Autism 101
Decisional capacity and informed consent, explained
To include more autistic people in research, here's what scientists need to know about informed consent procedures for study participants who have impaired decision-making capacity.
Decisional capacity and informed consent, explained
The link between maternal infection and autism, explained
Having an infection during pregnancy is tied to a small increase in the chances of having an autistic child, but the connection may not be causal.
The link between maternal infection and autism, explained
Pathological demand avoidance in autism, explained
Some clinicians say the term describes a subtype of autism, but others dispute its validity and say it is harmful to the autistic community.
Pathological demand avoidance in autism, explained
DNA methylation in autism, explained
How chemical tags called methyl groups position themselves on genetic sequences may hint at some of the causes of autism.
Double empathy, explained
The double empathy theory challenges the idea that social difficulties are specific to autism and suggests that problems arise from a mismatch in perspective between autistic and non-autistic people.
Autism’s link to chromatin remodeling, explained
Many of the genes strongly linked to autism are involved in the remodeling of chromatin, the complex of DNA and proteins that makes up chromosomes. Scientists are just beginning to understand why.
Autism’s link to chromatin remodeling, explained
Autism genetics, explained
The more scientists dig into DNA, the more intricate its contribution to autism seems to be. Here, we unravel the complex genetics of autism.
The link between vitamins, supplements and autism, explained
Too little — or too much — of certain substances during pregnancy may increase the odds of having a child with autism. Here we explain what scientists know about these associations.
The link between vitamins, supplements and autism, explained
Anorexia’s link to autism, explained
People with anorexia are more likely to be autistic than those without the eating disorder, but the interplay between the two conditions is complex.
Brain structure changes in autism, explained
Autistic people have distinct patterns of brain development, which sometimes result in differences in brain structure. Here's what we know about those differences.
Brain structure changes in autism, explained
Explore more from The Transmitter
Rat neurons thrive in a mouse brain world, testing ‘nature versus nurture’
Neurons from the two rodents can wire up together to form functional circuits—all while maintaining some species-specific properties, two new studies show.
Rat neurons thrive in a mouse brain world, testing ‘nature versus nurture’
Neurons from the two rodents can wire up together to form functional circuits—all while maintaining some species-specific properties, two new studies show.
It’s past time to stop using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test
The widely used measure of “theory of mind” needs to be re-examined, along with the long-standing claim that autism is linked to a lack of this ability.
It’s past time to stop using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test
The widely used measure of “theory of mind” needs to be re-examined, along with the long-standing claim that autism is linked to a lack of this ability.
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.