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Society for Neuroscience 2014

November 2014
SFN 2014

Fond caresses, loving squeezes shape social brain

by  /  19 November 2014

Soft touch and physical closeness to other people wire the social brain right from the earliest days after birth, and problems in the response to touch may play a fundamental role in autism. This picture emerges from unpublished results presented by several teams at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Diverse dopamine defects found in people with autism

by  /  19 November 2014

Experimental drugs can reverse the effects of some autism-linked mutations in the dopamine transporter, a protein that shuttles the chemical messenger dopamine into neurons. Researchers presented the unpublished findings in five posters yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Autism-linked gene guides growth of subtype of neurons

by  /  19 November 2014

Mice missing PTEN, a strong autism candidate gene, in a subtype of inhibitory neurons in one part of the brain show signaling abnormalities and social deficits. Researchers presented the unpublished work yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Imaging lights up dynamics of neurons’ connections in mice

by  /  19 November 2014

Researchers have developed a way to capture dynamic changes in the part of the neuron that sends out signals, they reported yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Learning difficulties mark male mice with autism mutation

by  /  19 November 2014

Deletion of an autism-linked chromosomal region leads to learning problems in male mice but not in females, according to unpublished results presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Therapy for autism may alter brain activity, behavior

by  /  19 November 2014

After four months of a behavioral therapy known as pivotal response training, children with autism show improved behavior and enhanced activity in brain regions that process social information. Researchers presented these preliminary results from a trial yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Individualized autism therapy? There may be an app for that

by  /  18 November 2014

A touch-screen game based on popular cartoon characters may one day allow scientists to tailor treatments for children with autism, suggest unpublished results presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Cesarean birth alters immune system, social behavior in mice

by  /  18 November 2014

Mice born via cesarean section show subtle social deficits and increased immune and stress responses, suggesting a link between microbe exposure during birth and behavior. Researchers presented the unpublished work today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Strep infection in pregnant rats causes autism features in pups

by  /  18 November 2014

Infection with group B streptococcus bacteria in pregnant rats triggers brain abnormalities and autism-like behaviors in their pups — especially in males. Researchers presented the unpublished results today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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SFN 2014

Social hormone primes neurons needed to remember friends

by  /  18 November 2014

Oxytocin may influence social behavior by priming brain circuits in a region of the hippocampus important for social memory, according to preliminary results presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

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