Microcephaly

Recent articles

Research image of organoids derived from stem cell lines from people with intellectual disability, polymicroglia or microcephaly, alongside a control organoid.

New organoid atlas unveils four neurodevelopmental signatures

The comprehensive resource details data on microcephaly, polymicrogyria, epilepsy and intellectual disability from 352 people.

By Diana Kwon
17 December 2025 | 4 min read
Research image of fetal macaque brains.

Brain patterning in utero may be implicated in autism, other conditions

Genes tied to several conditions are expressed in regions that control neural stem cell fate within the first few months post-conception.

By Chloe Williams
1 August 2024 | 6 min read
A research image of autism-linked genes.

Autism-linked perturbations converge on cell skeleton and RNA-binding proteins

The findings solidify the idea that autism-linked mutations affect brain activity by way of several key shared mechanisms.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
29 February 2024 | 4 min read
A research image of a mouse hippocampus

Some social issues in DYRK1A model mice stem from faulty inhibitory circuits

Alterations in inhibitory circuits and difficulties in social recognition characterize mice missing one copy of DYRK1A, a gene linked to autism.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
11 October 2023 | 4 min read
A photograph of an infant's foot.

Dietary changes ease traits in rare autism-linked condition

Early treatment with nutritional supplements and a high-protein diet forestalls some neurodevelopmental problems for children with BCKDK deficiency.

By Lauren Schenkman
21 February 2023 | 5 min read

Mice without DDX3X are slow to grow neurons

The gene helps neurons exit the cell-maturation cycle during fetal brain development, a new study shows. But male and female mice respond differently to DDX3X loss.

By Laura Dattaro
17 June 2022 | 4 min read
Two colorful mouse neurons seen side by side on black, one has a mutation.

Precocious neurons may stunt brain growth in rare form of autism

The first animal model of MYT1L syndrome suggests that fast-maturing neurons lead to the unusually small brains, social deficits and other traits seen in people with the condition.

By Peter Hess
5 October 2021 | 5 min read
Immature inhibitory cells surround mature neuron.

Critical time window flagged for autism gene’s influence

A transplant of inhibitory neurons during the second week of life prevents social difficulties and a brain signaling imbalance in mice missing a copy of FOXG1.

By Laura Dattaro
16 July 2021 | 4 min read
Two views of mouse brain slices colorized in green and red.

Jump-starting growth signaling reverses microcephaly in autism mouse model

A genetic therapy and an existing drug both restore typical brain size in mice missing DYRK1A, a top autism candidate gene, in the cerebral cortex, a new study shows. The animals typically have smaller brains than controls.

By Peter Hess
29 April 2021 | 4 min read
Brain organoid with multiple stains; red and green, to indicate cells.

New method probes genes’ function in brain organoids

A screening technique tests how inactivated genes affect spheres of cultured brain cells; it could shed light on autism-linked mutations.

By Chloe Williams
16 December 2020 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

What a bird’s-eye view of half a million papers reveals about neuroscience

New research uses artificial-intellligence-driven bibliometrics to map the structural organization of neuroscience across 25 years. The field it reveals is at once thriving and theoretically adrift.

By Mac Shine
6 April 2026 | 36 min watch
Research image of fibroblasts creating a seal that separates the blood vessels in the choroid plexus from the rest of the brain.

Newly identified barrier cells seal off choroid plexus from CSF, rest of brain

A long-overlooked layer of fibroblasts exists inside the choroid plexus of mice and humans, adding complexity to the area’s compartmentalization.

By Claudia López Lloreda
3 April 2026 | 4 min read
Digital model of a fly next to a digital model of a nematode.

‘Digital sphinx’ raises questions about connectome models

The sphinx, with a worm’s brain and a fly’s body, illustrates the potential pitfalls of using deep-learning techniques to model biological processes.

By Natalia Mesa
2 April 2026 | 5 min read