SFN 2016

Recent articles

Ecstasy ingredient touted as treatment for anxiety in autism

The active ingredient in the drug popularly known as ecstasy eases social anxiety in people with autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
25 September 2018 | 4 min read
extra neuronal connections may sprout from the amygdala, a brain region governing fear

In autism, brain’s emotion hub begins with too many cells

The amygdala, a brain region that governs emotions, may be enlarged and overly connected in children with autism, but it shrinks as the children grow up.

By Jessica Wright
6 April 2018 | 5 min read
A microglia cell (red), touches the signal-receiving ends of neurons (green) in the brain

Microglia may have only small appetite for synapses

Microglia come into frequent contact with synapses, the connections between neurons, but they appear to nibble on them rather than engulf and digest them.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
2 April 2018 | 5 min read
closeup of a mouse eye

Gene on chromosome 16 may be valuable player in autism

Deleting one copy of a gene called MVP impairs the brain's ability to adapt to changes in the environment.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
29 March 2018 | 4 min read

Takeaways from SfN 2016

Spectrum’s team reported about 50 stories at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego. One big theme this year: how autism relates to bigger questions in neuroscience.

By Claire Cameron
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

New test scores emotional weight of parent-child connections

Videos of mothers and their infants interacting with each other may contain clues to autism risk.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

Autism treatments may normalize brain volume in adult mice

The effects of autism mutations on brain volume might be reversible, even in a mature brain.

By Jessica Wright
17 November 2016 | 4 min read
Mouse brain hippocampus

New mice expose consequences of key autism gene

Mice with an extra copy of the autism risk gene UBE3A have cognitive deficits and anxiety, but do not show any core features of the condition.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

Genes, immune exposure collude to up autism risk

The interplay between a mouse’s immune system and certain mutations in her pups may increase autism-like features in the pups.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

New tool takes rapid genetic snapshot of people’s neurons

A new approach quickly captures an individual’s gene expression pattern at the level of a single neuron.

By Ann Griswold
17 November 2016 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows

The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.

By Calli McMurray
6 September 2024 | 5 min read
Capitol building
Spectrum Microphone

In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope

The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.

By Rachel Zamzow
5 September 2024 | 5 min listen
Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.

Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects

The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.

By Olivia Gieger
4 September 2024 | 6 min read