Zachary Williams

M.D./Ph.D. student
Vanderbilt University

Zack Williams is an M.D./Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, currently pursuing a joint Ph.D. in neuroscience and hearing and speech sciences. His research focuses on the development and evaluation of psychological measures for use in adults on the autism spectrum. He is particularly interested in the assessment of co-occurring psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders in autistic adults and the development of evidence-based treatments for these conditions.

From this contributor

A preschool-age child plays with a vertical sensory board to which colorful moving objects are attached.
Spectrum

Common sensory response scores may miss important variations

By Zachary Williams, Tiffany Woynaroski
22 February 2024 | 5 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Researcher hands and mice navigate a series of connected spaces and paths.
Decision-making

To understand decision-making, we need to truly challenge lab animals

Complex, multidimensional tasks that unfold over time could reveal how different brain areas work together to support decisions.

By Chand Chandrasekaran
20 April 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of lesion network mapping.
Brain imaging

‘Overdue’ debate unfurls over neuroimaging method

After a January paper questioned the validity of an approach called lesion network mapping, its users are pressure testing their results.

By Angie Voyles Askham
17 April 2026 | 8 min read
Research image of zebrafish brain activity.
Spectrum Microphone

Nearly 400 compounds affect behaviors tied to autism-linked genes in zebrafish

Estropipate, paclitaxel and levocarnitine altered behaviors tied to SCN2A and DYRK1A variants specifically, a new open-source platform revealed.

By Charles Q. Choi
16 April 2026 | 4 min read