Spotted around the web: Social learning, cannabidiol, autism research dollars

Research roundup

Dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area, an important part of the brain’s reward circuitry, contributes to social learning in mice. Nature Neuroscience
Folate supplementation during pregnancy does not affect a woman’s likelihood of having a child with autism, according to a birth cohort study in Japan. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Children with many autism traits in early childhood appear to eat a lower-quality diet in middle childhood than do those with few autism traits. The Journal of Nutrition
People with autism tend to have poor connectivity between several brain regions and the nucleus accumbens, known for its role in social motivation, according to a magnetic resonance imaging study. NeuroReport
Cannabidiol reduces seizures in Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that is associated with autism, according to a review of studies. Spectrum published a special report on cannabis therapies for autism in November and hosted a Reddit Ask Me Anything event on cannabis on 3 December. Scientific Reports
Parents of autistic girls may notice motor delays before other traits, such as language delays, that can facilitate early diagnosis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Two autism assessment tools, translated and adapted for use in Ethiopia, appear to be reliable. Autism

Science and society

Genetics researchers use the term ‘race’ and related race descriptors in their papers far less than they used to, recognizing that race is a social construct, not a biological one. Science
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is set to hold a three-day workshop, beginning 8 December, to explore how to improve care for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
The term ‘profound autism,’ recognized by the Lancet Commission this past week, is useful to describe people who need round-the-clock support, argues Alison Singer, a commission member and parent of an autistic child. STAT
Most research dollars spent on autism in New Zealand go to studies of biology, even as advocates press for investment in services for autistic people. The Conversation
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network has called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to step in and ban the use of skin shocks on disabled people, after a federal court allowed its continued use at the Massachusetts-based Judge Rotenberg Center. Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
As synthesizing model human embryos in petri dishes edges closer to reality, questions emerge about the ethics involved. STAT

Synthesizing life: Lab-grown embryos come closer to reality.

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