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.

August 2023
Illustration of a series of web browser windows overlaid over a face, distorting it.

Scammers threaten quality of research survey data

by  /  24 August 2023

Jammed online surveys and invaded video calls are forcing researchers to rethink their outreach methods.

Comments
Headshot of Clara Hill.

Co-director of closed psychotherapy clinic retires amid retractions

by  /  23 August 2023

A dozen papers have been retracted so far, and six more are planned.

Comments
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Mitochondria and anxiety; brain structure in autism

by  /  20 August 2023

Researchers reacted to a study of brain mitochondria and behavior in mice and a study of brain structure differences in autism and other conditions. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

Comments
Week of AugustAug
14th
2023

Monkey brain mapping; statistics guidance; CUL3 gene

by  /  18 August 2023

Here is a roundup of news and research spotted around the web for the week of 14 August.

Comments
Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results.

The true meaning of a null result

by  /  14 August 2023

This edition of Null and Noteworthy highlights results that reveal the difficulty in drawing definitive conclusions from data, including new findings about epidurals that contradict several others and an apparent null result on sex differences that may derive from “circular logic.”

Comments
Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Cognitive mapping; PTEN in peripheral nerves

by  /  13 August 2023

Researchers took to social media to discuss how cognitive maps form during learning. There was also talk about a study of peripheral nerves in mice missing PTEN, an autism-linked gene. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

Comments
Week of AugustAug
7th
2023

Autism heterogeneity; family-level interventions; blood glutamine

by  /  11 August 2023

Here is a roundup of news and research spotted around the web for the week of 7 August.

Comments
A series of stacks of blocks, with one stack miscolored and pixelated.

Concerns raised over autism prediction paper

by  /  11 August 2023

The paper was published in a journal that shut down after being overrun by paper mills.

Comments
Illustration shows a road going into the distance, seen from the driver's point of view.

Unwritten rules of tenure

by  /  9 August 2023

Academics are not always aware of the standards — both explicit and implicit — that are used to assess them for promotion. We explore these expectations and more in this month’s issue of the Spectrum Launch newsletter.

Comments
Photograph of a doctor and nurse checking a patient’s temperature and taking notes.

Co-occurring conditions in autistic teens increase with age

by  /  8 August 2023

The most prevalent conditions include obesity, neurological disorders, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Comments