"Pain is a common but under-recognized experience for children with autism."Source: The Autism Site

By Megan Amodeo I have always been different. Some of the things I do are subtle and not noticeable. Other habits and quirks I have are quite apparent to those around me. Any way you look at it, I am unique. I am not typical. As a young girl, I often played alone. I didn’t fit social norms and I wa…

Extra copies of a gene called BOLA2 predispose people to autism and may protect against iron deficiency, according to a new study1. Repeats of the gene make people susceptible to deletion or duplication of a region on chromosome 16 that is tied to autism. The benefit of anemia prevention may explain…

It didn’t take long for the watch, which, for the longest time, had just one purpose (of telling time!), to go smart. For a smart watch, telling time is just one of the hundreds (if not thousands?) of features it is expected to have. Blind people have used always used Braille watches to tel…

The post Spotted around the web: Week of 2 December 2019 appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Erin Deely's son Brayden was diagnosed with autism when he was 3. Erin never thought she'd get to have a holiday photo of Brayden with Santa but that changed.Source: The Autism Site

A new reference genome includes genetic sequences collected from people around the globe, plugging major gaps in the current one. The current reference, first published in 2001, is a cornerstone of human genetics research. It has undergone 20 revisions and updates but still does not represent the fu…

Neurons in mice that lack an autism gene called CNTNAP2 do not differentiate well between social and nonsocial smells, according to a new study1. These neurons are located in the prefrontal cortex — a brain region that controls social behavior — and fire haphazardly. The findings suggest that these …

The two boys attend a school in Mexico, and their teacher recorded them.Source: The Autism Site

The condition comes with a devastating life expectancy.Source: The Autism Site

The hemispheres in autistic people’s brains are more symmetrical than those of their typical peers, according to the largest imaging study to explore this relationship1. It is unclear what this difference means, however. Typical people’s brains show a slight asymmetry between the left and right hemi…

“Have some compassion. Just let people be.”Source: The Autism Site

Michael got sick of being told "no" by potential employers, so he created his own dream job instead.Source: The Autism Site

I lived only half a childhood. Friendships were difficult, because I often did not know what to say. I had little patience for small talk and a dislike of new situations. Thrust into unfamiliar surroundings, my whole body would warm, my hands would shake, and I would feel a tightening in my chest an…