Neurology
Large Trial Finds Oxytocin Nasal Spray Is Ineffective for Autism
The hormone is unlikely to increase sociability in most autistic children, according to a new study
Stories by Spectrum
Neurology
How People with Autism Forge Friendships
Most autistic individuals want to and can make friends, though their relationships often have a distinctive quality
Neurology
Visual Task May Offer a Brain Marker for Autism
The brain deals with viewing two images simultaneously in a distinctive way
Mind & Brain
“Noncoding” Mutations May Play Unexpected Key Role in Autism
A new study used machine learning to show how “all mutations are not created equal”
Neurology
Autism May Be Diagnosed by Age Two
New study suggests that early screening may benefit some children
Medicine
Experimental Autism Drugs Aim to Improve Social Communication Skills
Experts caution that addressing lingering questions will require more research.
Neurology
Untangling the Ties between Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Autism and OCD frequently accompany each other; scientists are studying both to understand how they differ
Neurology
Genetic Tests for Autism Can Sometimes Change Lives
The assays don't always yield results, but the information they offer can, at times, alter the course of treatment or prevention
Public Health
Why Are There So Few Autism Specialists?
Lack of interest, training and pay may limit the supply
Policy
How History Forgot the Woman Who Defined Autism
Grunya Sukhareva characterized autism nearly two decades before Austrian doctors Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger
Neurology
Does Autism Raise the Risk of PTSD?
The two conditions share many traits, but the connection has been largely overlooked until now
Neurology
Serotonin Revived as a Possible Target for Autism Treatments
Speeding up the chemical messenger’s action makes autism-modeling mice more social
Neurology
Study Ties Autism to Maternal High Blood Pressure, Diabetes
Children born to women who had diabetes or high blood pressure while pregnant are at an increased risk of autism, two new studies suggest
Neuroscience
Brains of Children with Autism Show Unusual Folding Patterns
The brains of children with autism fold differently than those of their typical peers. Whether they are unusually smooth or convoluted depends on location and age
Neurology
Meet the “Bad Boy” of Autism Research
Dennis Wall explores radical ideas, including “smart glasses” to help interpret emotions
Behavior
Numerous Health Problems Burden Young Adults with Autism
Young people with autism have more psychiatric and medical conditions than do their typical peers or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Neurology
Growth Spurt in Head, Skeleton Mark Autism in Boys
Boys with autism have smaller heads, are shorter and weigh less at birth than their typical peers do—but all that changes by age 3, a new study suggests
Neurology
Autism Prevalence Jumps 16 Percent, CDC Says
Rising awareness of the condition’s characteristics may contribute to an increase in reporting
Neurology
Some Mutations Tied to Autism May Be Passed Down from Fathers
The findings go against previous studies that suggest mutations are inherited from mothers
Mental Health
Ask Me First: What Self-Assessments Can Tell Us about Autism
Self-report questionnaires gain popularity in Autism spectrum research and clinical practice
