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Society for Neuroscience 2017

SFN 2017
Abnormalities in proteins at synapses are implicated in autism.

Billions of neuronal junctions make up new ‘synaptome’ map

by  /  20 September 2018
Researchers have charted billions of synapses in the mouse brain and sorted them by type.
SFN 2017
eight brains with various sections highlighted

Chromosome 16 deletion miswires brain in people, mice

by  /  12 June 2018
Mice and people missing a copy of a chromosomal region called 16p11.2 show similar patterns of weak brain connections.
SFN 2017
Blood vessels seen at magnification.

Human ‘mini-brains’ make themselves at home in mice

by  /  23 May 2018
Spheres of brain cells derived from people and implanted into mouse brains recruit blood vessels and integrate with mouse neurons.
November 2017
Capitol building with reflections Washingtom DC, USA
SFN 2017

Takeaways from SfN 2017

by  /  16 November 2017

After five days and more than 13,000 abstracts, the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C., has drawn to a close.

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monkeys hugging
SFN 2017

Social hormones alter monkey behavior in sex-specific ways

by  /  15 November 2017

The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin promote social interactions in male monkeys but make female monkeys more aggressive than usual.

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jumping mouse in the wild
SFN 2017

Drug cocktail curbs repetitive jumping in mice

by  /  15 November 2017

A trio of drugs eases repetitive behaviors in mice by activating a brain region involved in motor control.

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child sticking tongue out and making a face while holding chopsticks
SFN 2017

In autism, food quirks show up in social brain areas

by  /  15 November 2017

Young adults with autism who have intense sensitivity to taste show increased activation in social areas of the brain when they taste something sweet.

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Creating clear images of neurons in living animals may require clever chemistry.
SFN 2017

Compound lets scientists see deep inside brains of living mice

by  /  15 November 2017

A chemical that doctors use to create contrast on X-rays also yields clear images of neurons in the brains of living mice.

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child with headphones listening to a woman on television with doctor watching
SFN 2017

Lab tests may pick up sensory sensitivity in autism

by  /  15 November 2017

A person’s ability to distinguish similar syllables by sight and sound correlates with how sensitive she is to sensory stimuli.

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Mapping the connections between brain regions in mice can reveal which ones are strengthened by a drug.
SFN 2017

Mouse imaging study hints at how fragile X drug trial went wrong

by  /  15 November 2017

The drug mavoglurant has no effect on a brain circuit involved in social behavior in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. That may explain its poor performance in people with the condition.

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rat mother with rat pups
SFN 2017

Researchers advance models of maternal antibody link to autism

by  /  15 November 2017

Sophisticated animal models — including a new rat model — are revealing how maternal antibodies contribute to autism risk.

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family of monkeys
SFN 2017

Social development remarkably similar in monkeys, people

by  /  15 November 2017

Eye-tracking studies cement monkeys’ promise for studying autism and related conditions.

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human brain illustration
SFN 2017

Technology from ‘Harry Potter’ movies brings magic of brain into focus

by  /  15 November 2017

The same techniques that generate images of smoke, clouds and fantastic beasts in movies can render neurons and brain structures in fine-grained detail.

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