Autism comprises a set of difficulties, but growing evidence suggests that certain abilities also define the condition.

Motor and memory training early in life postpones the onset of difficulties in those areas in a mouse model of Rett syndrome, and stimulating neurons involved in those skills appears to mimic the effects of training.

Young male rats can recognize rats they’ve recently met, whereas young females treat new acquaintances like strangers, research shows.

Mice missing a copy of the autism-linked gene NRXN1 appear to perceive some time intervals as shorter than control mice do, according to a new study.

Mice that model 22q11.2 deletion syndrome lack social memory, but that trait can be reversed using a drug that targets the flow of potassium ions in neurons.

Dampening overactive brain circuits alleviates social and memory problems in a mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Lovastatin, a drug that lowers cholesterol levels, prevents memory and learning problems in a rat model of fragile X syndrome.

A count of genetic variants may help predict a person’s risk of various conditions — but its clinical use prompts ethical questions.

Brain networks in newborns may reflect the degree of inflammation their mothers experienced during pregnancy.

Children with autism often have problems understanding others’ thoughts; those who use mental strategies to compensate for these problems may be unusually anxious.