Maternal infection
Recent articles
Microglial overreaction to atypical neurons may drive autism
In mice and organoids lacking a neuronal protein, microglia prune synapses to excess.

Microglial overreaction to atypical neurons may drive autism
In mice and organoids lacking a neuronal protein, microglia prune synapses to excess.
Immune-activation model mice escape infantile amnesia, retain early memories
Male pups born to mothers treated with immune-stimulating molecules show autism-like behaviors and, unlike wildtype animals, do not lose memories formed during early life.
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Immune-activation model mice escape infantile amnesia, retain early memories
Male pups born to mothers treated with immune-stimulating molecules show autism-like behaviors and, unlike wildtype animals, do not lose memories formed during early life.
Atlas charts cells of human placenta, uterus across early pregnancy
A new resource gives an unparalleled look at how fetal placental cells attach to the uterine wall and remodel maternal blood vessels to access nutrients.

Atlas charts cells of human placenta, uterus across early pregnancy
A new resource gives an unparalleled look at how fetal placental cells attach to the uterine wall and remodel maternal blood vessels to access nutrients.
Immune molecule alters cellular makeup of human brain organoids
The changes may help explain the link between maternal infection and autism, though more research is needed.

Immune molecule alters cellular makeup of human brain organoids
The changes may help explain the link between maternal infection and autism, though more research is needed.
Maternal immune response dulls male rats’ social radar
Male rats prenatally exposed to a maternal immune response have atypical responses to other rats in distress, according to a new study.

Maternal immune response dulls male rats’ social radar
Male rats prenatally exposed to a maternal immune response have atypical responses to other rats in distress, according to a new study.
The link between maternal infection and autism, explained
Having an infection during pregnancy is tied to a small increase in the chances of having an autistic child, but the connection may not be causal.

The link between maternal infection and autism, explained
Having an infection during pregnancy is tied to a small increase in the chances of having an autistic child, but the connection may not be causal.
Autism’s sex bias tied to glial, immune cell gene expression
The function of microglia and astrocytes in the brain may mediate the intersection of sex-differential biology and autism biology.

Autism’s sex bias tied to glial, immune cell gene expression
The function of microglia and astrocytes in the brain may mediate the intersection of sex-differential biology and autism biology.
Null and Noteworthy: COVID-19 conclusions; diagnosis duplication; oxytocin again
This month’s newsletter explores the pandemic’s effects on autism rates, trends in co-occurring mental health conditions, and the impact of intranasal oxytocin.
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Null and Noteworthy: COVID-19 conclusions; diagnosis duplication; oxytocin again
This month’s newsletter explores the pandemic’s effects on autism rates, trends in co-occurring mental health conditions, and the impact of intranasal oxytocin.
Null and Noteworthy: Medication timing; oxytocin amounts; sensory sameness
Parents’ health, treatment dosages and sensory perception feature in this month’s crop of null and replicated results.

Null and Noteworthy: Medication timing; oxytocin amounts; sensory sameness
Parents’ health, treatment dosages and sensory perception feature in this month’s crop of null and replicated results.
Registry review casts doubt on causal link between maternal infection and autism
The long-standing link between maternal infection during pregnancy and having a child with autism may reflect common genetic or environmental factors instead.

Registry review casts doubt on causal link between maternal infection and autism
The long-standing link between maternal infection during pregnancy and having a child with autism may reflect common genetic or environmental factors instead.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Autism program chief among National Institutes of Health layoffs
The termination is one of more than 1,000 employee cuts at the U.S. agency this week.
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Autism program chief among National Institutes of Health layoffs
The termination is one of more than 1,000 employee cuts at the U.S. agency this week.
This paper changed my Life: Bill Newsome reflects on a quadrilogy of classic visual perception studies
The 1970s papers from Goldberg and Wurtz made ambitious mechanistic studies of higher brain functions seem feasible.
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This paper changed my Life: Bill Newsome reflects on a quadrilogy of classic visual perception studies
The 1970s papers from Goldberg and Wurtz made ambitious mechanistic studies of higher brain functions seem feasible.
Science must step away from nationally managed infrastructure
Scientific data and independence are at risk. We need to work with community-driven services and university libraries to create new multi-country organizations that are resilient to political interference.
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Science must step away from nationally managed infrastructure
Scientific data and independence are at risk. We need to work with community-driven services and university libraries to create new multi-country organizations that are resilient to political interference.