Babies who have their first bowel movement before birth have a slightly increased risk of autism, according to a study of nearly 10 million people.

Instead of simply listing sex differences in the brain, researchers should consider how sex interacts with other factors to affect the brain, Joel says.

Women who come down with influenza while pregnant are no more likely than those without the infection to have a child with autism.

Women who are overweight or obese when pregnant increase their risk of having a child who is later diagnosed with autism by about 30 percent.

The interplay between a mouse’s immune system and certain mutations in her pups may increase autism-like features in the pups.

Female rats exposed to the pesticide chlorpyrifos show little interest in social interaction.

Exposure to influenza and a lack of sunlight may drive the increased risk of autism.

Children born to parents who are 35 or older are at an increased risk of autism; for schizophrenia, the increased risk is limited to those born to mothers in their teens or early 20s.

Watch the complete replay of Alysson Muotri, whose webinar focuses on how stem cell research can provide insight into human neurodevelopment and the social brain.

A group of savvy parents jump-started autism research in California, but they also set the research agenda.