News / Spectrum

X-chromosome genes; neurobiology of infant crying; MCHAT in preemies

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 September.

By Jill Adams
3 September 2024 | 2 min read
comments
https://doi.org/10.53053/TMTZ3054 https://doi.org/10.53053/TMTZ3054 - opens a new tab Cite this article
  • Mice missing the autism-linked gene PTEN in specific cortical regions display disrupted temporal processing of sound across development. Neurobiology of Disease
  • The X chromosome contains many genes associated with neurodevelopmental conditions in boys and girls—in the latter, such conditions result from X-chromosome silencing. Spectrum has previously covered the role that X-chromosome genes play in brain development. Current Opinion in Neurobiology
  • Deleting the autism-linked gene CHD8 in astrocytes, but not microglia, disrupts injury-triggered reactive gliosis. Cell Reports
Research image of astrocytes and microglia in mouse brains.
Repair problems: Reactive gliosis following brain injury is disrupted in astrocytes (green stain) and microglia (red stain) in mice with the CHD8 gene knocked out in astrocytes (bottom row), unlike in control mice (top row).
  • Upregulation of two biochemical pathways known to contribute to autism alters mouse pup vocalization and synaptic connectivity, a finding that could illuminate the neurobiology involved in infant crying. Journal of Neuroscience
  • Mice missing the FMR1 gene, a model of fragile X syndrome, are hyposensitive to touch and show poor encoding of tactile stimuli in somatosensory neurons, according to a preprint. bioRxiv
  • The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT) predicts an autism diagnosis in children born prematurely with good sensitivity and specificity, suggesting screening should not be delayed based on adjusted age. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
  • Linking genotypes with phenotypes in autism enables scientists to subtype the condition into classes that appear to be tied to the developmental timing of certain genes, according to a preprint. medRxiv

Sign up for the weekly Spectrum newsletter.

Stay current with the latest advancements in autism research.

Recommended reading

Developing human fetus.
Spectrum Microphone

Gene-activity map of developing brain reveals new clues about autism’s sex bias

By Giorgia Guglielmi
16 October 2025 | 6 min listen
Research image of human cortical organoids.
Spectrum

Parsing phenotypes in people with shared autism-linked variants; and more

By Jill Adams
14 October 2025 | 2 min read
Research image of SCN2A neurons.
Spectrum

Boosting SCN2A expression reduces seizures in mice

By Charles Q. Choi
9 October 2025 | 5 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of astrocytic activation in mice.
Memory Microphone

Engrams in amygdala lean on astrocytes to solidify memories

By Lauren Schneider
15 October 2025 | 6 min listen
Sensory perception Microphone

Ant olfactory neurons reveal new ‘transcriptional shield’ mechanism of gene regulation

By Viviane Callier
14 October 2025 | 6 min listen
Illustration of a series of shapes, with a few resembling human eyes.
The big picture

The visual system’s lingering mystery: Connecting neural activity and perception

By Grace Lindsay
13 October 2025 | 5 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.