Interactive Autism Network

Recent articles

Colorful illustration shows two researchers examining messy data.

How to safeguard online data collection against fraud

When autism researcher Clare Harrop tried to recruit survey participants over social media, she received hundreds of fraudulent responses. But there are ways researchers can protect themselves from similar experiences.

By Grace Huckins
30 March 2021 | 7 min read
Fish with fish oil capsules spilling out of it.

Interactive Autism Network, home to dozens of studies, set to shut down

The first online registry dedicated to autism research is scheduled to close down on 30 June, ending a 13-year run.

By Hannah Furfaro
26 June 2019 | 6 min read
An illustration of two grandmothers conversing in front of a genealogical tree, suggesting ancestry and a history of autism in the family.

What grandmothers can teach scientists about autism’s inheritance

Women who have raised a child with autism may be well-positioned to spot subtle signs of the condition in their grandchildren. A new study puts their powers to good use.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
9 November 2016 | 14 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Diagnostic manual may need to separate repetitive behaviors

A detailed analysis of the behavior of 6,500 children suggests that five types of behaviors lumped together in current diagnostic guidelines should each be considered separately.

By Ann Griswold
14 May 2016 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Depression common among men with autism, study finds

Most men with autism have other psychiatric disorders such as depression, finds a study of 50 men diagnosed with the disorder more than 20 years ago. The findings highlight the range of challenges for adults with autism, many of whom lack the help they need.

By Jessica Wright
24 August 2015 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Spotted: Phony reviews; tracking trials

Springer pulled 64 studies over faked peer reviews, and positive clinical trial results are hard to find.

By Katie Moisse
21 August 2015 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

California universities to come together for autism research

The University of California has launched an ambitious 18-month project to connect autism researchers across its ten campuses.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
22 September 2014 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Clinical research: Maternal depression linked to mild autism

Women who have a history of bipolar disorder or depression are more likely to have a child with Asperger syndrome than classic autism, according to a study published in the 2012 issue of Autism Research and Treatment.

By Jessica Wright
16 October 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Blocking bullies

Children with autism are bullied three times more than their typically developing siblings, according to research from the Interactive Autism Network.

By Emily Singer
3 April 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Genetics: Autism risk higher in full than in half siblings

Full siblings are twice as likely as half siblings to share a diagnosis of autism, according to a short report published 28 February in Molecular Psychiatry. The results suggest that genetic factors play an important role in the risk of developing autism, the researchers say.

By Jessica Wright
23 March 2012 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Colorful illustration of a latticework of proteins.

Cracking the code of the extracellular matrix

Despite evidence for a role in plasticity and other crucial functions, many neuroscientists still view these proteins as “brain goop.” The field needs technical advances and a shift in scientific thinking to move beyond this outdated perspective.

By Anna Victoria Molofsky
17 January 2025 | 5 min read
A repeated DNA strand extends farther from the left side of the image with each iteration.

Huntington’s disease gene variants past a certain size poison select cells

The findings—providing “the next step in the whole pathway”—help explain the disease’s late onset and offer hope that it has an extended therapeutic window.

By Angie Voyles Askham
16 January 2025 | 6 min read
Research image highlighting different brain regions.

X marks the spot in search for autism variants

Genetic variants on the X chromosome, including those in the gene DDX53, contribute to autism’s gender imbalance, two new studies suggest.

By Holly Barker
16 January 2025 | 6 min read