Spectrum

Recent articles

Spectrum is the go-to destination for the latest news and analysis about autism research and a springboard for scientists and clinicians to forge collaborations that deepen our understanding of autism.

Action potentials

WHAT WE ARE READING
“Aging in Autism: A Systematic Review of Cognitive, Neural, and Physical Health Findings”
By ABIGAIL DICKINSON et al in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Read more
Quote

What they’re doing is an extraordinary heavy lift and is very interesting. — DANIEL GESCHWIND, PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND HUMAN GENETICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Read more
WHAT WE ARE READING
“Who Shapes National Autism Guidance? A Cross-National Comparison of Autism Guideline Development, Representation, and Implementation”
By CALEB P. HWANG et al in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
READ MORE

Sign up for the weekly Spectrum newsletter.

Stay current with the latest advancements in autism research.

Richard Frye.
Spectrum

Exclusive: Who is Richard Frye, the neurologist who researches and advocates for leucovorin as an autism treatment?

Frye has led two placebo-controlled trials of the folate supplement in autistic people; the first was suspended by regulators, and the other has yet to be published.

By Brendan Borrell
1 October 2025 | 11 min read
Gerry Fischbach.
Neuroscience

Neuroscientist Gerry Fischbach, in his own words

In 2023, I had the privilege of sitting down with Gerry over the course of several days and listening as he told the story of his life and career—including stints as dean or director of such leading institutions as Columbia University and NINDS—so that we could record it for posterity.

By Ivan Oransky
30 May 2025 | 2 min read
See all Profiles See all Profiles - opens a new tab
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Separate neuronal pathways mediate social, attentional behaviors

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 July.

By Jill Adams
21 July 2026 | 2 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Major ischemic events in autistic people, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 13 July.

By Jill Adams
14 July 2026 | 1 min read
Research image of proliferating neural cells.

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

By Holly Barker
8 July 2026 | 5 min read
Research image of autism-linked gene PTEN changes in neurons.

A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.

By Sarah Thau
7 July 2026 | 2 min read
Two fingers turning a small dial.

When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 5: The war dial

“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.

By Brady Huggett
2 July 2026 | 42 min listen

Explore more from The Transmitter

Ilustração de canto de pássaro, cérebro de pássaro e DNA.

Este artigo mudou minha vida: adotando um dos primeiros modelos de neurociência naturalística

Um artigo publicado na PNAS em 1992 mostrou que o canto das aves aumenta a expressão de um gene de resposta imediata no prosencéfalo dessas aves. O estudo revelou a Ribeiro a importância de investigar as respostas moleculares em contextos naturalísticos.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
3 August 2026 | 5 min read
Ilustración del canto de las aves, el cerebro de las aves y el ADN.

Este artículo cambió mi vida: Adoptando un modelo temprano de neurociencia naturalista

Un estudio del 1992 publicado en PNAS demostró que el canto de las aves aumenta la expresión de un gen de respuesta temprana inmediata en el prosencéfalo de los pájaros. El trabajo le reveló a Ribeiro la importancia de estudiar las respuestas moleculares en contextos naturalistas.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
3 August 2026 | 5 min read
Illustration of scientists climbing over a barrier to reach publications.

Scientific talent is global. Access to the world’s scientific stage is not.

Neuroscience in Chile, and across Latin America, does not lack talent or ideas, but the systems that make science visible—prestigious journals, conferences and networks—increasingly price its researchers out.

By Vicente Medel
3 August 2026 | 8 min read