Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

topic /

Science & Society

From funding decisions to scientific fraud, a wide range of societal factors shape autism research.

March 2015

False diagnoses inflate autism rate in India

by  /  17 March 2015

Rushed doctors and lack of culturally appropriate screening tools are boosting autism diagnoses in India.

Comments

Powerful memory system may compensate for autism’s deficits

by ,  /  17 March 2015

A brain system called declarative memory may help people learn scripts and strategies that alleviate autism symptoms, say Michael Ullman and Mariel Pullman.

Comments

Autism’s gender bias evident before diagnosis

by  /  13 March 2015

Girls and boys show telling differences in social and repetitive behaviors well before receiving an autism diagnosis, helping to explain the gender gap in diagnostic rates.

Comments
Week of MarchMar
9th
2015

Spotted: ‘SciArt’ storm; college crisis

by  /  13 March 2015

Scientific art takes over Twitter, and college students on the spectrum describe their struggles.

Comments

Debating the merits of ‘autism’ as a diagnostic category

by  /  11 March 2015

Late last year, a provocative article about the utility of autism as a diagnostic category caused a stir among scientists. But if we do away with the term ‘autism,’ what should replace it?

Comments

The female autism conundrum

 /  11 March 2015

Watch the complete replay of David Skuse and William Mandy’s webinar on why reported sex ratios for autism may be fundamentally flawed.

Comments

Behavioral test taps multiple senses in mice

by  /  11 March 2015

A new behavioral test that gauges how well mice simultaneously process light and sound may help explain and treat problems with this skill in people with autism.

Comments

How to build a better scientist

by  /  10 March 2015

Budding scientists need career guidance from faculty mentors, not just technical handholding by graduate students, suggests a comprehensive review.

Comments

Glowing sensors shine new light on protein interactions

by  /  4 March 2015

Researchers may soon be able to easily visualize protein pairings in living cells through vibrant flashes of color.

Comments

Test draws on doodles to spot signs of autism

by  /  3 March 2015

Researchers have developed a 10-minute drawing test that measures reciprocity — an important social skill that children with autism often lack.

Comments