Vocalization
Recent articles
Some minimally verbal autistic people show signs of written-language familiarity, study suggests
But researchers not involved in the work worry the findings could be used to support discredited facilitated-communication techniques.

Some minimally verbal autistic people show signs of written-language familiarity, study suggests
But researchers not involved in the work worry the findings could be used to support discredited facilitated-communication techniques.
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.

Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
Lacking autism-linked gene, female birds tune out favorite songs
The gene, FOXP1, influences an animal’s motivation to listen to social communication, a new study suggests.

Lacking autism-linked gene, female birds tune out favorite songs
The gene, FOXP1, influences an animal’s motivation to listen to social communication, a new study suggests.
Beyond the bench: Learning new moves with dancer-scientist Constantina Theofanopoulou
Theofanopoulou shares how flamenco stepped up the pace of her social-communication research, and what’s behind the ‘no fear’ ethos in her new lab.

Beyond the bench: Learning new moves with dancer-scientist Constantina Theofanopoulou
Theofanopoulou shares how flamenco stepped up the pace of her social-communication research, and what’s behind the ‘no fear’ ethos in her new lab.
New software flags autism rat model’s telltale squeaks
By breaking rodent vocalizations into parts, TrackUSF distinguishes rats with mutations in the SHANK3 gene from their wildtype counterparts.

New software flags autism rat model’s telltale squeaks
By breaking rodent vocalizations into parts, TrackUSF distinguishes rats with mutations in the SHANK3 gene from their wildtype counterparts.
Researchers publish new dataset on minimally verbal autistic people
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published the first repository of vocalizations from minimally verbal autistic people. Those with few or no spoken words still produce a range of phonemes, or units of sound, that may serve as developmental markers or intervention targets.

Researchers publish new dataset on minimally verbal autistic people
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published the first repository of vocalizations from minimally verbal autistic people. Those with few or no spoken words still produce a range of phonemes, or units of sound, that may serve as developmental markers or intervention targets.
Birdsong-related DNA sequences tied to autism-linked genes
Genes that appear to play a role in some birds' ability to learn songs are frequently mutated in autistic people.

Birdsong-related DNA sequences tied to autism-linked genes
Genes that appear to play a role in some birds' ability to learn songs are frequently mutated in autistic people.
Tuning into bird songs for clues to autism
Parallels between how birds learn to sing and how children learn to speak provide a window into the roots of language difficulties in autism.

Tuning into bird songs for clues to autism
Parallels between how birds learn to sing and how children learn to speak provide a window into the roots of language difficulties in autism.
Maternal antibodies tied to autism bind to budding rat neurons
Certain antibodies may shape neurodevelopment by attaching to and invading new neurons in the brain.

Maternal antibodies tied to autism bind to budding rat neurons
Certain antibodies may shape neurodevelopment by attaching to and invading new neurons in the brain.
Autism gene interference silences song memory in birds
Muffling expression of an autism-linked gene in a key song-related area of the brain renders young zebra finches unable to learn songs from older birds.

Autism gene interference silences song memory in birds
Muffling expression of an autism-linked gene in a key song-related area of the brain renders young zebra finches unable to learn songs from older birds.
Explore more from The Transmitter
PTEN problems underscore autism connection to excess brain fluid
Damaging variants in the autism-linked gene cause congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain—by turbocharging a downstream signaling pathway that promotes the growth of cells, according to a new study.

PTEN problems underscore autism connection to excess brain fluid
Damaging variants in the autism-linked gene cause congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain—by turbocharging a downstream signaling pathway that promotes the growth of cells, according to a new study.
U.S. health agency purge includes 10 lab heads at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The reasons for selecting these researchers—who have led work on neuronal migration, dopamine receptors in neuronal signaling and the structure of ion channels, among other areas—remain unclear.

U.S. health agency purge includes 10 lab heads at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The reasons for selecting these researchers—who have led work on neuronal migration, dopamine receptors in neuronal signaling and the structure of ion channels, among other areas—remain unclear.
Five things to know if your federal grant is terminated
If you want to appeal the decision, know the rules that govern terminations, as well as the specific rationale given in your notice, science policy experts say.

Five things to know if your federal grant is terminated
If you want to appeal the decision, know the rules that govern terminations, as well as the specific rationale given in your notice, science policy experts say.