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51 results for “gednet”
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✨ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #InteresGeneral
🧬 Detectan estructuras genéticas de cuatro hebras en el plasma humano
🔗 https://www.techno-science.net/es/actualidades/estructuras-geneticas-cuatro-hebras-plasma-29461El material genético que circula por nuestra sangre puede adoptar una forma muy distinta de la famosa doble hélice. Cuando las células mueren, diminutos fragmentos de su material genético pasan al plasma, la parte líquida de la sangre. Estos fragmentos…
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✨ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #InteresGeneral
🧬 Detectan estructuras genéticas de cuatro hebras en el plasma humano
🔗 https://www.techno-science.net/es/actualidades/estructuras-geneticas-cuatro-hebras-plasma-29461El material genético que circula por nuestra sangre puede adoptar una forma muy distinta de la famosa doble hélice. Cuando las células mueren, diminutos fragmentos de su material genético pasan al plasma, la parte líquida de la sangre. Estos fragmentos…
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✨ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #InteresGeneral
🧬 Una rara mutación genética asociada con menos grasa y un mejor metabolismo
🔗 https://www.techno-science.net/es/actualidades/mutacion-genetica-metabolismo-grasa-higado-29233Un estudio revela que algunas personas presentan raras modificaciones genéticas asociadas con una menor cantidad de grasa en el hígado y una mejor regulación del azúcar en sangre. Este hallazgo se basa en la secuenciación de más de un millón…
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✨ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #InteresGeneral
🧬 Una rara mutación genética asociada con menos grasa y un mejor metabolismo
🔗 https://www.techno-science.net/es/actualidades/mutacion-genetica-metabolismo-grasa-higado-29233Un estudio revela que algunas personas presentan raras modificaciones genéticas asociadas con una menor cantidad de grasa en el hígado y una mejor regulación del azúcar en sangre. Este hallazgo se basa en la secuenciación de más de un millón…
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AI Model Predicts Chromosomally Normal IVF Embryos Without Genetic Biopsy
In vitro fertilization has long faced an uncomfortable trade-off. The embryos with the best chance of producing a…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Genetics #Science
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/868683/ -
SeaD Consulting tests 44 shrimp dishes at Crystal Coast eateries with genetic testing https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/40876/ #NorthCarolina #NorthCarolinaDining #NorthCarolinaFood #NorthCarolinaGroceryStores #NorthCarolinaRestaurants
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SeaD Consulting tests 44 shrimp dishes at Crystal Coast eateries with genetic testing https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/40876/ #NorthCarolina #NorthCarolinaDining #NorthCarolinaFood #NorthCarolinaGroceryStores #NorthCarolinaRestaurants
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SeaD Consulting tests 44 shrimp dishes at Crystal Coast eateries with genetic testing https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/40876/ #NorthCarolina #NorthCarolinaDining #NorthCarolinaFood #NorthCarolinaGroceryStores #NorthCarolinaRestaurants
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📰 Encontrar al "superperro": El fallido y polémico experimento genético con técnicas nazis en EE.UU
🔗 https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/sociedad/historia/2026/10/02/encontrar-al-superperro-el-fallido-y-controvertido-polemico-genetico-con-tecnicas-nazis-en-ee-uu.shtml -
https://www.europesays.com/es/797352/ ¿Genética o estética? La experta Carmen Peñas analiza los secretos de belleza de Shakira #belleza #CaraYCuerpo #Celebrities #CirugíaEstética #CuidadoDeLaPiel #Entertainment #Entretenimiento #ES #España #Famosos #Shakira #Spain
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@debby I'll add that I really want the results from this research study to be true (I've had ME/CFS since January 1990) but I can't help but be a bit skeptical.
I think biggest breakthrough in ME/CFS research that we've had lately is the DecodeME genetic study from last year:
The next step for genetic research would be the Sequence ME & Long Covid study:
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/sequenceme-long-covid/
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@debby I'll add that I really want the results from this research study to be true (I've had ME/CFS since January 1990) but I can't help but be a bit skeptical.
I think biggest breakthrough in ME/CFS research that we've had lately is the DecodeME genetic study from last year:
The next step for genetic research would be the Sequence ME & Long Covid study:
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/sequenceme-long-covid/
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@debby I'll add that I really want the results from this research study to be true (I've had ME/CFS since January 1990) but I can't help but be a bit skeptical.
I think biggest breakthrough in ME/CFS research that we've had lately is the DecodeME genetic study from last year:
The next step for genetic research would be the Sequence ME & Long Covid study:
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/sequenceme-long-covid/
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@debby I'll add that I really want the results from this research study to be true (I've had ME/CFS since January 1990) but I can't help but be a bit skeptical.
I think biggest breakthrough in ME/CFS research that we've had lately is the DecodeME genetic study from last year:
The next step for genetic research would be the Sequence ME & Long Covid study:
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/sequenceme-long-covid/
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☕ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #Negocios #CulturaDigital #InterésGeneral
🔵 Esta empresa quiere editar embriones y asegura que es "un imperativo moral"
🔗 https://es.wired.com/articulos/esta-empresa-quiere-editar-embriones-y-asegura-que-es-un-imperativo-moralLa modificación genética de embriones sigue siendo una práctica controvertida y arriesgada, pero Cathy Tie, fundadora de Origin Genomics, quiere utilizarla para combatir las enfermedades hereditarias.
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☕ #Noticia de #Ciencia #Tecnología #Negocios #CulturaDigital #InterésGeneral
🔵 Esta empresa quiere editar embriones y asegura que es "un imperativo moral"
🔗 https://es.wired.com/articulos/esta-empresa-quiere-editar-embriones-y-asegura-que-es-un-imperativo-moralLa modificación genética de embriones sigue siendo una práctica controvertida y arriesgada, pero Cathy Tie, fundadora de Origin Genomics, quiere utilizarla para combatir las enfermedades hereditarias.
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Source: CBC #news #newfoundlandandlabrador
Yes, #Newfoundland does have wolves — and wildlife officials are studying them
Inter-breeding of canids, coyotes and wolves is not uncommon and it can be hard to know an animal's genetic mix. That said, provincial wildlife is welcoming information on unusual canid sightings and canid carcasses from throughout #NewfoundlandandLabrador to help inform ongoing research.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yes-newfoundland-does-have-wolves-and-wildlife-officials-are-studying-them-9.7367261?cmp=rss -
Source: CBC #news #newfoundlandandlabrador
Yes, #Newfoundland does have wolves — and wildlife officials are studying them
Inter-breeding of canids, coyotes and wolves is not uncommon and it can be hard to know an animal's genetic mix. That said, provincial wildlife is welcoming information on unusual canid sightings and canid carcasses from throughout #NewfoundlandandLabrador to help inform ongoing research.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yes-newfoundland-does-have-wolves-and-wildlife-officials-are-studying-them-9.7367261?cmp=rss -
Source: CBC #news #newfoundlandandlabrador
Yes, #Newfoundland does have wolves — and wildlife officials are studying them
Inter-breeding of canids, coyotes and wolves is not uncommon and it can be hard to know an animal's genetic mix. That said, provincial wildlife is welcoming information on unusual canid sightings and canid carcasses from throughout #NewfoundlandandLabrador to help inform ongoing research.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yes-newfoundland-does-have-wolves-and-wildlife-officials-are-studying-them-9.7367261?cmp=rss -
Source: CBC #news #newfoundlandandlabrador
Yes, #Newfoundland does have wolves — and wildlife officials are studying them
Inter-breeding of canids, coyotes and wolves is not uncommon and it can be hard to know an animal's genetic mix. That said, provincial wildlife is welcoming information on unusual canid sightings and canid carcasses from throughout #NewfoundlandandLabrador to help inform ongoing research.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yes-newfoundland-does-have-wolves-and-wildlife-officials-are-studying-them-9.7367261?cmp=rss -
DATE: October 5, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS NEUROSCIENCETITLE: 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel are the joint recipients of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden announced on Monday.
Deisseroth, a professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Hegemann, a professor at Humboldt University in Berlin and Nagel, a professor at the University of Würzburg, Germany, developed a method that uses light, combined with genetic modifications of neurons, to switch on or off individual cells in a living brain. This makes it possible to show how nerve cells shape memories, feelings and behavior in the brain, and is being studied as a treatment for disease.
Read the rest…
-------------------------------------------------
STAT News reports "from the frontiers of health and medicine".
Learn more at https://www.statnews.com/topic/neuroscience .
See also their complete Mastodon account at @STAT .
This robot is NOT affiliated with STAT news and merely rebroadcasts from their site. Responses posted here are not monitored.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Optogenetics #NobelPrize2026 #BrainResearch #LightGatedChannels #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #KarlDeisseroth #PeterHegemann #GeorgNagel #MemoryAndBehavior #Neurotech
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DATE: October 5, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS NEUROSCIENCETITLE: 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel are the joint recipients of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden announced on Monday.
Deisseroth, a professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Hegemann, a professor at Humboldt University in Berlin and Nagel, a professor at the University of Würzburg, Germany, developed a method that uses light, combined with genetic modifications of neurons, to switch on or off individual cells in a living brain. This makes it possible to show how nerve cells shape memories, feelings and behavior in the brain, and is being studied as a treatment for disease.
Read the rest…
-------------------------------------------------
STAT News reports "from the frontiers of health and medicine".
Learn more at https://www.statnews.com/topic/neuroscience .
See also their complete Mastodon account at @STAT .
This robot is NOT affiliated with STAT news and merely rebroadcasts from their site. Responses posted here are not monitored.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Optogenetics #NobelPrize2026 #BrainResearch #LightGatedChannels #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #KarlDeisseroth #PeterHegemann #GeorgNagel #MemoryAndBehavior #Neurotech
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DATE: October 5, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: STAT NEWS NEUROSCIENCETITLE: 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel are the joint recipients of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden announced on Monday.
Deisseroth, a professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Hegemann, a professor at Humboldt University in Berlin and Nagel, a professor at the University of Würzburg, Germany, developed a method that uses light, combined with genetic modifications of neurons, to switch on or off individual cells in a living brain. This makes it possible to show how nerve cells shape memories, feelings and behavior in the brain, and is being studied as a treatment for disease.
Read the rest…
-------------------------------------------------
STAT News reports "from the frontiers of health and medicine".
Learn more at https://www.statnews.com/topic/neuroscience .
See also their complete Mastodon account at @STAT .
This robot is NOT affiliated with STAT news and merely rebroadcasts from their site. Responses posted here are not monitored.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Optogenetics #NobelPrize2026 #BrainResearch #LightGatedChannels #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #KarlDeisseroth #PeterHegemann #GeorgNagel #MemoryAndBehavior #Neurotech
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Durante millones de años, la evolución ha sido un enorme laboratorio de pruebas. Los seres vivos han desarrollado moléculas para defenderse de otros organismos, competir por recursos o sobrevivir en ambientes hostiles. Algunas de esas moléculas desaparecieron junto con las especies que las producían.
Ahora la inteligencia artificial está permitiendo mirar hacia atrás en el tiempo para buscar algunas de ellas.
La idea parece sacada de una película de ciencia ficción: recuperar información genética de especies desaparecidas, utilizarla para reconstruir moléculas que pudieron existir en el pasado y comprobar si alguna de ellas puede convertirse en un nuevo antibiótico.
👉 https://www.orbeautomata.es/2026/10/resucitar-moleculas-de-la-prehistoria.html 🦠 #ciencia #adn #moleculas #antibioticos
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DATE: October 3, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal hyper-connected reward networks in autistic individuals
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
Autistic individuals often process social information differently, which is reflected in how various regions of the brain communicate with one another. A recent study published in Autism Research reveals that the brain’s reward center is unusually intertwined with other social processing networks in autistic people. This hyper-connectivity correlates with social communication differences and is linked to specific genetic and chemical markers in the brain.
The human brain handles social interactions through a distributed set of specialized regions known collectively as the social brain. This system includes four distinct subnetworks that govern different aspects of human connection. The reward system processes motivation and the pleasure associated with social stimuli. The face perception network supports the encoding and recognition of facial expressions.
The other two subnetworks handle more abstract social processes. The theory of mind network allows individuals to attribute mental states and intentions to themselves and others. The mirror neuron system activates both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action, aiding in imitation and learning.
For social cognition to function smoothly, these four subnetworks must maintain a delicate balance. They need to operate independently to process their specific tasks efficiently, a concept known as modular segregation. At the same time, they must share information across the broader brain network to produce coherent social behaviors, a process known as modular integration.
Previous research indicates this balance is altered in autism spectrum disorder. Autistic people often exhibit differences in social motivation, facial recognition, and mimicking behaviors. Researchers Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, and colleagues wanted to systematically map how these social subnetworks integrate and whether any imbalances relate to clinical social symptoms. They also aimed to investigate the underlying chemical and genetic profiles of these brain regions.
To examine these network dynamics, the researchers analyzed brain imaging data from an existing database of 646 participants, comprising 298 autistic individuals and 348 typically developing individuals. They used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, which tracks blood flow to measure brain activity while participants are awake but not engaged in a specific task. By recording how blood oxygen levels fluctuate over time, researchers can identify which brain areas activate synchronously and infer how strongly they are connected.
Using an automated process, the team isolated 102 specific brain regions that make up the four subnetworks of the social brain. They then calculated a metric called the participation coefficient for each participant. This mathematical formula quantifies how much a specific brain node communicates with outside modules compared to its own internal components. A low score indicates high segregation, while a high score indicates high integration across different networks.
The analysis showed that autistic participants exhibited increased modular integration of the reward system. Instead of remaining relatively isolated, the reward network formed an unusually high number of connections with the face perception network and the mirror neuron system. Autistic individuals also showed higher integration in the face perception network itself, though the changes in the reward system were more pronounced.
Next, the researchers investigated whether this network overlap corresponded to observable social behaviors. They compared the brain connectivity metrics against the participants’ scores on standard clinical assessments, including parental reports of social communication and motivation.
The researchers found that increased integration of the reward system correlated with higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale. This means that individuals with a more hyper-integrated reward network tended to experience greater challenges in social communication, social awareness, and social cognition. The team verified that this correlation was driven specifically by social functioning rather than restricted and repetitive behaviors.
To understand the chemical foundation of these brain patterns, the team compared their brain connectivity maps against established atlases of neurotransmitter distribution. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that either stimulate or inhibit brain activity. A leading theory in neuroscience proposes that autism involves an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain, often stemming from alterations in how these chemicals bind to their receptors.
The regions of the reward system that were highly integrated in autistic participants physically overlapped with brain areas known to have lower densities of certain serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, receptors. GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory messenger. A reduction in these receptors implies a lack of inhibitory control, supporting the idea that a hyper-excitable reward network might drive the observed social differences in autism.
The researchers then explored the genetic underpinnings of this connectivity pattern using a public database of human brain tissue gene expression. They mapped thousands of gene transcripts to see if the expression levels of specific genes matched the locations where the reward system was most hyper-integrated.
This spatial analysis identified a set of genetic signatures associated with the structural development of the nervous system. The genes most correlated with the altered reward network are primarily involved in cellular proliferation, the positive regulation of cell migration, and the formation of tissues during early development. This implies that the hyper-integration seen in the adult and adolescent autistic brain may originate from foundational changes in how neurons migrate and form circuits during early development.
The team also mapped how this reward network integration changes over time and tested their findings in a second, independent dataset. Because autism is a developmental condition, the brain’s organization naturally shifts as an individual ages. The researchers used linear regression models to track age-related changes in both autistic and typically developing participants, looking for divergent or parallel growth trajectories.
The integration of the reward system increased as individuals grew older in both groups, maintaining a parallel developmental trajectory. However, the connectivity levels in autistic individuals remained consistently higher than those of their typically developing peers across all age stages. In the second dataset, the direction of the effect was similar: autistic participants showed higher reward system integration at seven of nine sites. However, the pooled effect across sites was small and not statistically significant.
While these analyses draw connections between brain activity, genetics, and behavior, they rely on chemical and genetic maps derived from healthy individuals. The study overlays these standard profiles onto the brain scans of autistic individuals to estimate molecular relationships. Because the researchers did not directly measure neurotransmitter levels or gene expression in the autistic participants themselves, the results do not definitively prove that these specific chemical deficits caused the altered brain connectivity.
Future studies will need to incorporate molecular imaging data collected directly from autistic individuals to confirm these relationships. Additionally, longitudinal tracking of the same individuals over time, rather than comparing different age groups in a single snapshot, could reveal exactly how the social brain develops and changes throughout an autistic person’s lifespan.
The study, “Disrupted Modular Integration of the Reward System Is Associated With Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” was authored by Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, Sheng-Zhi Ma, Wen-Qiang Dong, Xiao Chen, Shuai-Yu Chen, Yuqi You, Yu-Feng Zang, and Li-Xia Yuan.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #SocialNeuroscience #RewardNetwork #BrainConnectivity #Hyperconnectivity #FacePerception #MirrorNeuronSystem #SocialResponsiveness #Neurotransmitters #GeneExpression
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DATE: October 3, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal hyper-connected reward networks in autistic individuals
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
Autistic individuals often process social information differently, which is reflected in how various regions of the brain communicate with one another. A recent study published in Autism Research reveals that the brain’s reward center is unusually intertwined with other social processing networks in autistic people. This hyper-connectivity correlates with social communication differences and is linked to specific genetic and chemical markers in the brain.
The human brain handles social interactions through a distributed set of specialized regions known collectively as the social brain. This system includes four distinct subnetworks that govern different aspects of human connection. The reward system processes motivation and the pleasure associated with social stimuli. The face perception network supports the encoding and recognition of facial expressions.
The other two subnetworks handle more abstract social processes. The theory of mind network allows individuals to attribute mental states and intentions to themselves and others. The mirror neuron system activates both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action, aiding in imitation and learning.
For social cognition to function smoothly, these four subnetworks must maintain a delicate balance. They need to operate independently to process their specific tasks efficiently, a concept known as modular segregation. At the same time, they must share information across the broader brain network to produce coherent social behaviors, a process known as modular integration.
Previous research indicates this balance is altered in autism spectrum disorder. Autistic people often exhibit differences in social motivation, facial recognition, and mimicking behaviors. Researchers Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, and colleagues wanted to systematically map how these social subnetworks integrate and whether any imbalances relate to clinical social symptoms. They also aimed to investigate the underlying chemical and genetic profiles of these brain regions.
To examine these network dynamics, the researchers analyzed brain imaging data from an existing database of 646 participants, comprising 298 autistic individuals and 348 typically developing individuals. They used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, which tracks blood flow to measure brain activity while participants are awake but not engaged in a specific task. By recording how blood oxygen levels fluctuate over time, researchers can identify which brain areas activate synchronously and infer how strongly they are connected.
Using an automated process, the team isolated 102 specific brain regions that make up the four subnetworks of the social brain. They then calculated a metric called the participation coefficient for each participant. This mathematical formula quantifies how much a specific brain node communicates with outside modules compared to its own internal components. A low score indicates high segregation, while a high score indicates high integration across different networks.
The analysis showed that autistic participants exhibited increased modular integration of the reward system. Instead of remaining relatively isolated, the reward network formed an unusually high number of connections with the face perception network and the mirror neuron system. Autistic individuals also showed higher integration in the face perception network itself, though the changes in the reward system were more pronounced.
Next, the researchers investigated whether this network overlap corresponded to observable social behaviors. They compared the brain connectivity metrics against the participants’ scores on standard clinical assessments, including parental reports of social communication and motivation.
The researchers found that increased integration of the reward system correlated with higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale. This means that individuals with a more hyper-integrated reward network tended to experience greater challenges in social communication, social awareness, and social cognition. The team verified that this correlation was driven specifically by social functioning rather than restricted and repetitive behaviors.
To understand the chemical foundation of these brain patterns, the team compared their brain connectivity maps against established atlases of neurotransmitter distribution. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that either stimulate or inhibit brain activity. A leading theory in neuroscience proposes that autism involves an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain, often stemming from alterations in how these chemicals bind to their receptors.
The regions of the reward system that were highly integrated in autistic participants physically overlapped with brain areas known to have lower densities of certain serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, receptors. GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory messenger. A reduction in these receptors implies a lack of inhibitory control, supporting the idea that a hyper-excitable reward network might drive the observed social differences in autism.
The researchers then explored the genetic underpinnings of this connectivity pattern using a public database of human brain tissue gene expression. They mapped thousands of gene transcripts to see if the expression levels of specific genes matched the locations where the reward system was most hyper-integrated.
This spatial analysis identified a set of genetic signatures associated with the structural development of the nervous system. The genes most correlated with the altered reward network are primarily involved in cellular proliferation, the positive regulation of cell migration, and the formation of tissues during early development. This implies that the hyper-integration seen in the adult and adolescent autistic brain may originate from foundational changes in how neurons migrate and form circuits during early development.
The team also mapped how this reward network integration changes over time and tested their findings in a second, independent dataset. Because autism is a developmental condition, the brain’s organization naturally shifts as an individual ages. The researchers used linear regression models to track age-related changes in both autistic and typically developing participants, looking for divergent or parallel growth trajectories.
The integration of the reward system increased as individuals grew older in both groups, maintaining a parallel developmental trajectory. However, the connectivity levels in autistic individuals remained consistently higher than those of their typically developing peers across all age stages. In the second dataset, the direction of the effect was similar: autistic participants showed higher reward system integration at seven of nine sites. However, the pooled effect across sites was small and not statistically significant.
While these analyses draw connections between brain activity, genetics, and behavior, they rely on chemical and genetic maps derived from healthy individuals. The study overlays these standard profiles onto the brain scans of autistic individuals to estimate molecular relationships. Because the researchers did not directly measure neurotransmitter levels or gene expression in the autistic participants themselves, the results do not definitively prove that these specific chemical deficits caused the altered brain connectivity.
Future studies will need to incorporate molecular imaging data collected directly from autistic individuals to confirm these relationships. Additionally, longitudinal tracking of the same individuals over time, rather than comparing different age groups in a single snapshot, could reveal exactly how the social brain develops and changes throughout an autistic person’s lifespan.
The study, “Disrupted Modular Integration of the Reward System Is Associated With Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” was authored by Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, Sheng-Zhi Ma, Wen-Qiang Dong, Xiao Chen, Shuai-Yu Chen, Yuqi You, Yu-Feng Zang, and Li-Xia Yuan.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #SocialNeuroscience #RewardNetwork #BrainConnectivity #Hyperconnectivity #FacePerception #MirrorNeuronSystem #SocialResponsiveness #Neurotransmitters #GeneExpression
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DATE: October 3, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal hyper-connected reward networks in autistic individuals
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
Autistic individuals often process social information differently, which is reflected in how various regions of the brain communicate with one another. A recent study published in Autism Research reveals that the brain’s reward center is unusually intertwined with other social processing networks in autistic people. This hyper-connectivity correlates with social communication differences and is linked to specific genetic and chemical markers in the brain.
The human brain handles social interactions through a distributed set of specialized regions known collectively as the social brain. This system includes four distinct subnetworks that govern different aspects of human connection. The reward system processes motivation and the pleasure associated with social stimuli. The face perception network supports the encoding and recognition of facial expressions.
The other two subnetworks handle more abstract social processes. The theory of mind network allows individuals to attribute mental states and intentions to themselves and others. The mirror neuron system activates both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action, aiding in imitation and learning.
For social cognition to function smoothly, these four subnetworks must maintain a delicate balance. They need to operate independently to process their specific tasks efficiently, a concept known as modular segregation. At the same time, they must share information across the broader brain network to produce coherent social behaviors, a process known as modular integration.
Previous research indicates this balance is altered in autism spectrum disorder. Autistic people often exhibit differences in social motivation, facial recognition, and mimicking behaviors. Researchers Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, and colleagues wanted to systematically map how these social subnetworks integrate and whether any imbalances relate to clinical social symptoms. They also aimed to investigate the underlying chemical and genetic profiles of these brain regions.
To examine these network dynamics, the researchers analyzed brain imaging data from an existing database of 646 participants, comprising 298 autistic individuals and 348 typically developing individuals. They used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, which tracks blood flow to measure brain activity while participants are awake but not engaged in a specific task. By recording how blood oxygen levels fluctuate over time, researchers can identify which brain areas activate synchronously and infer how strongly they are connected.
Using an automated process, the team isolated 102 specific brain regions that make up the four subnetworks of the social brain. They then calculated a metric called the participation coefficient for each participant. This mathematical formula quantifies how much a specific brain node communicates with outside modules compared to its own internal components. A low score indicates high segregation, while a high score indicates high integration across different networks.
The analysis showed that autistic participants exhibited increased modular integration of the reward system. Instead of remaining relatively isolated, the reward network formed an unusually high number of connections with the face perception network and the mirror neuron system. Autistic individuals also showed higher integration in the face perception network itself, though the changes in the reward system were more pronounced.
Next, the researchers investigated whether this network overlap corresponded to observable social behaviors. They compared the brain connectivity metrics against the participants’ scores on standard clinical assessments, including parental reports of social communication and motivation.
The researchers found that increased integration of the reward system correlated with higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale. This means that individuals with a more hyper-integrated reward network tended to experience greater challenges in social communication, social awareness, and social cognition. The team verified that this correlation was driven specifically by social functioning rather than restricted and repetitive behaviors.
To understand the chemical foundation of these brain patterns, the team compared their brain connectivity maps against established atlases of neurotransmitter distribution. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that either stimulate or inhibit brain activity. A leading theory in neuroscience proposes that autism involves an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain, often stemming from alterations in how these chemicals bind to their receptors.
The regions of the reward system that were highly integrated in autistic participants physically overlapped with brain areas known to have lower densities of certain serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, receptors. GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory messenger. A reduction in these receptors implies a lack of inhibitory control, supporting the idea that a hyper-excitable reward network might drive the observed social differences in autism.
The researchers then explored the genetic underpinnings of this connectivity pattern using a public database of human brain tissue gene expression. They mapped thousands of gene transcripts to see if the expression levels of specific genes matched the locations where the reward system was most hyper-integrated.
This spatial analysis identified a set of genetic signatures associated with the structural development of the nervous system. The genes most correlated with the altered reward network are primarily involved in cellular proliferation, the positive regulation of cell migration, and the formation of tissues during early development. This implies that the hyper-integration seen in the adult and adolescent autistic brain may originate from foundational changes in how neurons migrate and form circuits during early development.
The team also mapped how this reward network integration changes over time and tested their findings in a second, independent dataset. Because autism is a developmental condition, the brain’s organization naturally shifts as an individual ages. The researchers used linear regression models to track age-related changes in both autistic and typically developing participants, looking for divergent or parallel growth trajectories.
The integration of the reward system increased as individuals grew older in both groups, maintaining a parallel developmental trajectory. However, the connectivity levels in autistic individuals remained consistently higher than those of their typically developing peers across all age stages. In the second dataset, the direction of the effect was similar: autistic participants showed higher reward system integration at seven of nine sites. However, the pooled effect across sites was small and not statistically significant.
While these analyses draw connections between brain activity, genetics, and behavior, they rely on chemical and genetic maps derived from healthy individuals. The study overlays these standard profiles onto the brain scans of autistic individuals to estimate molecular relationships. Because the researchers did not directly measure neurotransmitter levels or gene expression in the autistic participants themselves, the results do not definitively prove that these specific chemical deficits caused the altered brain connectivity.
Future studies will need to incorporate molecular imaging data collected directly from autistic individuals to confirm these relationships. Additionally, longitudinal tracking of the same individuals over time, rather than comparing different age groups in a single snapshot, could reveal exactly how the social brain develops and changes throughout an autistic person’s lifespan.
The study, “Disrupted Modular Integration of the Reward System Is Associated With Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” was authored by Chen Yang, Ai-Ping Sun, Sheng-Zhi Ma, Wen-Qiang Dong, Xiao Chen, Shuai-Yu Chen, Yuqi You, Yu-Feng Zang, and Li-Xia Yuan.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-hyper-connected-reward-networks-in-autistic-individuals/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismBrain #SocialNeuroscience #RewardNetwork #BrainConnectivity #Hyperconnectivity #FacePerception #MirrorNeuronSystem #SocialResponsiveness #Neurotransmitters #GeneExpression
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Let’s hope this proposed ‘unifying theory’ of chronic fatigue leads to new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. 🙏
TL;DR:
Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics, found that long Covid, ME/CFS, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis may affect overlapping biological networks involved in immune function, metabolism, cellular energy, and stress responses. The study used existing genetic data and 3D genome analysis rather than collecting new patient samples.This shared “unifying theory” could lead to common diagnostic blood tests and therapies that target the underlying fatigue pathways across all these conditions.
The findings could eventually support better blood tests and treatments, but the proposed biological connections—including the potential role of genes such as LAG3, still need to be validated through further research.This is just the very beginning, but it is the beginning.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053543.htm
#ChronicFatigue #MECFS #LongCovid #PTSD #AutoimmuneDiseases #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation #ScienceBreakthrough #MedicalBreakthrough #UnifyingTheory #BiologicalResearch #ImmuneDysfunction #Metabolism #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalScience #HealthInnovation #CellularEnergy #EnergyProduction #ResearchMatters #ME/CFS #AutoimmuneResearch #Mitochondria #ImmuneHealth #PrecisionMedicine #NewTherapies #ScienceBreakthrough
-
Let’s hope this proposed ‘unifying theory’ of chronic fatigue leads to new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. 🙏
TL;DR:
Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics, found that long Covid, ME/CFS, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis may affect overlapping biological networks involved in immune function, metabolism, cellular energy, and stress responses. The study used existing genetic data and 3D genome analysis rather than collecting new patient samples.This shared “unifying theory” could lead to common diagnostic blood tests and therapies that target the underlying fatigue pathways across all these conditions.
The findings could eventually support better blood tests and treatments, but the proposed biological connections—including the potential role of genes such as LAG3, still need to be validated through further research.This is just the very beginning, but it is the beginning.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053543.htm
#ChronicFatigue #MECFS #LongCovid #PTSD #AutoimmuneDiseases #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation #ScienceBreakthrough #MedicalBreakthrough #UnifyingTheory #BiologicalResearch #ImmuneDysfunction #Metabolism #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalScience #HealthInnovation #CellularEnergy #EnergyProduction #ResearchMatters #ME/CFS #AutoimmuneResearch #Mitochondria #ImmuneHealth #PrecisionMedicine #NewTherapies #ScienceBreakthrough
-
Let’s hope this proposed ‘unifying theory’ of chronic fatigue leads to new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. 🙏
TL;DR:
Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics, found that long Covid, ME/CFS, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis may affect overlapping biological networks involved in immune function, metabolism, cellular energy, and stress responses. The study used existing genetic data and 3D genome analysis rather than collecting new patient samples.This shared “unifying theory” could lead to common diagnostic blood tests and therapies that target the underlying fatigue pathways across all these conditions.
The findings could eventually support better blood tests and treatments, but the proposed biological connections—including the potential role of genes such as LAG3, still need to be validated through further research.This is just the very beginning, but it is the beginning.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053543.htm
#ChronicFatigue #MECFS #LongCovid #PTSD #AutoimmuneDiseases #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation #ScienceBreakthrough #MedicalBreakthrough #UnifyingTheory #BiologicalResearch #ImmuneDysfunction #Metabolism #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalScience #HealthInnovation #CellularEnergy #EnergyProduction #ResearchMatters #ME/CFS #AutoimmuneResearch #Mitochondria #ImmuneHealth #PrecisionMedicine #NewTherapies #ScienceBreakthrough