FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeurosciencePsychology·April 17, 2018·2 min readBrain Development Influenced by Immune SystemA new study provides further evidence for immune system activation during pregnancy and disruptions in brain development. Many adult diseases, researchers say, may originate during fetal development.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeurology·April 6, 2018·2 min readWhen Kids’ Autistic Brains Can’t Calm DownA new study sheds light on why some children with ASD also have epilepsy. Researchers report the catnap2 mutation, associated with autism, does not allow inhibitory neurons to correctly form and this can lead to an increased risk of seizures.Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·April 4, 2018·5 min readFragile X Imaging Study Reveals Differences in Infant BrainsA new neuroimaging study reveals babies with Fragile X syndrome have less developed white matter in the brain compared to children without the condition.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·March 28, 2018·5 min readHow Brain Circuits are Affected by Infections in Mothers and NewbornsA new study backs up existing evidence that maternal immune activation can impact brain development in children. Researchers report immune activation during pregnancy or soon after birth can cause alterations to brain networks associated with social behavior, resulting in autism-like symptoms in the offspring.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·March 27, 2018·5 min readAbnormal Brain Connections Seen in Preschoolers with AutismA new neuroimaging study reveals preschool aged children with ASD have significant differences in the basal ganglia network and paralimbic-limbic network in the brain compared to their peers who were not diagnosed with autism.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 26, 2018·3 min readAutism Like Behaviors in Children Linked to Low Vitamin D Levels in MothersResearchers have identified a link between low vitamin D levels in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and autism like behaviors in their offspring. The study reveals low levels vitamin D in mothers may be associated with altered brain development that can lead to social behavioral deficits in their children.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeurosciencePsychology·March 25, 2018·4 min readBugs and Allergies in Pregnancy Linked to Child Developmental Disorders, Including ADHD and AutismResearchers investigate the effects of maternal immune activation on the developing brain.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 20, 2018·3 min readAmygdala Neurons Increase as Children Become Adults; Except in AutismA new PNAS study reveals typically developing children experience neurogenesis in the amygdala as they become adults. However, for those with autism, the amygdala loses neurons as they age.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 12, 2018·4 min readAutism’s Social Deficits Are Reversed by an Anti-Cancer DrugAccording to researchers, a low dose of the anti cancer drug romidepsin reduced social deficits in animal models of autism.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·March 12, 2018·6 min readGenes Play a Role in EmpathyResearchers reveal our genes may play a role in how empathetic we are. The study reports genetic variants associated with low empathy may indicate a higher risk of autism.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 27, 2018·3 min readGenes Linked to Brain Anatomy in AutismA new study reports specific genes are linked to differences in brain structure in children with ASD.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 20, 2018·4 min readGenetic Targets for ASD IdentifiedA new computational method has been able to link several targeted genes to ASD.Read More