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synaptic pruning

This image is a neuron from the brain of a young person with autism.

·August 21, 2014·5 min read

Children with Autism Have Extra Synapses in Brain

According to a new study, children with autism have an excess of synapses in the brain, due to a slowdown of the normal pruning process during development.

The image is a drawing of the human brain. The prefrontal cortex is highlighted and labeled.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 3, 2014·4 min read

Scientists Detect Brain Network That Gives Humans Superior Reasoning Skills

Researchers report the frontoparietal network plays a key role in why humans have superior reasoning skills.

This image shows a draeing of a brain made up of interconnecting lines to represent a network.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 17, 2015·4 min read

Algorithms Based on Brains Make For Better Networks

Researchers take inspiration from the developing brain to create improved computer algorithms.

Image shows a graph with the chromosomes plotted.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Videos

·January 27, 2016·5 min read

Strongest Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia Deconstructed

A gene associated with schizophrenia may trigger runaway synaptic pruning during adolescence, a new study reports.

Schematic shows how beta-amyloid (Aß) oligomers, the classical complement cascade and microglia work together to induce synapse loss in the pre-plaque Alzheimer's disease brain.

Featured Neurology

·March 31, 2016·5 min read

Curbing Synapse Loss in Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers have shows how synapses are lost during early Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Genetics

·April 12, 2016·5 min read

Immune System Proteins Responsible for Fine Tuning and Reducing Motor Control

Researchers discover proteins that play an important role in the immune system may be responsible for fine tuning motor control during development and reducing motor function as we age.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 2, 2016·3 min read

The Adult Brain Prunes Branched Connections of New Neurons

New neurons in the adult brain have more in common with embryonic brains than scientist thought, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2016·4 min read

C. elegans Study Reveals How Differences in Male and Female Brains Emerge

Researchers have identified how sexually dimorphic connections arise in the nervous systems of nematode worms.

Autism Featured Genetics

·May 25, 2016·4 min read

Illuminating the Role of Autism Linked Shank Gene

A new study reports a gene mutation linked to autism also plays a critical role when it comes to the formation and maturation of synapses.

Autism Featured Neurology

·June 7, 2016·6 min read

Link Between Mom’s Immune Dysfunction in Pregnancy and Autism with Intellectual Disability in Offspring

A new study reports pregnant women with high levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines may have a significantly increased risk of having a child with autism combined with an intellectual disability.