Opioids

Recent articles

Howard Fields.

In memoriam: Howard Fields, pain research pioneer

Over six decades, Fields mapped out the circuits of both pain and addiction.

By Natalia Mesa
22 May 2026 | 7 min read
Research image of enteric neurons in zebrafish.

Opioid receptors may guide formation of gut nervous system in zebrafish

Fish lacking functional copies of the receptors have fewer enteric neurons than usual, but the findings await further validation.

By Olivia Gieger
26 June 2024 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Stock photo of a group of neurons.

Finding neuroheterogeneity’s sweet spot

Once thought to be detrimental to memory processing, neuronal diversity—at the right ‘Goldilocks’ dose—is a new boon to theoretical neuroscience.

By Natalia Mesa
20 October 2026 | 7 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

COVID-19 and influenza effects in pregnancy; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 19 October.

By Jill Adams
20 October 2026 | 2 min read
Illustration of a person standing in a crumbling room with papers and strings on the wall, a fallen chair, and a lamp.

What to do when traditional mechanistic approaches no longer work

Many complex behaviors have stubbornly resisted mechanistic explanations. Deciphering them will require new approaches—and perhaps a new concept of “understanding.”

By Bence Ölveczky
19 October 2026 | 8 min read