The Prevalence of Autism in the U.S. Appears Steady
New data suggest the rate hovers between two and three percent
Stories by Spectrum
Why Autism Seems to Cluster in Some Immigrant Groups
Cultural barriers lead clinicians to misdiagnose or miss kids with the condition
Technology from Harry Potter Movies Brings Magic of Brain into Focus
Software lets scientists explore the brain in 3-D and perform “virtual dissections”
How to Get Children with Autism to Sleep
Poor-quality sleep may heighten behaviors including hyperactivity, compulsions and aggressiveness
Autism-Related Movement Problems Persist until Adulthood
Unusual gait, clumsiness and other motor difficulties are not just limited to kids with the disorder
Unmasking Anxiety in Autism
Anxiety can assume unusual forms—turning uncertainty, or even a striped couch, into a constant worry
Researchers Rally to Save Monkeys on Hurricane-Ravaged Island
Known as “Monkey Island,” Cayo Santiago is considered a research treasure
Older Parents May Both Pass Down More New Mutations
Aging fathers transmit more, but new findings shed light on mothers’ contributions
Method that Maps DNA Tags Reveals New Types of Neurons
New way to catalogue the brain's cellular diversity may aid autism researchers
Baby Siblings Could Hold Clues to Autism Diagnosis
Studies of infants at risk for the disorder could someday yield a test for it
Scientists Use Light to Turn Off Autism Symptoms in Mice
The findings hint at treatments that could restore the balance of brain activity
The Social Ties between Autism and Schizophrenia
Comparing the social features of the two conditions could lead to better treatments and a deeper understanding of each
Oxytocin Nasal Spray May Boost Social Skills in Children with Autism
Study suggests a biomarker for treatment with the “love hormone”
Using Big Data to Hack Autism
Researchers scour datasets for clues to autism—needles in a genetic haystack of 20,000 people
Fetuses May Respond to Faces While in the Womb
Babies develop a preference for face-like light patterns even before birth
Autism in Motion: Could Motor Problems Trigger Social Ones?
Kids battling physical awkwardness may miss crucial opportunities to learn about interaction
Virtual Reality May Reveal New Clues about Autism Social Difficulties
Researchers are now tracking eye-gaze movements during interactions
Children of Smart Fathers Have Higher Risk of Autism
Kids of men with IQs of 111 or higher were one third more likely to develop the disorder, but the increased risk was "very slight”
When Sex Is a Foreign Language
Sexuality can be baffling for people with autism—a situation science has mostly ignored
Autism's Drug Problem
Many people on the spectrum take multiple medications, which can lead to serious side effects and may not even be effective
