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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Science & Society

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

May 2013

Scientists home in on key spot in brain for autism risk

by  /  4 May 2013

By analyzing the expression patterns of nine candidate genes for autism, researchers have identified a population of cells and a select time during fetal development that may be key to the disorder.

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Reactions from IMFAR 2013

by  /  3 May 2013

We checked in from the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research with daily reactions from this year’s attendees.

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Short diagnostic test shows high specificity for autism

by  /  3 May 2013

A ten-minute screen combining a parent questionnaire and home video can detect autism with 90 percent specificity, according to unpublished research presented Thursday at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

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New brain bank set to collect samples for autism research

by  /  2 May 2013

A new initiative aims to collect brain tissue for autism research, adding welcome resources to the struggling Autism Tissue Program, according to an announcement today at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

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April 2013

How can an experimental Angelman drug be so specific?

by  /  29 April 2013

A candidate drug for Angelman syndrome shows promise in activating the gene silenced in people with the disorder, and only that gene. Why doesn’t it unsilence other genes?

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Woman hand writing on clipboard with a pen.

Clinical research: Short test finds autism traits in families

by  /  26 April 2013

A 36-question survey detects features of autism in as much as 23 percent of parents of children with autism and 9 percent of control parents, researchers reported 20 February in Autism Research.

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Miniature brain bulbs manipulate neurons

by  /  24 April 2013

A light-emitting device implanted in a mouse brain can activate neurons wirelessly, allowing researchers to control and observe the mouse’s behavior, according to a report published 12 April in Science.

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Suicidal thoughts

by  /  23 April 2013

Children with autism are more likely to attempt suicide than their typical peers are, particularly if they are depressed or living in low-income families, says a January study in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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Dosage effects of 22q11 chromosomal region

by  /  23 April 2013

Research into the 22q11.2 chromosomal region, which is linked to both schizophrenia and autism, can provide important insights into how rare duplications and deletions may lead to neuropsychiatric disorders, says Maria Karayiorgou.

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Siblings of children with autism see and hear differently

by  /  18 April 2013

Three new studies published in March suggest that some infants who have a high risk of developing autism show early differences in brain responses to sight and sound.

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