Cannabis effect on brain development; SYNGAP1 gene; autism in Africa

Two scientists comment on diversity and inclusion — of both study participants and researchers — in intellectual and developmental disability research and argue for a broader view of the multidimensional nature of people with or without a diagnosis. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Altered development of brain areas such as the thalamus and the striatum in autistic people are better described by shape than by volume analysis, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
Margaret Brimble has been awarded the Davy Medal 2023 for her organic chemistry work. Earlier this year, Spectrum reported on a new drug for Rett syndrome that Brimble’s lab developed. The Royal Society
Mice with only one copy of the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 in brain interneurons show altered responses to sensory stimuli, which weakens the animals’ performance on cognitive tasks. Journal of Neuroscience
Neuroscientist Yasmin Hurd’s work has shown cannabis’s distinct effects on the developing brain, sounding a warning about young people’s access to recreational marijuana as more U.S. states legalize it for adults. Science
Joseph LeDoux, a New York University neuroscientist who studies fear responses and amygdala function, has announced the closing of his laboratory. twitter.com

Pot stickers: Receptors for cannabinoids are found throughout the human brain.

Courtesy of Yasmin Hurd
Africa has a similar prevalence of autism, compared with other parts of the world, but limited access to diagnosis and treatment, fewer autism specialists and continued cultural stigma around the condition, a review reports. Annals of Medicine & Surgery
A new checklist for people with tuberous sclerosis syndrome could identify neuropsychiatric conditions via self- or caregiver-report. Pediatric Neurology
Autism researcher William Mandy reflects on how Donald Triplett, the first person diagnosed with autism, found an environment that helped him lead a satisfying life. Autism
Food and social stimuli activate overlapping populations of dopamine-containing neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Neuron
Mice with specific SYNGAP1 gene mutations observed in people have reduced mRNA and SYNGAP1 protein, and demonstrate hyperactivity and working memory deficits. PNAS
Neurons on a computer chip — called DishBrain — can learn to play the computer game Pong by self-organizing cells’ behavior in response to changing conditions. Nature Communications