Autism papers and media mentions you may have missed:
Spotted around the web: Autism-linked genes in a Chinese population; measuring sleep; Zika virus
Among 3,122 children in Puerto Rico who were exposed to Zika virus in utero, 3.5 percent have an autism diagnosis. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Variants of the gene RPH3A, which are linked to autism and epilepsy, appear to increase the number of glutamate receptors at extrasynaptic sites. Genetics in Medicine
Children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome have altered cortical network activity, as measured by magnetoencephalography. Neuropsychopharmacology
Mice missing the TET2 gene curtail their social interactions; replenishing TET2 in the lateral habenula restores sociability. Cell Reports
People who carry variants of the CUL3 gene tend to have intellectual disability, sometimes accompanied by autism traits, according to a preprint. medRxiv
A genetic analysis of autistic people with Chinese ancestry has identified nine new candidate genes for the condition. Biological Psychiatry
Using Neuropixels probes, researchers have mapped neural activity across the brain in mice performing complex tasks, and created a publicly available dataset, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Variants of genes that code for the major histocompatibility complex and human leukocyte antigens may contribute to autism by way of inflammatory processes in the gut. Translational Psychiatry
Autism researcher Calliope Holingue recently discussed her work on the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and autism traits. NPR
Voice acoustics can distinguish autistic from non-autistic children with 91 percent accuracy. Translational Psychiatry
Sleep diaries kept by caregivers tend to overestimate sleep duration and underestimate nighttime awakenings in children, compared with objective sleep measures; this pattern is similar whether the children have neurodevelopmental conditions or not. Spectrum reported on sleep-monitoring devices in autistic children in June. Sleep Medicine Reviews
Many autism-linked genes date back to the Cambrian period and are highly conserved in vertebrates. Autism Research
Stem cells from people with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome can be induced to grow into functional neurons regardless of the starting cell type or reprogramming factors, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Epidural analgesia during childbirth is not associated with autism traits in children, according to a prospective observational study. Spectrum covered the controversy surrounding epidurals and autism earlier this year. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
Preschool-aged children who lived through the COVID-19 pandemic show delays in development — by about four months — unlike children who reached age 5 before the pandemic. JAMA Pediatrics
Variants of the genes CACNA1C and CACNA1D, which code for L-type calcium channels, are linked to neurodevelopmental conditions; variants often involve changes in noncoding regions of the gene. Channels
Binding nook: Variants of human leukocyte antigen, which contains a peptide-binding site for antigen presentation, are linked to autism.
The brain dynamics linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits differ in children with autism and ADHD versus those with only ADHD. eNeuro
Whole-genome sequencing of blood from infants takes longer than commercially available targeted gene panels but returns a higher yield of diagnosis-linked gene variants. Spectrum has reported on efforts to include more genes in neonatal screens. JAMA
The low-cost, open-access journal Aperture Neuro is now on a new platform, according to editor-in-chief Peter Bandettini. Twitter
Spotted around the web: ADNP syndrome; the pangenome; gender on the spectrum
In a mouse model of ADNP syndrome, performance on a learning and memory task is linked to changes in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Molecular Psychiatry
The recently published human pangenome, which includes complete genomes of 47 people from diverse ancestries, could advance scientists’ understanding of the genetics of health and disease. JAMA
Fetal inflammatory syndrome appears to be linked to autism and conduct disorder, according to a review of medical records. Translational Psychiatry
Autism-linked genes appear to converge on the cellular processes involving microtubules and cell proliferation, as well as synaptic and chromatin function. Spectrumcovered related findings in February. Development
Auditory-processing challenges in autistic children are evident at 3 years of age and are linked to problems in adaptive behavior later in childhood. Autism Research
In eukaryotes, RNA-guided systems include DNA endonucleases, which rely on Fanzor proteins and may be used to deliver targeted gene therapy. Nature
For copy number variants in chromosomal regions 16p11.2 and 22q11.2, gene pairs often explain gene-behavior linkages better than single genes do. PLOS Genetics
Autistic teenagers are more likely than their non-autistic peers to have obesity, neurological conditions, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and the prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia increase by early adulthood. Autism Research
Totally tubular: Axons in human stem-cell-derived cortical neurons are dotted with autism-linked proteins.
Autistic children have elevated levels of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and attention problems, and autistic girls have higher rates than autistic boys. Psychological Medicine
Standard questions about gender identity do not capture the range of identities in people with autism. Autism in Adulthood
Measures of attention and motor skills in the first six months of life appear to be more reliable predictors of an eventual autism diagnosis than are social or communication behaviors, according to a review of studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Subtypes of somatostatin interneurons have distinct distributions and axonal shapes, and specific connections to pyramidal cells. Neuron
Autism researchers should recruit sex-balanced cohorts in their studies, argues an autism expert who details the consequences of excluding or underrepresenting girls and women. Autism Research
Autistic people tend to recognize faces whether they are upside down or right side up more adeptly than do non-autistic people, although performance variability is high, according to a review of studies. JAMA Psychiatry
Autistic preschoolers in inclusive classrooms engage with teachers and peers less than non-autistic preschoolers. Autism Research
Neurodivergent graduate students in STEM fields report feeling pressure to conform to neurotypical norms and mask neurodivergent traits. Frontiers in Psychology
Autistic children who have autistic siblings tend to have higher cognitive abilities and milder traits than do autistic children with no family history of autism. Autism Research
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/CLDN8920
Spotted around the web: Psychedelics; microRNA genes; pain sensitivity
A systematic review documented 64 microRNA genes that are expressed differently in people with autism, but the examined studies contradict one another about the direction of those expression differences. PLOS ONE
Autistic people score lower on face perception and memory tasks than neurotypical people, but both groups fare similarly in face matching. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
The distinction between syndromic and non-syndromic autism may not be helpful for research or clinical practice, two scientists argue. Genetics in Medicine
New methods to deliver gene therapies replace viruses with nanoparticles derived from lipids, proteins or nucleic acids, which may enable safer and less expensive treatments. Nature Biotechnology
Autistic people tend to have more neural activity in the occipital lobe than do non-autistic people when doing the Wechsler Box Design test of visual-spatial processing, and other brain areas also seem to correlate with performance on the task. Cerebral Cortex
Pain signals: SHANK2 protein is expressed on the cell body and dendrites of some spinal-cord neurons.
A new project attempts to link neural processing with comprehensive psychophysiological profiles in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, which is associated with autism and schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published draft guidance for clinical trials of psychedelics for behavioral conditions, such as depression. Medscape
An imaging method to characterize dynamic functional network connectivity can distinguish autistic from non-autistic people with high accuracy. Autism Research
Mice missing the SHANK2 gene, a model of autism, display altered pain sensitivities to chemical, thermal and mechanical stimuli, as well as dysfunction of SHANK2-expressing neurons in the spinal cord. Molecular Autism
Genomics research on autism should not overlook social and environmental influences on how autistic people fare in their lives, a pair of scientists write in a commentary. Nature Medicine
Spotted around the web: Synthetic embryos; Angelman gene therapy
Older autistic adults are more likely than non-autistic ones to have experienced falls, bodily injuries, poisonings and self-harm, in addition to various health conditions, according to a population-based study in Sweden. The Lancet Healthy Longevity
An assessment tool that asks children about their participation and engagement in daily activities — a simplified version of “Picture My Participation” — has been validated in a Chinese-speaking population of autistic and non-autistic children. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Both deletions and duplications of the 22q11.2 chromosomal region can give rise to autism, but they have distinct neurocognitive profiles, according to a preprint. medRxiv
An organization that runs 130 autism treatment centers in the United States, funded by a private equity firm, has filed for bankruptcy. Spectrum has previously covered the ramifications of private investment in nursing homes and other care facilities. Reuters
A machine-learning technique called ‘federated learning’ makes it possible to screen datasets for people who may have autism without plugging their information into a centralized server, thereby skirting privacy issues. Scientific Reports
Naturalistic environments and situations in the laboratory are helping neuroscientists decode animal behavior. Nature
Biotech companies are tackling chromosomal conditions such as Angelman and Phelan-McDermid syndromes. Earlier this year, Spectrum reported on an RNA therapy for Angelman syndrome as modeled in monkeys. Labiotech
Two research groups developed synthetic embryos, or embryoids, from human stem cells, prompting ethical concerns. Spectrumreported on embryoids made from mouse stem cells in October. Nature
The Swiss drug company Roche has discontinued its work on rugonersen, a gene therapy for Angelman syndrome, after disappointing results from a phase 1 clinical trial. Spectrum covered preclinical data on the therapy in August. FAST
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its first clinical trial guidelines for psychedelics (drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA) as a treatment for psychiatric disorders and other medical conditions. FDA
A person’s age at autism diagnosis does not predict quality of life and well-being in adulthood; instead, the number of autism traits is a more accurate predictor. Autism
The density and location of serotonin receptors in the cortex of macaque monkeys are similar to those found in the human brain. Nature Neuroscience
The brain waves of several species — humans, bats and mice — sync up during social interactions. Scientific American
Social distancing during the pandemic did not affect the functioning of toddlers, children and teenagers aged 3-17 with developmental disabilities in Brazil. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities
Sodium channels don’t function properly in neurons derived from people with dup15q syndrome, a neurodevelopmental condition associated with autism traits and seizures.Epilepsia
Spotted around the web: Juneteenth; AI images; brain organoids in space
Fifty-two Black scientists reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth as a U.S. holiday and the remaining structural issues that support racism and discrimination in the sciences. Cell
Autistic children display less neural sensitivity to expressive faces than non-autistic children do, as measured by frequency-tagging electroencephalograms; oxytocin treatment does not alter their responses. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
After participating in a social-skills training program, parents of autistic children report feeling supported and understanding their children better. Autism
The journal Nature has prohibited the use of images generated by artificial-intelligence technologies (unless the article is about AI specifically). Nature
Alysson Muotri and his colleagues model aging in brain organoids by sending them into space to develop in very low gravity. Spectrum has previously covered Muotri’s work. The Scientist
Mice prenatally exposed to valproic acid, which are often used as an autism model, display behavioral changes and lower levels of two synaptic proteins, NLGN1 and PSD-95. Brain Research
Zebrafish have advantages over rodents as a model for studying gut-brain interactions in autism, according to a review article. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Less rosy: Brain organoids with MeCP2 mutations (right) do not form neural rosettes as observed in wild-type organoids (left).
Disentangling stigma from illness — nobody is bad or lesser because they have a disease or condition — may foster increased acceptance of people with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and get them the support they need, writes psychiatrist Daniel Morehead. Psychiatric Times
The prevalence of co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism (without intellectual disability) varies widely across studies, from 2.6 to 95.5 percent. Journal of Attention Disorders
Three brothers with a deletion in the chromosomal region 16p11.2, inherited from their mother, have dissimilar autism traits and body weights. Journal of Medical Genetics
Combining genomics and transcriptomics, researchers have linked the SOX7 gene, which codes for a transcription factor, to autism, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Spotted around the web: Preterm birth; wearable devices; acetylcholine
Infants born before 30 weeks gestation who have either elevated scores on a neurological screen or at least two medical morbidities are at an increased likelihood of having a positive autism screen at age 2.
Journal of Pediatrics
Adapting a dentist office for people with sensory sensitivities — by using low light, a calming soundtrack, and a weighted blanket — can lower stress levels in autistic children during a cleaning.
JAMA Network Open
A Fitbit outperforms an actigraph in classifying wakeful periods, though both devices measure sleep parameters well.
Spectrum reported last week on various wearable and nearable
devices to measure sleep in autism.
Sleep Health
A model to distinguish a human-written scientific paper from a ChatGPT-written one relies on paragraph length, variable sentence length, and frequent use of words such as “however,” “but,” and “although.”
Cell Reports Physical Science
Medications that increase acetylcholine, such as galantamine and donepezil, have — at most — small effects on autism traits, according to a review of clinical studies.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Several distinct factors make up restricted and repetitive behaviors, and questions remain about how they relate to overall functioning in autistic people, according to a review.
Clinical Psychology Review
Autistic people exhibit less recall than non-autistic people on a task that involves matching images of real-world scenes, suggesting a difference in how images are processed or categorized in the brain.
PLOS One
Autistic toddlers have atypical facial responses compared with non-autistic toddlers when watching videos of social situations, suggesting that computer vision analysis may enable early detection of autism-associated behavior.
IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing
The Autism Science Foundation is partnering with the Health Research Alliance to help its grantees publish in open-access journals without having to pay author fees.
Autism Science Foundation
The postdoctoral researcher landscape is changing, with fewer newly minted Ph.D. scientists in the life sciences choosing the traditional path, especially those with families or from underrepresented groups.
STAT
Autistic medical students have strengths that bode well for their career, but they also experience challenges in their training, according to a small qualitative study.
Spectrum has covered similar tensions encountered by autistic
doctors and
psychiatrists.
Medical Education
Children who were born preterm tend to have cortical thinning in some brain regions and thickening in others, unlike those born full term.
eNeuro
Brain building: Moderately preterm (left) and very preterm (right) babies show some thickening (red) and thinning (blue) in parts of the cortex, relative to full-term babies.
Psychedelic drugs with differing biological targets seem to share a capacity to reopen critical periods of learning; they enable adult mice to learn social-reward behavior.
Spectrum covered
MDMA’s effects on this behavior in 2019.
Nature
Autistic adults who are transgender or non-binary report that clinicians often seem to be unknowledgeable about their health-care needs, according to a small study.
Autism in Adulthood
Many transgender or nonbinary autistic people confront disbelief and disparities in health-care settings, which the clinical research community should acknowledge and address, according to an expert panel discussion.
Autism in Adulthood
Black girls and women with autism have been largely overlooked by researchers, an issue that may contribute to delayed diagnoses and treatment.
The 19th
Citing inadequate study design, the journal Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience has retracted a paper about a machine-learning algorithm that the authors claimed distinguishes autistic children by their facial features.
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/ORLU6548
Spotted around the web: Jaundice; delta-catenin gene; ChatGPT
An autism-linked mutation of the delta-catenin gene in mice shifts the excitation-inhibition balance and alters social behavior. PNAS
Genetic analysis of rare and common variants linked to autism are associated with sex-based differences in placental gene expression and sex-steroid-related phenotypes, respectively. Frontiers in Endocrinology
Autistic children whose repetitive behaviors take the form of self-injury or an insistence on sameness tend to have both internalizing traits, such as anxiety, and externalizing ones, such as aggression. Spectrum previously covered efforts to better subtype repetitive behaviors. BMC Psychiatry
Across five mouse models of autism, changes to the proteome of their hippocampal synapses converge. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
People referred to outpatient psychiatric care who have autism or autism traits tend to have more co-occurring psychiatric conditions than those without autism traits, according to a small study. BJPsych Open
Neurodivergent physicists have plenty to contribute to research endeavors but may need accommodations and understanding to fulfill their potential. Symmetry
Autistic and non-autistic youth had similar levels of internalizing symptoms linked to anxiety and depression in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but those with autism reported decreases in those symptoms over the next six months, according to a small study. Autism Research
Folding finesse: Neurotrophic factors help guide postnatal cerebellar development.
Electroencephalographic profiles are qualitatively similar in three popular analytic software tools, although the voltage magnitudes show some variability. NeuroImage: Reports
Some autistic people are consulting ChatGPT to help them brainstorm their way through social situations. Wired
A wide variety of treatment providers see autistic children with feeding problems and may not know how to help, according to a survey. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Aspects of experimental design besides increasing sample size can yield higher effect sizes in MRI studies seeking to find brain correlates of behavior, according to a preprint. Spectrum reported on the low power of neuroimaging studies last year. bioRxiv
Neurotrophic factors that contribute to or interfere with cerebellar development can lead to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and schizophrenia, according to a review. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
A review of case reports of euthanasia in the Netherlands found 39 cases involving people with autism or intellectual disability, in which physicians justified the action because these conditions were deemed untreatable with “no prospect of improvement.” BJPsych Open
Though studied less often than regional connectivity, the shape of the brain may influence the function of neural activity — especially wave-like activity — just as much. Nature
The Biden administration appears poised to select Mandy Cohen, a physician and public-health expert, as the next director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Washington Post
Spotted around the web: Rat headphones; INSAR sessions online; TAOK1 gene
Neurons can be categorized into distinct morphological subtypes based on their dendrites and axons, which may offer new insights into brain architecture. Nature Neuroscience
Astrocytes support neural function, synaptic maturation and myelin integrity, and astrocyte dysfunction is implicated in many neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, according to a review article. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Researchers were unable to replicate previously reported findings on the direct imaging of neural activity in anesthetized mice, they report in a preprint. bioRxiv
The International Society for Autism Research has announced that previously recorded INSAR 2023 sessions can be temporarily viewed online starting in June. International Society for Autism Research
Researchers have developed miniature headphones for rats, to deliver sound stimuli in sensory-processing studies. eNeuro
Sound control: Customized rat headphones enable researchers to deliver auditory stimuli with precision.
Language that seeks to persuade should be used with caution to avoid overselling scientific results. eLife
Data from the U.S.-based National Survey on Child Health show that autistic children are underserved compared with non-autistic children, and both groups experienced unmet health-care needs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Autism
The average time interval between first developmental screening and an autism diagnosis is more than two years in the United States. The Journal of Pediatrics
Mutations in the TAOK1 gene, linked to neurodevelopmental conditions, lead to reduced kinase activity and overly long protrusions in neuronal membranes. Spectrum reported on this morphological effect earlier this year. Trends in Neurosciences
Researchers have validated the Persian version of a minimum dataset for an autism registry. Annals of Medicine and Surgery
More research is needed on the validity and equity of telehealth autism assessments, according to a review article. Spectrum covered some of the preliminary evidence for remote autism evaluations last year. Assessment
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/LRDW2440
Spotted around the web: Brain connectivity; microglia; ketamine
Autistic children’s adaptive behavior difficulties are linked to clinical and familial factors in ways that might help inform tailored interventions. Journal of Psychiatric Research
Male offspring of mice exposed to stressors and environmental toxicants during pregnancy show autism-like behaviors, an altered gut microbiome and changes in brain microglia and dopamine. Molecular Psychiatry
Autism prevalence in Northern Ireland continues to rise; recent Department of Health figures suggest that 1 in 20 schoolchildren has the condition. BBC News
Functional brain-connectivity patterns show two subtypes of autism: hypo- and hyperconnectivity, of which only the latter involves gene enrichment associated with the excitation/inhibition balance. Biological Psychiatry
A widely used autism screen, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up, is moderately predictive of an autism diagnosis, according to a review of studies across 10 countries. Pediatrics
Two scientists who fled their war-torn countries describe their experiences finding a new research home and how the scientific community can support displaced researchers. Nature
Blocking microglia from receiving serotonin signals during postnatal development in mouse pups alters neuronal maturation and causes behavioral changes in adulthood. Molecular Psychiatry
Altered shapes: Male mice prenatally exposed to air pollutants and maternal stress develop overly branched microglial cells (right) compared with control mice (left).
A review article covers the development and applications of CRISPR gene-editing technology for neuroscience research. Neuron
Susan Daniels of the National Institute of Mental Health is the new U.S. Health and Human Services National Autism Coordinator. NIMH
The antidepressant effects of ketamine may not arise from the drug’s action in the brain but from the experience of receiving medical treatment. Spectrum covered the limitations of ketamine in treating autism last year. Science
Online research methods run the risk of recruiting people who lie about inclusion criteria just to collect any participant compensation. Autism
The structure and culture of research science may contribute to mental health problems in its practitioners at all career levels. Nature
Researchers have developed a deep-learning model to digitally assess joint attention in toddlers from video recordings. JAMA Network Open
The journal Multimedia Tools and Applications has retracted a paper on a novel method to identify autism in children, because of “a number of concerns, including but not limited to compromised editorial handling and peer review process.” Multimedia Tools and Applications
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/YXRK6126
Spotted around the web: Necroptosis genes; antisense oligos; racial disparities
Autistic people have higher rates of death than non-autistic people, both from natural causes and by suicide, according to a population-based study in Taiwan. Autism
Gene-burden analysis for autism, combined with the study of altered functions in expressed proteins, has identified a novel gene variant. PLOS One
Bicycle riding improves self-regulation in autistic children, and riding a two-wheeled bike rather than a stationary one also improves cognition, according to a small study. Autism
Programmed cell death may play a role in autism, and specific necroptosis genes may serve as early biomarkers for the condition. Frontiers in Immunology
One-tenth of adolescent girls and women hospitalized for eating disorders have an autism diagnosis, and 17 percent are suspected of having the condition, according to a small study. Journal of Eating Disorders
Increased pay, training and support could mitigate high turnover rates among registered behavioral technicians working with autistic people. Behavioral Health Business
Antisense oligonucleotides, long considered promising as therapeutics for conditions that stem from single-gene mutations, are unlikely to be profitable; the n-Lorem foundation has stepped in to do this work charitably. Spectrum interviewed the foundation’s chief medical officer earlier this year. Nature
A new review explores altered interneuron function in fragile X syndrome as key to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory activity. Frontiers in Neuroscience
Journal editors often ask submitting authors to add unnecessary citations to their manuscripts to secure publication, according to an analysis. Nature
Organ origins: A 25-day monkey embryo grown in a laboratory shows early tissue differentiation.
Social-communication skills correlate with the neuroanatomy of the cerebellum, according to a study in children with various psychiatric diagnoses. Molecular Autism
Two laboratories have succeeded at keeping lab-grown monkey embryos alive for 25 days, making it possible to observe the beginning of organ formation. Nature
Mice missing the MECP2 gene, a model of Rett syndrome, show greater permeability of the blood-brain barrier compared with control mice. Biomolecules
Cultural norms may shape how autism traits are perceived, and therefore whether someone is disabled or not. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Spotted around the web: INSAR; cerebellar gene expression; pangenome
Many autism-linked genes are highly expressed in the cerebellum, particularly those associated with histone methylation. Neurology
Several autism researchers have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, including Gordon Fishell of Harvard University, Dina Katabi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hongkui Zeng of the Allen Institute for Brain Science. National Academy of Sciences
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to add five sites to its Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring network. Disability Scoop
The documented increase in autism cases — the condition now affects 1 in 36 children in the United States — is a result of improved awareness and identification, although disparities persist for diagnosis and treatment services. JAMA
Copy number variants linked to autism occur in 15 percent of autistic children, and variants of unknown significance are seen in another 27 percent, according to a study in Italy. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine
Boys with fragile X syndrome display a different learning pattern than do boys with non-syndromic autism during an intervention to improve social gaze. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Girls make up a higher proportion of children diagnosed with autism at age 7 to 11 than those who receive an early diagnosis, said Casey Burrows in a presentation of the unpublished work Saturday at INSAR 2023. The finding may be explained in part by the fact that girls generally have better language skills early in life. INSAR Abstract 227.004
Nearly 80 percent of autistic girls have at least one anxiety disorder, and 65 percent have distinct forms of anxiety, including uncommon phobias, said Christine Wu Nordahl in a presentation at INSAR 2023 last Friday. MRI scans show that the amygdala grows more slowly in autistic children with distinct anxieties but more quickly in autistic children with anxieties described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. INSAR Abstract 318.002
About one-quarter of minimally verbal autistic children have greater receptive than expressive language skills, said Yanru Chen in a presentation at INSAR 2023 last Friday, describing what she says is the first study to investigate the question. INSAR Abstract 315.004
Only 29 percent of papers on language impairments in autistic children contain any information about the race or ethnicity of the participants, according to a review of studies. Autism
Diverse blueprints: A new human genome map reflects nearly 50 people with varied racial, ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
Leja/NHGRI
A U.S.-based panel of experts has advised national primate centers to expand their breeding programs to address the shortage of monkeys for research. AP News
None of the many candidate biomarkers for neurodevelopmental conditions have better than 80 percent sensitivity and specificity in more than one study, according to a systematic review. World Psychiatry
Autistic people and advocates lobby for more influence on research priorities, saying that autism research remains focused on fixing deficits rather than exploring supports. Nature
Imaging Neuroscience, the new nonprofit open-access journal created by the resigning editors of NeuroImage and NeuroImage: Reports, has begun reviewing papers that authors transferred over from NeuroImage. Spectrum covered the resignation last month. Imaging Neuroscience
New electroencephalographic methods provide better reliability and consistency of measures, which may improve analyses of individual differences in neural function. NeuroImage
A revamped human genome map uses data from 47 people with diverse backgrounds, creating a “pangenome.” The New York Times
Ruth Grossman, an autism researcher at Emerson College, has been named a Radcliffe fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute for the upcoming academic year.Emerson Today
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/CLPL2099
Ten people diagnosed with autism as adults and living in Michigan describe their experiences in interviews with journalists. The Detroit Free Press
Five U.S.-based transit systems have used autistic children’s voices to play their public service announcements during Autism Awareness Month. NPR
Methylation in sperm is associated with autism traits in fathers and their children, according to a study of families with a history of autism. Molecular Psychiatry
Physical activity interventions in autistic children can improve fitness, motor skills, psychological well-being and quality of life, but they do not affect core autism traits, according to a review of studies. Autism
A new project, Artificial Intelligence and the Rights of Autistic People, seeks to include autistic voices in the research and development of AI-based diagnostics, aids and interventions. European Council of Autistic People
Mice missing the autism-linked gene CASPR2 have altered gastrointestinal motility, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Sensory gut: The CASPR2 protein is expressed in a subset of enteric neurons all along the intestinal tract.
Human reviewers can identify when ChatGPT is used to write scientific papers 68 percent of the time; an AI output detector caught such instances 98 percent of the time. npj digital medicine
Autistic children have unusually large electrophysiological reactions to an aberrant sound in an auditory perception measure called mismatch negativity. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
Medical students with autism traits are more likely than those without to experience burnout and depression, according to a small study in Japan. BMC Psychiatry
European Union research ministers appear to be close to finalizing draft guidance that recommends scientific publishing be open access and without fees for authors. Science Business
DNA methylation patterns at birth may predict a child’s fine-motor skills six to seven years later. Epigenetics
Researchers from Asia, Africa and South America — as well as Black researchers in the United States — are under-cited and underrepresented on journal editorial boards, and they face delays in manuscript review. Nature
Almost one-quarter of autism intervention studies published before November 2021 cannot be included in meta-analyses because they inadequately report their findings or fail to provide their data upon request, according to an unpublished analysis presented Thursday at INSAR 2023 by Micheal Sandbank. The work comes from an ongoing analysis of Project AIM (Autism Intervention Meta-Analysis), which Spectrumcovered last year. INSAR Abstract 205.002
Brain waves called beta oscillations are more frequent and variable in children with autism than in those without the condition, says Gerardo Parra, who presented the unpublished work Thursday at INSAR 2023. A higher rate of beta oscillations tends to be associated with hyperreactivity to tactile stimuli, according to the analysis, which recorded the resting-state brain activity of 22 autistic and 27 non-autistic children. INSAR Abstract 204.001
An infant’s preference to look at faces over non-face objects is heritable, according to findings from an unpublished eye-tracking study of more than 500 5-month-old twins presented by Ana Maria Portugal Thursday at INSAR. A higher preference is also associated with greater verbal skills in toddlerhood, parent reports show. INSAR Abstract 306.002
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/LOHS3221
Ten people diagnosed with autism as adults and living in Michigan describe their experiences in interviews with journalists. The Detroit Free Press
Five U.S.-based transit systems have used autistic children’s voices to play their public service announcements during Autism Awareness Month. NPR
Methylation in sperm is associated with autism traits in fathers and their children, according to a study of families with a history of autism. Molecular Psychiatry
Physical activity interventions in autistic children can improve fitness, motor skills, psychological well-being and quality of life, but they do not affect core autism traits, according to a review of studies. Autism
A new project, Artificial Intelligence and the Rights of Autistic People, seeks to include autistic voices in the research and development of AI-based diagnostics, aids and interventions. European Council of Autistic People
Mice missing the autism-linked gene CASPR2 have altered gastrointestinal motility, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Sensory gut: The CASPR2 protein is expressed in a subset of enteric neurons all along the intestinal tract.
Human reviewers can identify when ChatGPT is used to write scientific papers 68 percent of the time; an AI output detector caught such instances 98 percent of the time. npj digital medicine
Autistic children have unusually large electrophysiological reactions to an aberrant sound in an auditory perception measure called mismatch negativity. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
Medical students with autism traits are more likely than those without to experience burnout and depression, according to a small study in Japan. BMC Psychiatry
European Union research ministers appear to be close to finalizing draft guidance that recommends scientific publishing be open access and without fees for authors. Science Business
DNA methylation patterns at birth may predict a child’s fine-motor skills six to seven years later. Epigenetics
Researchers from Asia, Africa and South America — as well as Black researchers in the United States — are under-cited and underrepresented on journal editorial boards, and they face delays in manuscript review. Nature
Almost one-quarter of autism intervention studies published before November 2021 cannot be included in meta-analyses because they inadequately report their findings or fail to provide their data upon request, according to an unpublished analysis presented Thursday at INSAR 2023 by Micheal Sandbank. The work comes from an ongoing analysis of Project AIM (Autism Intervention Meta-Analysis), which Spectrumcovered last year. INSAR Abstract 205.002
Brain waves called beta oscillations are more frequent and variable in children with autism than in those without the condition, says Gerardo Parra, who presented the unpublished work Thursday at INSAR 2023. A higher rate of beta oscillations tends to be associated with hyperreactivity to tactile stimuli, according to the analysis, which recorded the resting-state brain activity of 22 autistic and 27 non-autistic children. INSAR Abstract 204.001
An infant’s preference to look at faces over non-face objects is heritable, according to findings from an unpublished eye-tracking study of more than 500 5-month-old twins presented by Ana Maria Portugal Thursday at INSAR. A higher preference is also associated with greater verbal skills in toddlerhood, parent reports show. INSAR Abstract 306.002
Cite this article: https://doi.org/10.53053/LOHS3221
Spotted around the web: Sharing games; myelination; neuroscience prizes
Research roundup
Autistic youth are more likely than their non-autistic peers to have suicidal thoughts and to self-injure, according to a clinician rating scale; the findings are consistent with those derived from parent- and self-report questionnaires. Autism
Commonly used autism assessment instruments have good reliability, although subscales with fewer items, such as ones that measure restricted and repetitive behaviors, appear to be weaker than those with more items. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Autistic adolescents behave differently from their non-autistic peers in two classic economics games that assess sharing behaviors, according to a small study. Autism Research
The Repetitive Behaviors Questionnaire for Adults appears to be a valid measure of the four aspects of restricted and repetitive behaviors — repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests and atypical sensitivity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Drugs that promote myelination appear to mitigate electrophysiological and behavioral traits in a mouse model of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Brain
Integrating genetics with brain imaging and applying machine learning could reveal early biomarkers for autism, a review article suggests. Molecular Psychiatry
Different types of social interaction activate different regions of the brain with varying specificity. NeuroImage
Minimally verbal autistic toddlers speak more after one of two interventions targeted to their baseline traits and delivered over six months, according to a recent study. Autism Research
Social perception: Functional magnetic resonance imaging maps people’s brain responses to seeing various social situations.
Autistic people do not seem to have a generalized downward gaze bias, which might otherwise explain why autistic people tend to gaze at other people’s mouths rather than at the eyes, according to a small study. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
Science and society
Nature journals have updated their policies on race- and ethnic-related research to be more rigorous and descriptive, with the goal of avoiding inadvertent harm. Nature
Neuroscientist Huda Akil of the University of Michigan, who studies the neurobiology of emotions, has won the 2023 Gruber Neuroscience Prize. The Gruber Foundation
Autism researcher David Sulzer trains elephants to play music, which he says is another way to unlock the mysteries of sensory processing in the basal ganglia. The New Yorker
The Duke Autism Center in Durham, North Carolina, has halted its practice of delivering cord-blood-cell infusions to autistic children. Spectrum reported on unproven stem-cell therapies for autism in 2019. The Niche
The Japan Neuroscience Society has awarded its 2023 Joseph Altman Award for Developmental Neuroscience to Tomasz Nowakowski of the University of California, San Francisco. Spectrum published a Q&A with Nowakowsi last year. The Japan Neuroscience Society
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