SFN 2016

Recent articles

Ecstasy ingredient touted as treatment for anxiety in autism

The active ingredient in the drug popularly known as ecstasy eases social anxiety in people with autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
25 September 2018 | 4 min read
extra neuronal connections may sprout from the amygdala, a brain region governing fear

In autism, brain’s emotion hub begins with too many cells

The amygdala, a brain region that governs emotions, may be enlarged and overly connected in children with autism, but it shrinks as the children grow up.

By Jessica Wright
6 April 2018 | 5 min read
A microglia cell (red), touches the signal-receiving ends of neurons (green) in the brain

Microglia may have only small appetite for synapses

Microglia come into frequent contact with synapses, the connections between neurons, but they appear to nibble on them rather than engulf and digest them.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
2 April 2018 | 5 min read
closeup of a mouse eye

Gene on chromosome 16 may be valuable player in autism

Deleting one copy of a gene called MVP impairs the brain's ability to adapt to changes in the environment.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
29 March 2018 | 4 min read

Takeaways from SfN 2016

Spectrum’s team reported about 50 stories at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego. One big theme this year: how autism relates to bigger questions in neuroscience.

By Claire Cameron
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

New test scores emotional weight of parent-child connections

Videos of mothers and their infants interacting with each other may contain clues to autism risk.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

Autism treatments may normalize brain volume in adult mice

The effects of autism mutations on brain volume might be reversible, even in a mature brain.

By Jessica Wright
17 November 2016 | 4 min read
Mouse brain hippocampus

New mice expose consequences of key autism gene

Mice with an extra copy of the autism risk gene UBE3A have cognitive deficits and anxiety, but do not show any core features of the condition.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

Genes, immune exposure collude to up autism risk

The interplay between a mouse’s immune system and certain mutations in her pups may increase autism-like features in the pups.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 November 2016 | 3 min read

New tool takes rapid genetic snapshot of people’s neurons

A new approach quickly captures an individual’s gene expression pattern at the level of a single neuron.

By Ann Griswold
17 November 2016 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Abstract illustration of a human brain.

‘Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders—and How We Can Change That,’ an excerpt

In her new book, published today, neuroscientist Nicole Rust takes us on her personal quest to spell out the brain research community's "Grand Plan."

By Nicole Rust
10 June 2025 | 9 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Convergent effects of autism-linked genes in zebrafish; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 June.

By Jill Adams
10 June 2025 | 2 min read
Research image containing repeated structures, suggesting potential image manipulation.

More than two dozen papers by neural tube researcher come under scrutiny

One of the studies, published in 2021 in Science Advances, received an editorial expression of concern on 21 May, after the journal learned that an institutional review of alleged image problems is underway.

By Claudia López Lloreda
9 June 2025 | 6 min read