SFN 2012

Recent articles

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Robotic tool profiles patterns of neurons

Researchers have launched a $4.3 million five-year collaborative effort to profile thousands of types of neurons in the brain, detailing their shape, signaling patterns and gene expression. The project was presented in a poster session Tuesday at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Jessica Wright
19 October 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Movement patterns may distinguish autism subgroups

Analysis of the movement patterns of people with autism suggests a new approach to classifying the disorder, as well as opportunities for individualized treatment, according to research presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
19 October 2012 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Fragile X syndrome can be treated in adulthood

Activating the expression of FMR1, the gene mutated in fragile X syndrome, in adult mice reverses symptoms of the syndrome, according to a poster presented Monday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Jessica Wright
19 October 2012 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Cognitive test highlights flexibility deficits in autism

A new cognitive test demonstrates the difficulties people with autism have with flexible thinking, according to a poster presented Wednesday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
19 October 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Study implicates ‘pleasure circuit’ in Angelman syndrome

Mice that model Angelman syndrome, an autism-related disorder, are more motivated to earn rewards than controls are, according to unpublished results presented Wednesday at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Virginia Hughes
18 October 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Imaging techniques capture real-world social interaction

Three new approaches to brain imaging, presented Tuesday at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans, allow researchers to probe how the brain responds to social situations.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
18 October 2012 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Researchers swing toward monkey models of autism

Researchers in Japan have completed the first step in creating transgenic monkey models of autism, according to a poster presented Wednesday at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Virginia Hughes
18 October 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Prenatal antibodies boost brain stem cells in mice

Prenatal exposure to antibodies collected from the mothers of children with autism boosts stem cell proliferation in the brains of mice, according to two studies presented at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in New Orleans.

By Emily Singer
18 October 2012 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Stem cell study identifies early issues in Rett syndrome

Neural stem cells derived from people with Rett syndrome show early signs of dysfunction, according to unpublished research presented at the 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting.

By Emily Singer
17 October 2012 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Video: The importance of listening with the eyes

Eyes and ears work together to help us communicate with others. In a video interview with SFARI.org, Sophie Molholm explains that this process goes awry in children with autism.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 October 2012 | 1 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Patient being administered an EEG test.

Single-neuron recordings are helping to unravel complexities of human cognition

As this work begins to bear fruit, researchers “are becoming less afraid to ask very difficult questions that you can uniquely ask in people.”

By Claudia López Lloreda
14 March 2025 | 8 min read
University of Puerto Rico building.

The future of neuroscience research at U.S. minority-serving institutions is in danger

Cuts to federally funded programs present an existential crisis for the University of Puerto Rico’s rich neuroscience community and for research at minority-serving institutions everywhere.

By Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar
14 March 2025 | 5 min read
Research image of gene expression.

Sequencing study spotlights tight web of genes tied to autism

The findings, shared in a preprint, help to illuminate how a large and heterogeneous group of genes could be involved in autism.

By Katie Moisse
13 March 2025 | 5 min read