Brain network asymmetry; diversity factor in publishing; Williams syndrome

Autistic people tend to have more functional asymmetry in brain networks that process language than do non-autistic people. Molecular Psychiatry
Mice deficient in the gene CUL3 have altered dopamine neurotransmission and dopamine-linked behaviors. Journal of Neuroscience
Studies attempting to assess depression in autistic people tend to favor observer reports over self-reports, and the two measures often diverge. Western Journal of Nursing Research
Gene variants and their expression are linked to aspects of brain morphology such as gray-matter volume, cortical thickness and measures of folding. Nature Genetics
Clinicians in two camps of autism therapies — applied behavior analysis and a developmental-model-based approach — are open to diversifying their methods and incorporating neuroscience approaches, according to a survey. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience

Atlas strength: A spatial-transcriptomics technique called MERFISH enables researchers to map cell types in the mouse brain.

Image courtesy of Vizgen
Scientists suggest adding a diversity factor — accounting for the gender, race and geographical location of the authors and the people within their dataset — to the current citations-based impact factor. PLOS Global Public Health
Mice missing the autism-linked gene GABRB1 have autism-like behavioral traits and upregulated glutamate levels and receptors. iScience
A meta-analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms highlights the likelihood of autism in people with specific variants of the genes MTHFR, CNTNAP2, OXTR and VDR. Gene
Researchers posing as parents of a child with mental health issues called 322 child psychiatrists’ offices in three U.S. cities and scored an appointment only 11 percent of the time, illustrating the difficulties in getting specialty care. Psychiatric Services
The Allen Institute has announced a new funding initiative to study how human-driven environmental factors affect neurobiology. Allen Institute
Autistic adults are less likely than their non-autistic peers to adapt to a conflicting stimuli task with repeated trials, even though they recognize their errors. Frontiers in Psychiatry
People with Williams syndrome show differences in the size of specific brain regions and in neural activity, according to a review of brain-imaging studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Spatial mapping of gene expression and single-cell genomics are helping researchers delineate cell types and locations in the mouse brain. Nature
Science editor-in-chief H. Holden Thorp has penned an “expression of concern” about a 2022 paper that described an MRI method to record neuronal activity. Spectrum covered an independent effort that failed to replicate the paper’s findings.
Many autism traits are perceived as “male” and are overlooked in girls and women, which may contribute to missed diagnoses. PLOS ONE
Institutional policies could help limit the temptations offered by predatory journals, especially for scientists from lower- and middle-income countries, says researcher Chérifa Boukacem-Zeghmouri. Nature