autistic people with a minority sexual orientation or gender identity face specific challenges, from having their self-assessments dismissed to difficulties advocating for their gender needs.

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Sensory issues in autism may have sex-specific roots

by  /  4 November 2018

Girls and boys with autism show different patterns of brain activity in response to sensory stimuli.

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