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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: sensory perception

February 2021
white mouse looking at something out of frame

New tool captures dynamic changes in decision-making

by  /  4 February 2021

A new open-source software package makes it possible to model changes in human and animal behavior over the course of an experiment.

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January 2021
Mouse on gray background looks at something out of frame.

Inability to attend to cues may cause sensory challenges in fragile X mice

by  /  14 January 2021

Sensory problems in people with fragile X syndrome may stem from hyperactive neurons, a mouse model study suggests.

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neurons in mice

Sensory perception, cell signals disrupted in people and mice missing autism gene

by  /  13 January 2021

People and mice with only one working copy of the autism gene SYNGAP1 may have trouble processing sights and sounds.

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Neurons in cerebella of mice with fewer branches and spines.

Cerebellum alterations crop up in mice missing autism gene

by  /  12 January 2021

Deleting the autism-linked gene CNTNAP2 from mice leads to distinct cellular and electrical changes in the cerebellum, according to two unpublished studies presented virtually today at the 2021 Society for Neuroscience Global Connectome.

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Colorful CT scan of a zebrafish head.

Zebrafish strains reveal broad effects of autism genes

by  /  11 January 2021

Mutations in autism-linked genes lead to a variety of changes in brain activity, sensory perception and sleep-wake cycles in zebrafish.

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November 2020
Dilated mouse pupil

Mice reveal roots of sensory issues tied to top autism gene

by  /  23 November 2020

Mice with mutations in the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 have trouble sensing touch, which may stem in part from brain-circuit alterations and dulled alertness.

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September 2020
Illustration shows a family is watching fireworks, child sees blurry version of the event.

Eyeing the connection between autism and vision

by  /  16 September 2020

Autism is unusually common among blind people, and children with autism are more likely to have vision problems than their typical peers. Understanding why could lead to better therapies for autism for autism.

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August 2020
Illustration showing the human brain made out of flower shapes with the brainstem labeled.

Brain’s center of automatic body functions has autism links

by  /  20 August 2020

The brainstem controls such disparate functions as breathing, sensation and sleep — all of which can be altered in autism.

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Illustration shows an ear balancing on a brain, surrounded by barriers blocking sound waves

Confusion at the crossroads of autism and hearing loss

by  /  12 August 2020

Hearing difficulties and autism often overlap, exacerbating autism traits and complicating diagnoses.

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July 2020
Man working from home office.

INSAR 2020, from home

by  /  31 July 2020

Like so many other events this year, autism’s biggest annual conference — the International Society for Autism Research meeting — was forced to go virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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