Brain size

Recent articles

Black-and-white research image of brain organoids.

Brain organoid size matches intensity of social problems in autistic people

Overgrown organoids could point to mechanisms underlying profound autism.

By Holly Barker
18 July 2024 | 5 min read
Research image of two fluorescent-stained organoids.

CRISPR gives autism-linked genes a boost, rescues functioning

A modified form of the gene-editing tool increases the expression of CHD8 and SCN2A, showing potential for autism therapies.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
23 May 2024 | 5 min read
A research image of autism-linked genes.

Autism-linked perturbations converge on cell skeleton and RNA-binding proteins

The findings solidify the idea that autism-linked mutations affect brain activity by way of several key shared mechanisms.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
29 February 2024 | 4 min read

Common genetic variants shape the structure of the cortex

A genome-wide association study lays a foundation for deeper investigation of these variants in neurodevelopmental conditions.

By Lauren Schenkman
18 September 2023 | 6 min listen
Research image of organoids in the forebrain.

Head size parts autism into two major subtypes

An imbalance in the number of excitatory neurons in early brain development may account for the difference.

By Charles Q. Choi
12 September 2023 | 4 min read
Illustration of half of a brain on the left and half of a heart on the right

Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects

Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?

By Lauren Schenkman
21 July 2023 | 12 min read
Composite research image of organoids at several stages of development.

Genetic background sways effects of autism-linked mutation

Experiments offer clues to why certain mutations are associated with autism in some people and not others.

By Charles Q. Choi
18 May 2023 | 4 min read
Research image of zebrafish forebrains.

Autism-related genes converge on microglia and dopamine in zebrafish

The findings add to the growing evidence that genes with disparate functions can play similar roles in brain development.

By Peter Hess
12 May 2023 | 4 min read
Research image of the blood-brain barrier.

Rare autism-linked mutation starves growing neurons of essential nutrients

The mutation prevents certain amino acids from entering neurons, causing the cells to die early in development.

By Lauren Schenkman
10 April 2023 | 5 min read
Three scans of zebrafish brains.

Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism

The gene, YTHDF2, has not previously been linked to autism.

By Katharine Gammon
1 November 2022 | 2 min read

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Eli Sennesh talks about bridging predictive coding and NeuroAI

Predictive coding is an enticing theory of brain function. Building on decades of models and experimental work, Eli Sennesh proposes a biologically plausible way our brain might implement it.

By Paul Middlebrooks
3 January 2025 | 98 min listen
A disembodied arm holds a megaphone.

In your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, consider public outreach

If every person in the neuroscience community committed to doing one thing, imagine the cumulative difference it would make.

By Nicole Rust
3 January 2025 | 8 min read
Research image of a mossy fiber terminal in the cerebellar granule cell layer.

Cerebellar SHANK3; telehealth coaching for caregivers; psychedelics

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the last two weeks of December.

By Jill Adams
2 January 2025 | 2 min read