headshot of David Amaral.

David Amaral

Director
Autism BrainNet

David Amaral is distinguished professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, Davis MIND Institute.

From this contributor

An illustration of a magnifying glass, checklists, and anonymous figures.
Spectrum

‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end

By Deborah Fein, David Amaral, Einat Waizbard-Bartov
25 January 2024 | 8 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.
Spectrum

Questions for Amaral, Halladay: Boosting brainpower

By Katie Moisse
15 December 2015 | 6 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of proliferating neural cells.
Spectrum

Diverse autism genes derail common developmental pathways

Multiple genetic mouse models initially show delayed cortical development, but the animals’ molecular trajectories diverge within weeks after birth, a new study finds.

By Holly Barker
8 July 2026 | 5 min read
Brain scans showing sex-based activation differences.
Sex differences

Brain’s sex differences are subtle and contradictory, large MRI study finds

Sex-based behavioral differences do not match with variations in brain activation or structure in a study of almost 1,000 people.

By Lauren Schenkman
8 July 2026 | 5 min read
Research image of autism-linked gene PTEN changes in neurons.
Spectrum

A consensus on the definition of profound autism, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 July.

By Sarah Thau
7 July 2026 | 2 min read