News / Spectrum

Cerebellum structure; AMPA receptors; MAGEL2 gene

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 28 October.

By Jill Adams
29 October 2024 | 1 min read
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https://doi.org/10.53053/CFRT2162 https://doi.org/10.53053/CFRT2162 - opens a new tab Cite this article
  • Altered cerebellar and cortical structures in autistic children are related and may give rise to changes in functional connectivity with maturation. Spectrum has previously reported on cerebellum size and neurodevelopmental conditions. Molecular Psychiatry
  • Mice with diminished expression of the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 in forebrain GABAergic interneurons show altered neural activity and social behaviors. Journal of Neuroscience
  • People with autism or schizophrenia have altered AMPA glutamate receptor density, according to a brain imaging study. Molecular Psychiatry
Research image of human brain scans against a black background.
Amped up: The density of AMPA glutamate receptors is higher (red) in some brain areas in autistic people, and lower (blue) in others, compared with non-autistic people.
  • Nearly all excitatory neurons in human cortical organoids are produced indirectly from intermediate progenitor cells. Cell Reports
  • Autistic people’s brain regions show an altered maturation pattern, which appears to be tied to clinical traits. JAMA Psychiatry
  • Mice missing the gene MAGEL2, a model of Prader-Willi syndrome, have heightened somatostatin activity in the lateral septum and altered sociability that can be mitigated by oxytocin and vasopressin. Cell Reports Medicine

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