Autism in the brain, region by region
Recent articles
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
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’s center of automatic body functions has autism links
The brainstem controls such disparate functions as breathing, sensation and sleep — all of which can be altered in autism.

Brain’s center of automatic body functions has autism links
The brainstem controls such disparate functions as breathing, sensation and sleep — all of which can be altered in autism.
Amygdala, the brain’s threat detector, has broad roles in autism
The amygdala has long been a focus of autism research. But its exact role in the condition has been unclear.

Amygdala, the brain’s threat detector, has broad roles in autism
The amygdala has long been a focus of autism research. But its exact role in the condition has been unclear.
How the cerebellum is linked to autism
In this video, professors Sam Wang and Peter Tsai explain the role of the ‘little brain’ in cognition, social skills, emotion control and repetitive behaviors.
How the cerebellum is linked to autism
In this video, professors Sam Wang and Peter Tsai explain the role of the ‘little brain’ in cognition, social skills, emotion control and repetitive behaviors.
Brain’s motor hub plays unsung role in social skills, cognition
Long known as the director of movement, the cerebellum may also coordinate social and cognitive abilities, including those central to autism.

Brain’s motor hub plays unsung role in social skills, cognition
Long known as the director of movement, the cerebellum may also coordinate social and cognitive abilities, including those central to autism.
Striatum, the brain’s reward hub, may drive core autism traits
Associated primarily with its role in movement, the striatum may also influence the social difficulties of autistic people.

Striatum, the brain’s reward hub, may drive core autism traits
Associated primarily with its role in movement, the striatum may also influence the social difficulties of autistic people.
Brain’s prefrontal cortex conducts symphony of social players
A brain region that orchestrates responses to social cues and aids decision-making may be off tempo in autism.
Brain’s prefrontal cortex conducts symphony of social players
A brain region that orchestrates responses to social cues and aids decision-making may be off tempo in autism.
Brain’s bridge could yield clues to faulty wiring in autism
Decoding distortions in the brain’s largest nerve tract could lay bare basic problems with long-range neural connections in autism.
Brain’s bridge could yield clues to faulty wiring in autism
Decoding distortions in the brain’s largest nerve tract could lay bare basic problems with long-range neural connections in autism.
Memory hub could underlie social, cognitive quirks of autism
The brain's memory center, the hippocampus, may provide clues to features of autism as disparate as personal relationships and decision-making.
Memory hub could underlie social, cognitive quirks of autism
The brain's memory center, the hippocampus, may provide clues to features of autism as disparate as personal relationships and decision-making.
Brain’s social ‘river’ carries clues about autism
Researchers are homing in on the superior temporal sulcus, a groove in the brain that collects social information, as a key player in autism.
Brain’s social ‘river’ carries clues about autism
Researchers are homing in on the superior temporal sulcus, a groove in the brain that collects social information, as a key player in autism.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Worms help untangle brain structure/function mystery
The synaptic connectome of most animals bears little resemblance to functional brain maps, but it can still predict neuronal activity, according to two preprints that tackle the puzzle in C. elegans.

Worms help untangle brain structure/function mystery
The synaptic connectome of most animals bears little resemblance to functional brain maps, but it can still predict neuronal activity, according to two preprints that tackle the puzzle in C. elegans.
Microglia nurture young interneurons
The immune cells secrete a growth factor that “sets the supply of GABAergic interneurons in the developing brain.”

Microglia nurture young interneurons
The immune cells secrete a growth factor that “sets the supply of GABAergic interneurons in the developing brain.”
Xaq Pitkow shares his principles for studying cognition in our imperfect brains and bodies
Pitkow discusses how evolution's messy constraints shape optimal brain algorithms, from Bayesian inference to ecological affordances.
Xaq Pitkow shares his principles for studying cognition in our imperfect brains and bodies
Pitkow discusses how evolution's messy constraints shape optimal brain algorithms, from Bayesian inference to ecological affordances.