Autism Science Foundation Weekly Science Report

Latest Episodes
How IQ impacts the “will do” of skills: adaptive behaviors
On this weeks podcast, Dr. Elaine Clarke from @RutgersU discusses the role of adaptive behavior. This refers to the wide range of skills that a person with autism can exhibit. Can they hold a convers
Do Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Direct Current Stimulation help people with autism? The latest science here.
Two therapies that are meant to alter brainwave activity, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation are receiving a lot of attention for potential efficacy i
We missed one for the 2024 year end summary: Proof of the importance of genetic testing in autism
It happens every year this one belonged in the 2024 year end highlights but was published late in the year. Researchers at UCSD, UCLA and CHLA followed families with autism whose genetic test reveal
The 2024 Autism Science Year in Review
New Technologies, New Data, New Solutions This years progress in autism research includes promising findings, clarifications, explanations, and the uncovering of new avenues of inquiry. The focus is
Online autism assessments as a perk of the pandemic
While it may not seem like it, the COVID-19 pandemic brought some advances in care and understanding for people on the spectrum. One example is the development and validity of remotely administered as
An update on why there are fewer autistic females compared to males
This week, special podcast correspondent #MiaKotikovski summarizes new research on the increasing prevalence of autism, with a focus on females. While the number of diagnosed females is increasing fas
Synaptic Density and Autism, explained
.or at a podcast with at least an attempt at an explanation of what synaptic density is and how it is affected in brains of people with autism. This week we review three convergent lines of evidence
Health Concerns Across 3 Generations
Are you the grandparent, cousin, aunt, uncle, sibling, or half-sibling of someone with autism and wondered what is the likelihood of autism in families, and the likelihood of comorbid conditions if I
Stigma experienced around the world
Despite many years fighting it, families with autism still experience societal stigma. The experiences depend on many factors, summarized in the October 21st podcast. This week, Mia Kotikovski explore
The Importance of Model Systems
Animal models of autism, including cell based models, have received criticism because autism is a uniquely human condition so there is no value in studying it in a model like a mouse or a cell. On the