SFN 2014

Recent articles

Autism gene needed for growth of neurons during gestation

Mutations in one of the strongest autism candidate genes may block the proliferation of neurons during development.

By Jessica Wright
7 October 2016 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Enriched environment staves off autism-like behavior in rats

Rats exposed in utero to the epilepsy drug valproic acid, a risk factor for autism, do not develop autism-like behaviors if they are reared in a stimulating environment. Researchers presented the unpublished findings yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Who are you going to believe, your body or your lying eyes?

Children with autism tend to rely more on their bodies when learning new motor skills, while controls rely more on their eyes, suggests unpublished research presented Wednesday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Feisty mice may reveal autism gene’s link to aggression

Varying the number of copies of a single autism-linked gene modulates social behavior and aggression in mice, according to unpublished results presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Jessica Wright
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Takeaways from SfN 2014

Scientists reflect on the current state of autism research as the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. comes to a close.

By Greg Boustead
20 November 2014 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Different autism subtypes share same genetic signature

A rare form of autism linked to a duplication of the 15q11-13 chromosomal region shares a molecular signature with more common forms of the disorder, suggests unpublished research presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Katie Moisse
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Monkey missing Rett gene prompts primate research debate

Scientists have created a transgenic monkey modeling Rett syndrome, they announced yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This model and others sparked a lively discussion about the relative value of animal models in research.

By Virginia Hughes
20 November 2014 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

In autism, RNA snippets vary little by brain region, age

The expression patterns of microRNAs vary less by brain region and age in people with autism than in controls. Researchers presented the unpublished findings Tuesday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Robots come to the rescue in sensory processing studies

Robots that help children with autism become more socially engaged may also increase understanding of sensory processing in the disorder, suggests unpublished research presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

In mouse model of Rett, immune cells overly sensitive

Loss of MeCP2, the Rett syndrome gene, depletes immune cells throughout the bodies of mice, researchers reported yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Jessica Wright
20 November 2014 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

People help each other climb up a supersized human brain.

As federal funders desert mentorship programs for marginalized students, trainee-led initiatives fill the gap

Grassroots organizations, led by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, are stepping up to provide neuroscience career training and guidance for students from marginalized backgrounds—and they need your support.

By Christian Cazares, Maribel Patiño
11 April 2025 | 5 min read
Research image of two mouse brain slices.

Split gene therapy delivers promise in mice modeling Dravet syndrome

The new approach overcomes viral packaging limitations by delivering SCN1A piecemeal and stitching it together in target cells.

By Holly Barker
10 April 2025 | 5 min read
Screenshot of NeMO website with banner reading This repository is under review for potential modification in compliance with Administration directives.

U.S. human data repositories ‘under review’ for gender identity descriptors

Researchers associated with the repositories received an email from the U.S. National Institutes of Health in March noting that they must comply with a 20 January executive order from President Trump that recognizes only two sexes: male and female.

By Angie Voyles Askham
9 April 2025 | 4 min read