Vocalization
Recent articles
Some minimally verbal autistic people show signs of written-language familiarity, study suggests
But researchers not involved in the work worry the findings could be used to support discredited facilitated-communication techniques.
![Conceptual image of colorful falling letters, casting shadows on a white wall.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Non-speaking-autism-1200-1024x692.webp)
Some minimally verbal autistic people show signs of written-language familiarity, study suggests
But researchers not involved in the work worry the findings could be used to support discredited facilitated-communication techniques.
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
![Research image of neurons.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1200-lede-foxp2-autism.png)
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
Lacking autism-linked gene, female birds tune out favorite songs
The gene, FOXP1, influences an animal’s motivation to listen to social communication, a new study suggests.
![Research image showing FOXP1 gene expression in female zebra finch brains.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/844-Foxp1-finches-lede.png)
Lacking autism-linked gene, female birds tune out favorite songs
The gene, FOXP1, influences an animal’s motivation to listen to social communication, a new study suggests.
Beyond the bench: Learning new moves with dancer-scientist Constantina Theofanopoulou
Theofanopoulou shares how flamenco stepped up the pace of her social-communication research, and what’s behind the ‘no fear’ ethos in her new lab.
![Constantina Theofanopoulou strikes a dancer's pose in her lab.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Constantina-Theofanopoulou-portrait-lab-autism-844.jpg)
Beyond the bench: Learning new moves with dancer-scientist Constantina Theofanopoulou
Theofanopoulou shares how flamenco stepped up the pace of her social-communication research, and what’s behind the ‘no fear’ ethos in her new lab.
New software flags autism rat model’s telltale squeaks
By breaking rodent vocalizations into parts, TrackUSF distinguishes rats with mutations in the SHANK3 gene from their wildtype counterparts.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/trackusf-toolbox-rat-model-autism-lede-844.png)
New software flags autism rat model’s telltale squeaks
By breaking rodent vocalizations into parts, TrackUSF distinguishes rats with mutations in the SHANK3 gene from their wildtype counterparts.
Researchers publish new dataset on minimally verbal autistic people
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published the first repository of vocalizations from minimally verbal autistic people. Those with few or no spoken words still produce a range of phonemes, or units of sound, that may serve as developmental markers or intervention targets.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/844_Minimally-Verbal-Autism.jpeg)
Researchers publish new dataset on minimally verbal autistic people
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published the first repository of vocalizations from minimally verbal autistic people. Those with few or no spoken words still produce a range of phonemes, or units of sound, that may serve as developmental markers or intervention targets.
Birdsong-related DNA sequences tied to autism-linked genes
Genes that appear to play a role in some birds' ability to learn songs are frequently mutated in autistic people.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Finch-844.jpg)
Birdsong-related DNA sequences tied to autism-linked genes
Genes that appear to play a role in some birds' ability to learn songs are frequently mutated in autistic people.
Tuning into bird songs for clues to autism
Parallels between how birds learn to sing and how children learn to speak provide a window into the roots of language difficulties in autism.
![Colorful illustration shows a boy talking and a bird singing, with the sounds merging between them.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/1970/01/Finch844.jpg)
Tuning into bird songs for clues to autism
Parallels between how birds learn to sing and how children learn to speak provide a window into the roots of language difficulties in autism.
Maternal antibodies tied to autism bind to budding rat neurons
Certain antibodies may shape neurodevelopment by attaching to and invading new neurons in the brain.
![Brown rat mother and pup in rustic setting with burlap and wheat.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MaternalAutoantibodies-844.jpg)
Maternal antibodies tied to autism bind to budding rat neurons
Certain antibodies may shape neurodevelopment by attaching to and invading new neurons in the brain.
Autism gene interference silences song memory in birds
Muffling expression of an autism-linked gene in a key song-related area of the brain renders young zebra finches unable to learn songs from older birds.
![Singing zebra finches](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/20210219-ZebraFinchSongs-844.jpg)
Autism gene interference silences song memory in birds
Muffling expression of an autism-linked gene in a key song-related area of the brain renders young zebra finches unable to learn songs from older birds.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Protein aggregates gum up ‘master regulator’ of autism-linked genes
The regulator, CPEB4, typically controls protein production for hundreds of autism-linked genes, but an alternative version of it found in autistic people forms irreversible clumps and malfunctions.
![Research image of cells lacking microexon 4.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1200-prep-1-1024x683.png)
Protein aggregates gum up ‘master regulator’ of autism-linked genes
The regulator, CPEB4, typically controls protein production for hundreds of autism-linked genes, but an alternative version of it found in autistic people forms irreversible clumps and malfunctions.
Digitization of ‘breathtaking’ neuroanatomy slide collection offers untapped research gold mine
Thousands of histological sections of vertebrate brains—including from spiny dogfish, turtles and more—are newly available online.
![Violet-stained neurons in a serial transverse section from an embryonic spiny dogfish, a bottom-dwelling shark.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Dogfish-lede-1200-1024x692.png)
Digitization of ‘breathtaking’ neuroanatomy slide collection offers untapped research gold mine
Thousands of histological sections of vertebrate brains—including from spiny dogfish, turtles and more—are newly available online.
Personalized medicine; astroglia organoids; fast track for fragile X drug
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 January.
![Research image of brain organoids with astroglia formation represented in green.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-spotted-20250121-1024x683.png)
Personalized medicine; astroglia organoids; fast track for fragile X drug
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 January.