A new algorithm can simultaneously delineate a neuron’s shape and position as well as its firing pattern by tracking the flow of calcium. The tool, described 20 January in Neuron, may help researchers easily interpret activity in large batches of neurons1. When neurons fire, calcium ions flood their…

Researchers have identified a key immune molecule in pregnant mice that produces autism-like behaviors in their pups. The findings, published 28 January in Science, support the theory that infections during pregnancy raise the risk of autism1. The study also hints at a way to mitigate the risk. “Som…

The combination of obesity and diabetes in a pregnant woman substantially increases the likelihood that her child will have autism, report two independent studies published in January. The studies also implicate the conditions in other neurodevelopmental conditions. The findings corroborate earlier …

This aspect of life was very important for Eashana’s sister, who has autism. So Eashana came up with an app.Source: The Autism Site

This boy with autism was bullied at school. So a celebrity stepped in.Source: The Autism Site

I virtually met Cindy on our Geek Club Books Facebook community where she talked about becoming an author: My journey with DJ hasn’t always been easy but as my husband Michael and I wrote this book, I was able to look at some of the highlights of my life and began to feel blessed by all that w…

The post Contentious conclusion; journal jam; home sweet home appeared first on Spectrum. Source: Spectrum News

Treatments for autism might be able to reverse some symptoms in adulthood, after the brain is formed, suggests a mouse study published this week in Nature1. But the timing is important: Juvenile mice respond better than adults do, hinting at a critical window. The results are based on mice missing S…

When disability is cool and collectible, it may seem like recognition, but there is too much room for marginalization. By Angela Weddle After reading The Art of Autism’s facebook post on the Creative Growth Studios, I was left with some realizations and questions both about the art world, in genera…

The post Pelphrey’s move; tech support; living space appeared first on Spectrum. Source: Spectrum News

Four years ago, Efrain Azmitia saw something unusual under the microscope. Peering at postmortem brain tissue from a person with autism, the seasoned anatomist noticed that his stain, which he had expected to highlight dividing neurons, instead stuck to the edges of worm-like structures. He knew rig…

Fifty years ago, few people had heard of the term ‘autism,’ let alone known anyone with a diagnosis. Not surprisingly, many adults with autism over the age of 50 have never been diagnosed; others received their diagnoses late in life. In either scenario, these adults enter old age facing a loss of i…

By Michelle Damiata Autism is not just a disability; Autism is something that requires understanding and empathy. Autism is a mental disability that affects a child’s social skills and learning skills as well. It can also affect the way a child’s thinking and it can make it difficult to comprehend …

A persistent challenge to improving our understanding of autism is the fact that no single neurological feature unites all — or even a majority — of cases. For instance, in the probably thousands of studies in which researchers tried to identify neuroanatomical changes specific to autism, only one f…