Gender
Accounting for a mosaic of sex differences: Q&A with Nicola Grissom
Breaking the binary view of sex traits can enable researchers to represent the broader complexity of behavior and cognition.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_GenderQA-1-1024x692.png)
Accounting for a mosaic of sex differences: Q&A with Nicola Grissom
Breaking the binary view of sex traits can enable researchers to represent the broader complexity of behavior and cognition.
New tablet-based tools to spot autism draw excitement — and questions
Handheld devices promise to bring autism detection home, but many researchers urge caution.
![A child uses a tablet device](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1200-autism-app-tablet-neuroscience-transmitter-1024x683.webp)
New tablet-based tools to spot autism draw excitement — and questions
Handheld devices promise to bring autism detection home, but many researchers urge caution.
Teasing apart insistence on sameness with Mirko Uljarević
The hallmark autism trait has multiple facets, Uljarević and his colleagues have found.
![A person stands in front of a neatly organized dresser drawer.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1200-autism-sameness-1024x692.webp)
Teasing apart insistence on sameness with Mirko Uljarević
The hallmark autism trait has multiple facets, Uljarević and his colleagues have found.
Father’s genes may drive sociability in male monkeys
The findings in rhesus macaque monkeys may provide clues to sex differences in the heredity of social behavior in people.
![Photograph of a family of rhesus macaque monkeys.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200-rhesus-macaque-social-functioning-autism.png)
Father’s genes may drive sociability in male monkeys
The findings in rhesus macaque monkeys may provide clues to sex differences in the heredity of social behavior in people.
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
A growing proportion of researchers has reached such “super principal investigator” status, but the distribution is not even across demographic groups.
![Photograph of two women of color working with a white male colleague in a laboratory.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/844-autism-research-inequities.jpg)
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
A growing proportion of researchers has reached such “super principal investigator” status, but the distribution is not even across demographic groups.
Cortical differences in autism vary by sex
Compared with their non-autistic peers, young autistic girls have a thicker cortex that thins more quickly with age.
![Illustration of a brain.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Cortex-brain-autism-INSAR-844.jpg)
Cortical differences in autism vary by sex
Compared with their non-autistic peers, young autistic girls have a thicker cortex that thins more quickly with age.
U.S. study charts changing prevalence of profound and non-profound autism
Profound autism prevalence rose from 2002 to 2016, though not nearly as much as non-profound autism did.
![Out-of-focus photograph of a young girl sitting at a desk using an eraser.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/844-profound-autism-prevalence-1.jpg)
U.S. study charts changing prevalence of profound and non-profound autism
Profound autism prevalence rose from 2002 to 2016, though not nearly as much as non-profound autism did.
New measure characterizes gender diversity in study participants
The Gender Self-Report could help autism researchers include more gender-diverse people across a range of ages and neurotypes in their work.
![Illustration of a diverse group of bodies floating in space.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/844-lede-gender-diversity-study-participants-autism.jpg)
New measure characterizes gender diversity in study participants
The Gender Self-Report could help autism researchers include more gender-diverse people across a range of ages and neurotypes in their work.
Null & Noteworthy: Intervention flops; neural noise; gender care
This edition takes aim at the autism-intervention evidence base with a slew of null results, plus findings that challenge a prevailing autism brain theory.
![Illustration of hybrid objects: part light bulb, part lab vial, some in blue and some in red to signify null and replicated results.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lights_03-scaled.jpg)
Null & Noteworthy: Intervention flops; neural noise; gender care
This edition takes aim at the autism-intervention evidence base with a slew of null results, plus findings that challenge a prevailing autism brain theory.
How scientists can counteract their unwitting contributions to autism’s sex bias
Common diagnostic and research practices may be adding to autism’s sex bias, but there are some simple steps scientists can take to counteract it.
![A young woman sits alone in a doctor’s office.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/iStock-1205788434.jpg)
How scientists can counteract their unwitting contributions to autism’s sex bias
Common diagnostic and research practices may be adding to autism’s sex bias, but there are some simple steps scientists can take to counteract it.
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.