New brain maps hint at cerebellum’s role in cognition, language
A new analysis of brain scans highlights variations in the cerebellum at the level of networks of neurons1. It also shows how the brain region may cooperate with other regions to govern complex...
View ArticleNew electrode array records brain activity in rats for months
A flexible electrode array can record the firing of hundreds of rat neurons for months on end1. The device monitors how brain regions interact, and it could be used to study how the patterns of...
View ArticleNew maps plot hot spots of diversity across human genome
A pair of maps that depict variation in the human genome may help reveal the genetic roots of autism. One map pinpoints ‘hot spots’ at which a process called recombination — which gives rise to genetic...
View ArticleNew scale measures anxiety in children with autism
A new parent questionnaire is the first test designed to gauge anxiety in children with autism1. About 40 percent of autistic children have anxiety, compared with roughly 25 percent of typical...
View ArticleNew method creates uniform cultures of lab-grown neurons
A new technique leads to neuron cultures of consistent quality, enabling scientists to study how autism mutations alter neurons1. Mutations in genes linked to autism, such as SHANK2 and SHANK3, may...
View ArticleIn new device, brain organoids ‘talk’ to each other
A novel cell culture device enables researchers to grow bundles of nerve fibers from stem cells, mimicking the tissue that connects distant parts of the brain1. These bundles, or tracts, are thought to...
View ArticleNew approach aids search for genetic roots of complex conditions
A new method enables researchers to test algorithms for spotting genes that contribute to a complex trait or condition, such as autism1. Researchers often study the genetics of complex traits using...
View ArticleNew technique maps molecules through DNA ‘scope’
A novel approach to microscopy reveals the sequences and spatial arrangement of DNA within cells1. The tool could help researchers better understand the molecular interactions that underlie autism....
View ArticleGenome structure unlikely to wield major influence on gene expression
The 3D structure of DNA has only a minimal influence on gene expression, a new study suggests1. The findings call into question a fundamental assumption about how genes are regulated. The genome is...
View ArticleHuman embryo model provides window into early development
A new 3D model of a human embryo reveals the biological processes that unfold in early development1. Scientists often study early development using lab-grown embryos, but these are imperfect...
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New database tracks more than a thousand mouse neurons
A new resource that traces individual neurons in the mouse brain may reveal how distant brain regions communicate1. Researchers typically study how the brain sends information from one region to...
View ArticleStudy links large set of common genes to brain structure
A new analysis of nearly 40,000 people pinpoints 48 genetic variants that may determine the volume of certain brain areas1. The findings could help reveal the genetic roots of brain conditions such as...
View ArticleNew data establishes norms for developmental milestones
A new database that details the ages at which children attain milestones could help clinicians spot developmental delays and autism sooner1. Children usually reach developmental milestones such as...
View ArticleResearchers map connections in fetal human brain
A new map of the fetal brain during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reveals the complex network of connections in the brain before birth1. The new functional connectome — a map of brain...
View ArticleLong-term study tracks persistence of self-harm in autistic people
Autistic people who are hyperactive or have difficulty controlling their own impulses are the most likely to show persistent self-injury, according to a new study1. The 10-year study is one of the...
View ArticleMutations in top autism gene linked to changes in brain structure
People with mutations in a gene called TBR1 have unusual features in several brain regions, along with autism traits and developmental delay, according to a new study1. TBR1 encodes a protein that is...
View ArticleLong-term study charts trajectory of fragile X syndrome into adulthood
For people with fragile X syndrome, progress in daily living skills and behavior tends to stall later in life, according to a new study1. And weight gain is a common health issue. The study is the...
View ArticleInfants’ interactions with parents may predict autism
Younger siblings of children with autism who have insecure attachments to their caregivers are more likely to be diagnosed with autism than are siblings with secure attachments, according to the first...
View ArticleUltra-sensitive protein activates neurons in response to external light
A new, minimally invasive technique allows researchers to activate neurons in the brains of mice and monkeys by using a light source located outside of the head1. The method involves optogenetics, a...
View ArticleFlexible implant records brain activity in rats for more than a year
A new flexible electrode array can detect the activity of neurons in a rat’s brain at high resolution for more than a year1. The device could be used to study how neuronal activity is altered in...
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