RTNS 2012

Recent articles

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Better tools needed to assess clinical trials

The past few years have seen an unprecedented number of clinical trials for experimental drugs to treat autism-related disorders, most notably for fragile X syndrome. But as the trials progress, scientists are calling for better methods to measure the drugs’ effectiveness.

By Emily Singer
14 May 2012 | 6 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Trials and tribulations

Clinical trials for fragile X drugs should include a behavioral therapy component, says a parent of a child with the disorder.

By Emily Singer
11 May 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Compensatory mechanisms

Identifying genetic and other factors that protect children at risk of autism from developing the disorder could provide new avenues for treatment.

By Emily Singer
8 May 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Debate over quality of adult-derived stem cells rages on

As the use of induced pluripotent stem cells grows, researchers are searching for ways to make them behave more predictably. 

By Emily Singer
7 May 2012 | 8 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Complex case

Multiple levels of complexity make it challenging to develop drugs to treat autism.

By Emily Singer
4 May 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Fast-forward

In the last three years, autism researchers have gone from sequencing single genes to whole exomes, as highlighted at the Translational Neuroscience Symposium in Switzerland last week.

By Emily Singer
27 April 2012 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustration of brain taking shape.

Neuroscientists weigh in on White House proposal for ‘moonshot infrastructure’ for connectomics

A report from the Trump administration calls for a “new golden age” of science, in which the federal government supports mission-driven collaborations to deliver high returns on research investments.

By Sarah Thau
24 July 2026 | 4 min read
Kevin Dunbar.

In memoriam: Kevin Dunbar, who traced the neural basis of human reasoning

Using imaging technologies, he transformed our understanding of how creativity and scientific discovery arise in the brain.

By Alissa de Chassey
24 July 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of neuronal migration.

Neurons engage in risky, DNA-breaking business during migration

The cells later repair the damage, which occurs mostly in transcriptionally silent parts of the genome.

By Sarah Thau
24 July 2026 | 4 min read