David Amaral is distinguished professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, Davis MIND Institute.
David Amaral
Director
Autism BrainNet
From this contributor
‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end
Efforts to define “frank” or “classic” forms of the condition build on several assumptions that the science has not yet borne out.
‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end
By
Deborah Fein, David Amaral, Einat Waizbard-Bartov
25 January 2024 | 8 min read
Questions for Amaral, Halladay: Boosting brainpower
A new network of brain banks aims to collect and disburse tissue donations to U.S. autism researchers.
Questions for Amaral, Halladay: Boosting brainpower
By
Katie Moisse
15 December 2015 | 6 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
‘Unbelievably beautiful’ evidence extends Nobel Prize-winning model of vision
Orientation tuning—the ability to distinguish a horizontal line from a vertical one or something in between—originates in the visual cortex, according to new mouse synapse imaging experiments.
‘Unbelievably beautiful’ evidence extends Nobel Prize-winning model of vision
Orientation tuning—the ability to distinguish a horizontal line from a vertical one or something in between—originates in the visual cortex, according to new mouse synapse imaging experiments.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
29 May 2026 | 5 min read
Bringing basic biology back to INSAR
As the International Society for Autism Research has grown over the past two decades, basic science has become less central, Christine Wu Nordahl says. This year, she and other meeting organizers aimed to change that.
Bringing basic biology back to INSAR
As the International Society for Autism Research has grown over the past two decades, basic science has become less central, Christine Wu Nordahl says. This year, she and other meeting organizers aimed to change that.
By
Diana Kwon
28 May 2026 | 6 min read
Every neuroscience lab needs an ethicist
The ethics issues that arise in neuroscience research are usually novel, unresolved and understudied. Embedding ethicists in labs helps scientists navigate these challenges and develop strategies in real time to prevent harm.
Every neuroscience lab needs an ethicist
The ethics issues that arise in neuroscience research are usually novel, unresolved and understudied. Embedding ethicists in labs helps scientists navigate these challenges and develop strategies in real time to prevent harm.
By
Timothy E. Brown
27 May 2026 | 5 min read