Repetitive behaviors
Understanding fragile X syndrome
Just in time for Fragile X Awareness Month, The Transmitter rounds up notable coverage.
![A research image of X chromosomes with Fragile X syndrome](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_FragileX-1024x683.webp)
Understanding fragile X syndrome
Just in time for Fragile X Awareness Month, The Transmitter rounds up notable coverage.
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.
Brian Boyd, classroom-based interventions and the importance of representation
The leader of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute talks about what drew him into the autism field, and his departure from — and return to — the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
![An illustration of Brian Boyd](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1200-brian-boyd-synaptic-podcast-1024x692.png)
Brian Boyd, classroom-based interventions and the importance of representation
The leader of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute talks about what drew him into the autism field, and his departure from — and return to — the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mental health issues emerge with shifts in autism traits across childhood
Anxiety and other challenges autistic children experience may stem from an increase in social-communication issues and a decrease in repetitive behaviors from ages 6 to 11.
![A young boy sits alone on a bench in a playground.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-autism-mental-health-issues-childhood.webp)
Mental health issues emerge with shifts in autism traits across childhood
Anxiety and other challenges autistic children experience may stem from an increase in social-communication issues and a decrease in repetitive behaviors from ages 6 to 11.
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Synaptic changes in the brain region could drive a core trait of fragile X syndrome, a new mouse study suggests.
![Research image of neurons in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-striatum-signaling-repetitive-behaviors-autism.png)
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Synaptic changes in the brain region could drive a core trait of fragile X syndrome, a new mouse study suggests.
Neuronal deafness to stress may add to protein surplus in fragile X
A protective pathway that pauses protein synthesis is muted in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, according to a new study.
![Research images of protein synthesis in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200-final-neuronal-deafness-fragile-x-protein-surplus-autism-1.png)
Neuronal deafness to stress may add to protein surplus in fragile X
A protective pathway that pauses protein synthesis is muted in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome, according to a new study.
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.
Missing mechanism helps solve fragile X protein mystery
Cells from people with fragile X syndrome overproduce — but don’t accumulate — proteins. New work suggests that excessive protein breakdown may account for this discrepancy, and explain some of the syndrome’s traits.
![Research image showing neuronal activity in mice exposed to high-frequency sounds.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/844-final.png)
Missing mechanism helps solve fragile X protein mystery
Cells from people with fragile X syndrome overproduce — but don’t accumulate — proteins. New work suggests that excessive protein breakdown may account for this discrepancy, and explain some of the syndrome’s traits.
New tool aims to capture full breadth of repetitive behaviors
The measure breaks the behaviors down into eight distinct subdomains — categorization that could prove useful for clinical trials, its creator says.
![A woman sits and works at a laptop while her daughter sits next to her and looks out of a glass door.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/844-dimensional-assessment-autism.jpg)
New tool aims to capture full breadth of repetitive behaviors
The measure breaks the behaviors down into eight distinct subdomains — categorization that could prove useful for clinical trials, its creator says.
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.
![Illustration of a pregnant woman seated next to a large diagram of the brain featuring chromosomes, bacteria and other microbes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/1200-maternal-inflamation-1024x683.webp)
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.
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.