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12 June 2012

A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

NEWS Imaging studies question connectivity theory of autism 'Baby sibs' struggle to integrate audio, visual speech cues Q&A Q&A with Luca Santarelli: Targeting neuronal connections IN BRIEF Cognition and behavior: Brain scans probe joint attention Genetics: 2q21.1 variations link autism, attention deficit Clinical research: Long-term studies track autism's trajectory TOOLBOX Radio waves turn on gene expression BLOG Counting conditions Valproate fate

NEWS

Imaging studies question connectivity theory of autism


Three independent studies presented in May at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in Toronto suggest that much of the brain in people with autism looks the same as that of controls. The results contradict the so-called connectivity theory of autism, which holds that the brains of people with the disorder have weak long-range functional connections. Read More >

'Baby sibs' struggle to integrate audio, visual speech cues


Infants at high risk for autism have difficulty integrating information from

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different senses, such as vision and hearing, a new study suggests.

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Q&A

Q&A with Luca Santarelli: Targeting neuronal connections


Luca Santarelli, head of neuroscience at Roche, explains why he is optimistic that pharmaceutical companies can overcome the obstacles in autism drug development.

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IN BRIEF

Cognition and behavior: Brain scans probe joint attention


Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have for the first time identified brain regions activated by joint attention, the process in which two people direct their attention to the same object, person or topic of conversation. The findings appeared 16 April in Human Brain Mapping.

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Genetics: 2q21.1 variations link autism, attention deficit


Researchers have found deletions and duplications of a small piece of chromosome 2 in individuals with autism, developmental delay, epilepsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Read More >

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Clinical research: Long-term studies track autism's trajectory


Two studies published over the past month followed individuals with autism at various ages and showed that they gain developmental skills differently than controls do.

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TOOLBOX

Radio waves turn on gene expression


The heat produced by radio waves can interact with metallic nanoparticles bound to temperature-sensitive ion channels in cells, allowing researchers to remotely alter gene expression in live animals, according to a study published 4 May in Science.

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BLOG

Counting conditions
A tool designed to detect psychiatric disorders in people with autism may produce more accurate estimates of co-occurring conditions.

Read More >

Valproate fate
A new rat study shows that the precise timing of early valproate exposure, an autism risk factor, can have a big influence on behavior later in development.

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