Signs and Symptoms
Recent articles
Exploring the connection between autism and sleep
The Transmitter rounds up the latest research on autism and sleep.
![Illustration of a child asleep with brainwave-like lines superimposed above them.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-spectrum-autism-sleep-roundup-1024x683.webp)
Exploring the connection between autism and sleep
The Transmitter rounds up the latest research on autism and sleep.
Looking at eye tracking’s potential for clinical trials
This month’s Going on Trial newsletter explores how eye tracking might be used beyond helping with diagnosis, among other drug development news.
![A hand reaches from above to add a pill to a stack that is resting against the x-axis of a graph.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/844-going-on-trial-autism-drugs-01.jpg)
Looking at eye tracking’s potential for clinical trials
This month’s Going on Trial newsletter explores how eye tracking might be used beyond helping with diagnosis, among other drug development news.
Mental health issues emerge with shifts in autism traits across childhood
Anxiety and other challenges autistic children experience may stem from an increase in social-communication issues and a decrease in repetitive behaviors from ages 6 to 11.
![A young boy sits alone on a bench in a playground.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-autism-mental-health-issues-childhood.webp)
Mental health issues emerge with shifts in autism traits across childhood
Anxiety and other challenges autistic children experience may stem from an increase in social-communication issues and a decrease in repetitive behaviors from ages 6 to 11.
‘Social touch’ responses in mice gauged with unprecedented control
A new tool could help decipher the brain circuits underlying aversion to social touch, which is common in people with autism.
![Two mice touching.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-final-social-touch-assay-autism-1.png)
‘Social touch’ responses in mice gauged with unprecedented control
A new tool could help decipher the brain circuits underlying aversion to social touch, which is common in people with autism.
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Synaptic changes in the brain region could drive a core trait of fragile X syndrome, a new mouse study suggests.
![Research image of neurons in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-striatum-signaling-repetitive-behaviors-autism.png)
Skewed signaling in striatum may spawn repetitive behaviors
Synaptic changes in the brain region could drive a core trait of fragile X syndrome, a new mouse study suggests.
High prevalence of developmental delay strains Australia’s support systems
The nation needs to build capacity to support the roughly 20 percent of children in Australia who have developmental delay.
![Young child stacks colored blocks on a table.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Motor-autism-development-811-1-1024x692.jpg)
High prevalence of developmental delay strains Australia’s support systems
The nation needs to build capacity to support the roughly 20 percent of children in Australia who have developmental delay.
Social skills decline during adolescence for a sliver of autistic youth
Most children with the condition, however, gain communication and social abilities over time.
![Five high-school-aged students sit on a bench looking at notebooks and a laptop.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200-lede-developmental-trajectories-communication-social-autism.png)
Social skills decline during adolescence for a sliver of autistic youth
Most children with the condition, however, gain communication and social abilities over time.
Amy Wetherby: Impatient for progress
A speech-language pathologist by training, Wetherby has spent more than four decades developing tools to help identify and treat autism early; now her work has taken on a more personal sense of urgency.
![Illustrated portrait of Amy Wetherby.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1200-amy-wetherby-lede-2-autism.jpg)
Amy Wetherby: Impatient for progress
A speech-language pathologist by training, Wetherby has spent more than four decades developing tools to help identify and treat autism early; now her work has taken on a more personal sense of urgency.
The story of autism research in Australia: A conversation with Cheryl Dissanayake
With the help of a generous benefactor, autism research in Australia is gathering critical mass.
![Black and white watercolor-style portrait of Cheryl Dissanayake.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1200-Dissanayake-autism-podcast.jpg)
The story of autism research in Australia: A conversation with Cheryl Dissanayake
With the help of a generous benefactor, autism research in Australia is gathering critical mass.
Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects
Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?
![Illustration of half of a brain on the left and half of a heart on the right](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1200-trends-heart-defects-autism-1.jpg)
Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects
Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?
Explore more from The Transmitter
NeuroAI and the hidden complexity of agency
As we attempt to build autonomous artificial-intelligence systems, we're discovering that a capability we take for granted in animals may be much more complex than we imagined.
![Image of squirrels on a branch.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NeuroAI-Agency-Zador-1200-1024x692.png)
NeuroAI and the hidden complexity of agency
As we attempt to build autonomous artificial-intelligence systems, we're discovering that a capability we take for granted in animals may be much more complex than we imagined.
Plaque levels differ in popular Alzheimer’s mouse model depending on which parent’s variants are passed down
5XFAD model mice that inherit two disease-related genes from their fathers have double the plaques seen in those with maternal inheritance, a new study shows.
Plaque levels differ in popular Alzheimer’s mouse model depending on which parent’s variants are passed down
5XFAD model mice that inherit two disease-related genes from their fathers have double the plaques seen in those with maternal inheritance, a new study shows.
‘Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s,’ an excerpt
In his new book, published today, investigative journalist Charles Piller tells the story of the scientific misconduct that shook Alzheimer’s disease research to its core, and the neuroscientist who helped to expose it.
![The word Doctored spelled out on pills.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Pillar-Doctored-1200V2-1024x692.png)
‘Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s,’ an excerpt
In his new book, published today, investigative journalist Charles Piller tells the story of the scientific misconduct that shook Alzheimer’s disease research to its core, and the neuroscientist who helped to expose it.