Benefits of diets for autism features remain unproven, variants of the same DNA region make brains big or small, and STAT announces a new CRISPR tracker.

Male monkeys that avoid touching, grooming or playing with others have low brain levels of the hormone vasopressin.

The male-dominated sex bias in autism is reversed in a related syndrome, a researcher’s gender could influence her study’s outcome, and an award-nominated ad featuring a young man with autism draws criticism.

This year’s list of top papers highlights nuances in the genetics of autism and new leads on early treatment.

The agency that oversees the drug approval process in Europe is moving to Amsterdam, gene editing gets its first human trial, and a tiny sensor detects even a few oxytocin molecules in blood.

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

A cannabis gel may ease features of fragile X syndrome, omega fatty acids show promise for autism in two trials, and oxytocin reinforces social behaviors through the brain’s reward pathway.

A small clinical trial shows that treatment with the hormone oxytocin improves social skills in some children with autism.

One week of treatment with the hormone oxytocin improves social skills and feeding in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Mice have long been the mainstay of autism research, but a small group of scientists say rats are the superior choice. Rats are bigger, smarter, friendlier — and a lot more fun.