CNTNAP2

Recent articles

Research image showing cell activity in a particular region of the mouse thalamus.

Sensory gatekeeper drives seizures, autism-like behaviors in mouse model

The new work, in mice missing the autism-linked gene CNTNAP2, suggests a mechanism to help explain the overlap between epilepsy and autism.

By Diana Kwon
11 September 2025 | 5 min listen
Research video of a zebrafish larva (zoomed in on the gut) being given glucose.

On the periphery: Thinking ‘outside the brain’ offers new ideas about autism

Neuronal alterations outside the brain may help to explain a host of the condition’s characteristic traits, including sensory changes, gut problems and motor differences.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
13 April 2023 | 20 min read
lllustration of the junction between two nerve cells.

Multi-omics study captures CNTNAP2’s far-ranging effects

The in-depth approach shows mutations in the autism-linked gene disrupt neuronal growth and communication, as well as mitochondrial gene expression.

By Charles Q. Choi
8 December 2022 | 4 min read
A white mouse sits on a nest against a blue background.

Mouse models help sniff out olfactory differences in autism

A range of presentations at Neuroscience 2022 tie atypical social behavior to trouble discriminating between odors in the animals.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
16 November 2022 | 5 min read
Scans of mouse brain slices showing differences in oxytocin levels

Oxytocin alters brain activity to boost sociability in mice missing autism gene

Infusions of the hormone oxytocin may make mice that model autism more social by normalizing their brain activity patterns.

By Alla Katsnelson
20 January 2022 | 3 min read
Photograph of a researcher holding a zebra finch.

Fish, frogs, flies and other fauna in scientific firsts

Over the past century, scientists have used a variety of animal models to advance their understanding of the developing brain and autism.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
8 September 2021 | 1 min read
A lighthearted, colorful, chaotic lab scene with fruit flies flying in formation, worms peeking out of piles of dirt and zebrafish spilling out of beakers.

What studying worms, flies and fish says about autism

Researchers are increasingly turning to simple animals to learn about autism biology and find leads for new drugs.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
8 September 2021 | 27 min listen
brainstem of rats in red, green and blue highlight higher levels of GABA.

GABA agonist rescues auditory hypersensitivity in rats missing autism-linked gene CNTNAP2

The investigational drug arbaclofen may right an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory signaling in the animals’ brains.

By Peter Hess
3 May 2021 | 2 min read
Neurons in cerebella of mice with fewer branches and spines.

Cerebellum alterations crop up in mice missing autism gene

Deleting the autism-linked gene CNTNAP2 from mice leads to distinct cellular and electrical changes in the cerebellum, according to two unpublished studies presented virtually today at the 2021 Society for Neuroscience Global Connectome.

By Peter Hess
12 January 2021 | 3 min read

‘MoSeq’ identifies drug-specific behaviors in autism mouse model

A tool that relies on video cameras and machine learning can identify mice that have mutations in a top autism gene by their behaviors. It also detects how a widely used autism drug affects their movements.

By Peter Hess
2 November 2020 | 6 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

A worm made of circuitry.

Whole-brain, bottom-up neuroscience: The time for it is now

Applying new tools to entire brains, starting with C. elegans, offers the opportunity to uncover how molecules work together to generate neural physiology and how neurons work together to generate behavior.

By Edward Boyden, Konrad Körding
20 October 2025 | 9 min read
Collage of fruit fly and money.

Fly database secures funding for another year, but future remains in flux

The FlyBase team’s fundraising efforts have proven successful in the short term, but restoration of its federal grant remains uncertain.

By Calli McMurray
17 October 2025 | 3 min read
Nachum Ulanovsky sits against a black background with one bat in his hands and another with its wings spread above his head.

Diving in with Nachum Ulanovsky

With an eye toward realism, the neuroscientist, who has a new study about bats out today, creates microcosms of the natural world to understand animal behavior.

By Claudia López Lloreda
16 October 2025 | 14 min listen

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