Spectrum (Autism Research News)

Explore our redesigned Global Autism Prevalence Map, which makes it easy to find studies on autism prevalence around the world. Filter studies by location, year, sample size and more. New studies are added regularly. Available only on desktop: thetransmitter.org/map?utm_source…

An organoid model unpicks the effects of serotonin-producing cells in the brainstem, a region that is rich in diverse cell types, thanks in part to specialized sensors. By @DeWeerdt_Sarah thetransmitter.org/spectrum/novel…

This year’s @AutismINSAR meeting brought together more than 2,200 people from around the globe to share, learn and discuss the latest in autism research. By @DianaMKwon thetransmitter.org/spectrum/repor…

Autism Awareness Month and the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research both wrap up this week. Read reflections from @AutismINSAR president Brian Boyd on the field’s past successes and future directions. thetransmitter.org/spectrum/at-25…

Thank you to Jesse H. Neal Awards for naming @_TheTransmitter the winner in the best news coverage and profile categories. Explore our award-winning content at thetransmitter.org. Congrats to all of the winners!

INSAR turns 25; this “anniversary milestone challenges us to build on the foundation laid by those founding parents and researchers with renewed commitment, humility and collaboration.” – Brian Boyd, president of @AutismINSAR. #INSAR2026 thetransmitter.org/spectrum/at-25…

In June 2026, @_TheTransmitter welcomes Sarah Thau as an @aaas Mass Media Fellow. During this 10-week program, Thau will use their academic training to further their ability to communicate complex scientific issues to our readers. To learn more, visit: aaas.org/news/aaas-mass…

Astrocytes are the most abundant non-neuronal cell in the brain and a subject of fascination in autism research. thetransmitter.org/spectrum/takin…

“Based on astrocytic activity alone, you can tell whether a mouse is in its comfort zone,” a new study suggests. By @holly_barker92 thetransmitter.org/spectrum/astro…

Skipping a tiny segment of the MECP2 gene boosts protein levels and improves cellular function in neurons from people with Rett syndrome, offering a potential path for treatment. By @GiorgiaWithAnI thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exon-…

Adjusting the GWAS p-value threshold to 2.03⋅10-7 could reveal low frequency variants linked to autism. By @holly_barker92 thetransmitter.org/spectrum/revis…

“Astrocytes in the lateral septum may explain, or be at the basis of, the sex differences we observe in terms of social fear.” –Alexandre Charlet By @holly_barker92 thetransmitter.org/spectrum/astro…

“Understanding autism from a variety of perspectives, whether it’s neurological, immunological, or even ‘placentological’—I think those are all important pieces of the puzzle,” says @LucasCheadle of @CSHL. By @vcallier thetransmitter.org/spectrum/post-…

Sam Wang @SamWangPhD, an autism scientist who made headlines for his data-based analyses of congressional districts, is running for a House seat in New Jersey. By @laschenk thetransmitter.org/policy/is-ther…

Different autism-linked variants initially affect brain development in distinct ways but later converge on shared pathways, according to a study of brain organoids from autistic people. By @GiorgiaWithAnI thetransmitter.org/spectrum/organ…

An analysis of nearly 3 million people in Sweden reveals that the sex disparity in children with autism decreases with age. Researchers continue to explore why women are often diagnosed later, given the value of early diagnosis. By @HelenaKudiabor thetransmitter.org/spectrum/sex-b…

The infantile amnesia period offers researchers a window to test conditions that may alter memory engram dynamics. New research points to microglial involvement, though this conclusion has drawn mixed reactions. By @laur_insider thetransmitter.org/spectrum/micro…

Should neuroscience focus on big team science or the traditional model? Explore what survey respondents had to say about it: thetransmitter.org/funding/should… #StateOfNeuroscience

A journal has retracted the largest leucovorin trial in people with autism—one of just five randomized clinical trials assessing this treatment in autistic people. By @claulopezneuro thetransmitter.org/spectrum/large…

The discovery of a new type of progenitor cell could help to explain how primate brains came to be so rich in inhibitory interneurons. By @holly_barker92 thetransmitter.org/spectrum/tour-…

“I am very concerned about the minimal scientific expertise on the committee, and the degree to which it is stacked with vocal proponents of the discredited notion that vaccines contribute to autism,” says Joshua Gordon, former NIMH director. By @avaskham thetransmitter.org/spectrum/lates…