Maaisha Osman was the Spring 2023 editorial intern at Spectrum, writing articles about the latest in autism research. She graduated from the Northeastern Journalism School in Boston, Massachusetts, and was an editor at Storybench — a digital publication on media innovation. Her work has appeared in STAT, The Bay State Banner and other local news outlets in Boston. You can find her on Twitter @MaaishaO.
Maaisha Osman
Former news intern
Spectrum
From this contributor
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
By
Laura Dattaro, Maaisha Osman
28 July 2023 | 3 min read
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
Minimally verbal autistic preschoolers gained new words and phrases in a head-to-head comparison of two interventions.
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
By
Maaisha Osman
2 June 2023 | 4 min read
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
Autistic people tend to drop out of Medicaid once they reach adulthood in states that don’t waive the income restrictions on enrollment.
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
By
Maaisha Osman
26 May 2023 | 3 min read
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
Autistic toddlers who receive a personalized intervention at about 18 months of age gain more abilities than those who start the therapy nine months later.
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
By
Maaisha Osman
16 May 2023 | 4 min read
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
A growing proportion of researchers has reached such “super principal investigator” status, but the distribution is not even across demographic groups.
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
By
Maaisha Osman
5 May 2023 | 4 min read
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Head direction cells stably orient mice to outside world
The cells’ representations show little drift over time—unlike those of other navigation system neurons—and may provide a “rigid backbone” for more flexible sensory and cognitive responses.
Head direction cells stably orient mice to outside world
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Angie Voyles Askham
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Juan Gallego discusses how manifolds are transforming our understanding of the coordination of neuronal population activity
A wealth of evidence supports the view that neural manifolds are real and useful, Gallego says, even if they may not completely solve the age-old mind-body problem.
Juan Gallego discusses how manifolds are transforming our understanding of the coordination of neuronal population activity
A wealth of evidence supports the view that neural manifolds are real and useful, Gallego says, even if they may not completely solve the age-old mind-body problem.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
25 March 2026 | 121 min listen
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
The glial cells’ activity reliably tracks with freezing, hesitancy and other behaviors reminiscent of anxiety.
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
The glial cells’ activity reliably tracks with freezing, hesitancy and other behaviors reminiscent of anxiety.
By
Holly Barker
24 March 2026 | 4 min read