Baby sibs
Recent articles
Is excess brain fluid an early marker of autism?
Brain scans of hundreds of infants suggest that up to 80 percent of those with autism have unusual amounts of cerebrospinal fluid. Researchers are studying how this might contribute to the condition.

Is excess brain fluid an early marker of autism?
Brain scans of hundreds of infants suggest that up to 80 percent of those with autism have unusual amounts of cerebrospinal fluid. Researchers are studying how this might contribute to the condition.
‘Polygenic risk scores’ for autism, explained
These scores — composite measures of a person’s autism-linked common genetic variants — cannot predict an autism diagnosis but could help researchers better understand the condition’s underlying biology.

‘Polygenic risk scores’ for autism, explained
These scores — composite measures of a person’s autism-linked common genetic variants — cannot predict an autism diagnosis but could help researchers better understand the condition’s underlying biology.
Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
A massive update to the MSSNG dataset gives qualified researchers ready access to explore autism’s genetic architecture on a cloud-based platform.

Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
A massive update to the MSSNG dataset gives qualified researchers ready access to explore autism’s genetic architecture on a cloud-based platform.
Autism’s sex bias disappears after tracking trajectories
The male sex bias in autism may in large part be a product of how common diagnostic tools measure traits in boys versus girls at a single point in time, according to a new study.

Autism’s sex bias disappears after tracking trajectories
The male sex bias in autism may in large part be a product of how common diagnostic tools measure traits in boys versus girls at a single point in time, according to a new study.
Brain’s early visual areas reflect autism’s heritability
Inherited genetic factors for autism influence brain development, new studies of autistic children and their younger siblings reveal.

Brain’s early visual areas reflect autism’s heritability
Inherited genetic factors for autism influence brain development, new studies of autistic children and their younger siblings reveal.
Structural brain changes foretell language skills in autistic infants
Increased white-matter maturation tracks with stronger language abilities later in childhood, but the relationship with cortical thickness is less clear.

Structural brain changes foretell language skills in autistic infants
Increased white-matter maturation tracks with stronger language abilities later in childhood, but the relationship with cortical thickness is less clear.
Connecting autism-linked genetic variation to infant social behavior
Integrating genetic analyses into studies of babies’ brain development could help us understand how autism-related genes contribute to autism traits.

Connecting autism-linked genetic variation to infant social behavior
Integrating genetic analyses into studies of babies’ brain development could help us understand how autism-related genes contribute to autism traits.
Null and Noteworthy: Oxytocin, parental training, outcome assessments
In this edition of Null and Noteworthy, researchers open the case on acetaminophen and close it on oxytocin.

Null and Noteworthy: Oxytocin, parental training, outcome assessments
In this edition of Null and Noteworthy, researchers open the case on acetaminophen and close it on oxytocin.
Infant siblings of autistic children miss language-learning clues
So-called ‘baby sibs’ watch adults’ faces just as much as children without autistic siblings do, but they don’t understand spoken language as well.

Infant siblings of autistic children miss language-learning clues
So-called ‘baby sibs’ watch adults’ faces just as much as children without autistic siblings do, but they don’t understand spoken language as well.
Imaging study casts doubt on cerebellum’s role in autism during infancy
Connections between the cerebellum and brain networks do not seem to contribute substantially to the emergence of autism traits.

Imaging study casts doubt on cerebellum’s role in autism during infancy
Connections between the cerebellum and brain networks do not seem to contribute substantially to the emergence of autism traits.
Explore more from The Transmitter
ABCD Study omits gender-identity data from latest release
The removal counteracts the goals of the longitudinal study by “pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist,” says sex differences researcher Nicola Grissom.

ABCD Study omits gender-identity data from latest release
The removal counteracts the goals of the longitudinal study by “pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist,” says sex differences researcher Nicola Grissom.
Neuropeptides reprogram social roles in leafcutter ants
The mechanisms that control the labor roles of ants may also be conserved in naked mole rats, a new study shows.

Neuropeptides reprogram social roles in leafcutter ants
The mechanisms that control the labor roles of ants may also be conserved in naked mole rats, a new study shows.
Perspectives from the field: Opinions in autism research
This collection of Spectrum articles from the past 12 months highlights expert perspectives on autism’s heritability and its link to biological sex, the value of transdiagnostic frameworks, and the field’s future, among other topics.

Perspectives from the field: Opinions in autism research
This collection of Spectrum articles from the past 12 months highlights expert perspectives on autism’s heritability and its link to biological sex, the value of transdiagnostic frameworks, and the field’s future, among other topics.