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autism spectrum disorder

·August 3, 2017·6 min read

Autism May Reflect Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance in Brain

Reducing the excitation-inhibition ratio by diminishing excitability of pyramidal neurons or increasing excitability of PV neurons led mice to spend more time engaged in social encounters. Researchers believe the excitation-inhibition balance may play a key role in autism and normal social behavior.

Image shows a drawing of bees and people.

Autism Featured Genetics Psychology

·July 31, 2017·3 min read

Parallels Between Unresponsive Honey Bees and Human Autism

Researchers report genes implicated in human ASD are regulated differently in honeybees that are more unresponsive than their nest mates. The PNAS study provides insight into the genetic heritage shared across species and offers clues about the evolution of social behavior.

Autism Featured Psychology

·July 31, 2017·1 min read

Shared Housing, Shared Behavior in Mouse Model of Autism

Study shows how social environment can shape specific behaviors in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism Featured Psychology

·July 31, 2017·3 min read

People With Autism Are Less Surprised by the Unexpected

According to researchers, adults on the autism spectrum are less surprised when presented with unexpected images during learning tasks than those not on the spectrum. Additionally, those who were least surprised had the most pronounced autism symptoms.

Autism Featured Psychology

·July 25, 2017·4 min read

Autism Severity Detected With Brain Activity Test

EEG tests reveal children on the autism spectrum have lower peak alpha frequency than their peers not on the spectrum. Additionally, the lower the peak alpha frequency, the lower a child's non-verbal IQ was, the researchers discovered. Researchers believe the peak alpha frequency may not only be a useful biomarker for autism diagnosis, but also a marker to test the severity of the disorder.

Autism Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 24, 2017·5 min read

Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy Linked to Slightly Increased Autism Risk

A new study in the BMJ links antidepressant use in pregnant women to a very small increased risk of autism in their offspring. Researchers discovered 4.1% of children exposed to antidepressants while in the womb were diagnosed with ASD, where as only 2.9% of children whose mothers had a history of mental health problems but did not take take medications were diagnosed with autism.

Autism Featured Neurology

·July 24, 2017·4 min read

Link Between Autism and Pain Sensitivity

A new study confirms those on the autism spectrum are hypersensitive to pain. The new study from UT Dallas researchers also demonstrated people with ASD showed greater neural responses in the anterior cingulate cortex than those not on the spectrum when anticipating a painful stimuli.

Autism Featured Psychology

·July 24, 2017·3 min read

Eye Test Could Help Diagnose Autism

A simple eye test may be a useful tool in helping to diagnose ASD, a new study reports. Researchers measured eye movement in those on the autism spectrum and found they continually missed a specific target. The researchers suggest sensory motor control in the cerebellum that is usually responsible for eye control could be impaired in those with ASD.

Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 22, 2017·5 min read

New Insight Into Genetic Basis of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Researchers investigate how the ARID1B gene may play a role in ASD, intellectual disabilities and Coffin-Siris syndrome.

Image shows a brain with the amygdala highlighted in red.

Autism Featured Genetics

·July 17, 2017·5 min read

Late Breaking Mutations May Play an Important Role in Autism

A study in Nature Neuroscience reveals mutations that occur after conception could play an important role in autism. The study reports post-zygotic mutations occur disproportionately in genes expressed in the amygdala in those on the autism spectrum.

Image shows a person holding a board with the word Autism written on it.

Autism Featured Psychology

·July 16, 2017·5 min read

Autistic Females Show Greater Difficulty With Day to Day Tasks Than Males With ASD

While girls on the autism spectrum generally exhibit better social and communication skills than autistic boys, they tend to have more challenges with planning and organization, a new study reports.

Autism Featured Genetics

·July 12, 2017·6 min read

How Children Look at Mom’s Face Is Guided by Genetics and Disrupted in Autism

According to a new Nature paper, variation in how children seek social information is under genetic control. Such behaviors are decreases in children with autism, adding further evidence for the link between behavioral presentation in ASD and underlying genetics causes.