Communication problems have always been considered a core feature of autism. Yet there are substantial and wide-ranging differences in how people with autism communicate.

Boosting the activity of a class of neurons that dampen brain signals eases social problems in a mouse model of autism.

An unusual brain response to sound may distinguish children with mutations in SCN2A, a leading candidate gene for autism.

Girls with autism may have less severe restricted and repetitive behaviors than do boys on the spectrum.

Mice lacking CNTNAP2, a gene strongly linked to autism, are acutely sensitive to pain.

Mice missing TAOK2, a gene in a segment of chromosome 16 linked to autism, have big brains, immature neuronal junctions and asocial behavior.

Deleting one copy of a gene called MVP impairs the brain's ability to adapt to changes in the environment.