Mice lacking one copy of a gene linked to autism are small and show striking changes in the number and quality of their cries, according to unpublished new findings. Mutations in the gene, called HNRNPU, lead to a syndrome characterized by severe intellectual disability, language deficits and seizur…

Brain organoids made from typical human stem cells begin to show synchronized neuronal firing patterns after growing in a dish for at least four months. Organoids that carry a mutation linked to autism do not show the same patterns. The activity in the typical organoids involves periods of neuronal …

Researchers have found a way to target a fluorescent protein specifically to the cell bodies of neurons. This gives them a clear picture of which neurons are firing when, without interference from nearby neurons, they reported today at the 2018 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego, C…

A specially made ‘decoy’ protein blocks an immune molecule from crossing the placenta. The work is in mice, but it suggests that the same strategy could prevent the molecule from triggering fetal brain changes that contribute to autism. Researchers presented the unpublished results today at the 2018…

The post Spotted around the web: Week of 29 October 2018 appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

A new protocol enables researchers to rigorously test drugs for Angelman syndrome in mice1. The guidelines boost the chances that drugs that work in mice will also work in people. “A lot of people are interested in testing drugs for Angelman syndrome,” says lead researcher Ype Elgersma, professor of…

A recalibrated version of a widely used test for autism may accurately reflect autistic children’s development as they grow and become verbal, according to a new study1. The revised test identifies worsening autism traits in a subgroup of children who would not otherwise have been flagged for the co…

2 November 2018: Heading to San Diego The 48th annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting kicks off Saturday morning in San Diego, California. For five days, the city will play host to thousands of neuroscientists presenting some 14,000 abstracts. From lectures and symposia to posters and satelli…

What I learned from watching The Dating Game, The Bachelor, and Beauty and the Geek By Tom Iland Do you watch reality TV shows?  How about reality TV dating shows?  Growing up with autism, ever since elementary school, I wanted to have a girlfriend.  I usually relied on movies or TV s…

Oliver and his parents had requested he not be given the medication because he'd had adverse reactions in the past.Source: The Autism Site

"The only thing we were surprised by was how potentially strong a relationship there was. To put it colloquially, it blew our minds."Source: The Autism Site

Learn all about our newest game Double Up from creator Rosemarie Griffin, CCC/SLP, BCBA!  If you are working with older students, I know that you have probably struggled with finding materials that were age appropriate. I am a school based speech language pathologist and board certified analyst…

We are in the midst of an autism revolution. It’s exciting to see what’s happening and who’s leading it.  What we know about autism has evolved thanks to the growing numbers of autistic individuals who are finding their voices, telling the world about their firsthand experiences, and speaking out ab…

Women whose children are severely autistic have lower serotonin levels than do those whose children have mild or moderate autism traits, a new study suggests1. Serotonin is a signaling molecule in the nervous system. Nearly one in three people with autism has elevated levels of serotonin in his bloo…