Research by Topic: brain

The latest Science Learning Series video is available online

Published December 14, 2021

On December 10th, autism researchers who focus on infancy presented information about how the brain develops in autism as early as infancy, how it is influenced by heritable factors, and how it ties into the emergence of language. Practical tips were provided and you got to ask questions about ways to promote language and how […]

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Did you miss the Science Learning Series? The recording is online.

Published November 23, 2021

On November 19th, ASF launched our new Science Learning Series. The first topic was brain development and social interactions in infants, before a diagnosis is possible. By studying infants with a sibling with ASD, scientists can understand the earliest signs and features of ASD, even from 6 months of age. If you would like to […]

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Guys, we all need exercise

Published July 2, 2019 in ASF Podcast

People with autism are less likely to be physically active and more likely to be sedentary.    A number of studies have looked into different physical activities, both group based and individually, on improvements in health as well as core features of autism, and most have had positive results.  New animal model research demonstrates a […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/768

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Yeah, another study about autistic poop

Published July 2, 2019 in ASF Podcast

This week’s podcast includes a summary of the new study, this time in an animal model, looking at microbiome transplantation.  Because this was more of an experimental model, the researchers could be more rigorous in their design and look at things like behavior, brain activity, and specific biological pathways.  While a mouse does not have […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/764

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An update on females with autism, on the double

Published July 1, 2019 in ASF Podcast

Females with autism are different than males with autism in a lot of ways.  This week, researchers used twins to examine the differences between males and females with autism in their brain structure and how it’s associated with autism traits, not a diagnosis.  To do this, researchers in Sweden turned to twins.  As it turns […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/713

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Autism spectrum disorders underneath a bigger umbrella: more data from the brain

Published July 1, 2019 in ASF Podcast

There is demonstrated genetic overlap between many neurodevelopment disorders including  ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia, and now there is data showing similarities in the structure and size of the brains in people with autism and those with ADHD.  These differences depend on how severe social difficulties are, but the similarities are seen with ASD and ADHD, […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/702

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Genes and Environment, Genes and Environment. Go together like aging and retirement

Published July 1, 2019 in ASF Podcast

Twins with autism, where either one or both is diagnosed, is crucial to understand the role of genetics and the environment to both autism diagnoses and now, autism traits.  In a study this week, researchers using data from the California Twins Study examined the genetic and environmental influences of brain development in multiple regions and […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/693

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Understanding the hard to research

Published July 1, 2019 in ASF Podcast

What do Princess Kate and Amy Schumer have in common, and what does it have to do with autism?  The answer:  Hyperemesis Gravidum.  It’s linked to autism, but not strongly, but it does show more evidence of significant overlap between many neuropsychiatric issues and disorders. More importantly though, those with low verbal ability and low […]

https://asfpodcast.org/archives/683

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Neuron numbers increase in the human amygdala from birth to adulthood, but not in autism

Published June 26, 2019 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Remarkably little is known about the postnatal cellular development of the human amygdala. It plays a central role in mediating emotional behavior and has an unusually protracted development well into adulthood, increasing in size by 40% from youth to adulthood. Variation from this typical neurodevelopmental trajectory could have profound implications on normal emotional development. We […]

https://www.pnas.org/content/115/14/3710.long

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Podcast: From cells to anxiety

Published October 29, 2018

Dr. Inna Fishman from San Diego State University explains how findings from brain tissue helps scientists interpret data which studies how brain regions connect to each other and why this is important for understanding autism subgroups. Also, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet examine ADHD diagnosed in adults, and find it is similar to autism. Listen […]

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Podcast: The waterbed around your brain (and its role in sleep)

Published October 22, 2018

This week, Dr. Mark Shen from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains new findings looking at the fluid around the brain. It’s now seen in families even without a family history of ASD, the finding has now been seen in different independent studies, including those at the UC Davis MIND Institute in […]

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Spring 2018 Autism BrainNet newsletter available now

Published April 27, 2018

The Spring 2018 issue of the Autism BrainNet newsletter is out now! Among other news, it highlights recent research using its donated brain tissue resources in autism genetics and neuroanatomy, the science campaign Brain Awareness Week, and outreach efforts through Autism Speaks walks around the country. You can view and read this issue here.

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Podcast: Loss of skills in autism partially explained

Published March 19, 2018

On this week’s ASF podcast, regression—what is it and who can see it? Using the right tools, both parents and clinicians can see that many more children with autism than thought show regression, a gradual decline or loss of skills starting at around 12 months of age and showing continual declines until 36 months of […]

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Podcast: Commonly used drugs that may help autism

Published March 5, 2018

On this week’s podcast, Dr. Alycia Halladay overviews three new studies looking at commonly used drugs that may help autism not just by improving behavior, but also by how they impact the brain. Plus, a fun study about social media.

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The latest on understanding the brains of people with autism

Published October 23, 2017

In a new blog post, ASF CSO Alycia Halladay explains the newest research in understanding the brains of people with autism.

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Podcast: Brain tissue: what has it done for autism lately?

Published June 12, 2017

In order to ensure that researchers have enough brain tissue to understand autism spectrum disorders, the education and outreach campaign of the Autism BrainNet is being expanded past families to doctors and professionals that have access to tissue. One of these groups is neuropathologists. At their annual meeting this past week in Los Angeles, an […]

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ASF Fellow Featured in “Scientific American”

Published May 22, 2017

Dr. Donna Werling from UCSF, Autism Science Foundation fellow, was featured in “Scientific American” for her recent study on the differences between male and female brain development. Click here to learn more.

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Podcast: To see differences in the brains of males and females with autism, you have to look at the brains of males and females with autism

Published February 27, 2017

Last month, UC Davis researcher Dr. Cyndi Schumann used resources from the Autism BrainNet to look at what causes differences in the rates of diagnosis between males and females. Consistent with other studies on this topic, males and females do not show differences in the rates of autism genes, but rather in the way that the […]

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Autism BrainNet family’s brave decision featured on CNN

Published September 16, 2016

Released September 15, 2016, this new report on CNN highlights the importance of brain donation and brain tissue research. To learn more about the Autism BrainNet, click here.

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Brain tissue is used to identify commonalities across neuropsychiatric disorders

Published May 25, 2016

In a recent study published in Nature, Dr. Shannon Ellis looks past the sequence of genes and uses gene expression profiling to understand the similarities between autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  Using brain tissue from people affected with these disorders provided through the Autism BrainNet, she demonstrates a common decrease in gene expression relating to […]

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ASF podcast summarizes the NIH workshop on regression

Published February 23, 2016

On Friday, February 19, the NIH organized a workshop on regression in autism.  It included autism researchers as well as neurobiologists studying regression in other disorders, specifically Rett Syndrome.  Rett Syndrome is characterized by a regression in symptoms around 18-30 months of age but is the result of a known genetic mutation.  Because the genetic mutation […]

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