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

Image
Upcoming event
DECEMBER
4
2025
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Cure SYNGAP1 Conference 2025
4-5 DECEMBER 2025
Learn more
Quote

Everyone who has studied sex differences in rodents is going to drop their jaws. — BERNARD MULVEY, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, LIEBER INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Read more
WHAT WE ARE READING
“Weaponizing uncertainty in science and in public health puts people in harm’s way”
By EDITORIAL IN NATURE
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
Amina Abubakar, dressed in yellow, stands outside and looks into the camera lens.
Spectrum Microphone

Amina Abubakar translates autism research and care for Kenya

First an educator and now an internationally recognized researcher, the Kenyan psychologist is changing autism science and services in sub-Saharan Africa.

By Ruth Kadide Keah
29 May 2025 | 7 min read
See all Profiles See all Profiles - opens a new tab
Microglia from neonatal mice.

Functional connectivity links with autism, not ADHD; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 3 November.

By Jill Adams
4 November 2025 | 2 min read
Research image of mouse brain slices stained in red and blue.

Ramping up cortical activity in early life sparks autism-like behaviors in mice

The findings add fuel to the long-running debate over how an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory signaling contributes to the autism.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
30 October 2025 | 6 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

New method identifies two-hit genetic variation in autism; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 October.

By Jill Adams
28 October 2025 | 2 min read
Research image of human neurons transplanted into mouse cortices.

Protein tug-of-war controls pace of synaptic development, sets human brains apart

Human-specific duplicates of SRGAP2 prolong cortical development by manipulating SYNGAP, an autism-linked protein that slows synaptic growth.

By Holly Barker
23 October 2025 | 7 min read
Illustration of a circuit made of sperm-like lines.

Gene variants accumulate in older men’s sperm; and more

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

By Jill Adams
21 October 2025 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Two hands hold a paper airplane.

How will neuroscience training need to change in the future?

Training in computational neuroscience, data science and statistics will need to expand, say many of the scientists we surveyed. But that must be balanced with a more traditional grounding in the scientific method and critical thinking. Researchers noted that funding concerns will also affect training, especially for people from underrepresented groups.

By The Transmitter
15 November 2025 | 11 min read
Composite of headshots of neuroscientists who passed away in the past several years.

The leaders we have lost

Learn more about the lives and legacies of the neuroscientists who passed away between 2023 and 2025.

By The Transmitter
15 November 2025 | 4 min read
Stack of papers.

What are the most-cited neuroscience papers from the past 30 years?

Highly cited papers reflect the surge in artificial-intelligence research in the field and other technical advances, plus prizewinning work on analgesics, the fusiform face area and ion channels.

By The Transmitter
15 November 2025 | 11 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.