The brain
Some social issues in DYRK1A model mice stem from faulty inhibitory circuits
Alterations in inhibitory circuits and difficulties in social recognition characterize mice missing one copy of DYRK1A, a gene linked to autism.
Some social issues in DYRK1A model mice stem from faulty inhibitory circuits
Method pinpoints cell-specific effects of autism-linked mutations
The approach, which combines CRISPR with single-cell analyses of organoids, suggests that intermediate progenitor cells are especially vulnerable to mutations associated with autism.
Method pinpoints cell-specific effects of autism-linked mutations
UBE3A’s link to synaptic pruning bolstered by fly study
Increasing or reducing the levels of the UBE3A gene, which is associated with autism and autism-related syndromes, results in altered patterns of synaptic pruning — a process that snips away brain cell connections.
UBE3A’s link to synaptic pruning bolstered by fly study
Head size parts autism into two major subtypes
An imbalance in the number of excitatory neurons in early brain development may account for the difference.
Head size parts autism into two major subtypes
Magnetic stimulation for autism: Q&A with Xujun Duan
A new individualized approach to transcranial magnetic stimulation may one day be an effective treatment for social and communication difficulties, if the results from Duan’s small preliminary trial pan out.
Magnetic stimulation for autism: Q&A with Xujun Duan
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Synaptic changes in the brain region could drive a core trait of fragile X syndrome, a new mouse study suggests.
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Is excess brain fluid an early marker of autism?
Brain scans of hundreds of infants suggest that up to 80 percent of those with autism have unusual amounts of cerebrospinal fluid. Researchers are studying how this might contribute to the condition.
Is excess brain fluid an early marker of autism?
New test taps nose pokes as a proxy for social motivation in mice
Over one hour, a particularly motivated mouse poked its nose 350 times into a hole in the test chamber in the hopes of meeting a playmate.
New test taps nose pokes as a proxy for social motivation in mice
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects
Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?
Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects
Explore more from The Transmitter
How inbreeding almost tanked an up-and-coming model of Alzheimer’s disease
But new genetic analyses and behavioral assays have made the Chilean degu a viable model again, researchers say.
How inbreeding almost tanked an up-and-coming model of Alzheimer’s disease
But new genetic analyses and behavioral assays have made the Chilean degu a viable model again, researchers say.
Sex-dependent cytokine release; KATNAL2 gene; auditory processing in fragile X syndrome
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 May.
Sex-dependent cytokine release; KATNAL2 gene; auditory processing in fragile X syndrome
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 May.
At the credit crossroads: Modern neuroscience needs a cultural shift to adopt new authorship practices
Old heuristics to acknowledge contributors—calling out first and last authors, with everyone else in between—don’t work well for large collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, yet they remain the default.
At the credit crossroads: Modern neuroscience needs a cultural shift to adopt new authorship practices
Old heuristics to acknowledge contributors—calling out first and last authors, with everyone else in between—don’t work well for large collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, yet they remain the default.