2012: Year in review
Recent articles
What stood out to you in 2012?
We packaged the year’s research highlights from our vantage point. What advances stood out to you in 2012? And where do you see the field going?

What stood out to you in 2012?
We packaged the year’s research highlights from our vantage point. What advances stood out to you in 2012? And where do you see the field going?
Top tools and techniques of 2012
2012 saw many new exciting — and often colorful — technical advances, ranging from tools that build brains from the cell up to robots that can replace neuroscientists.

Top tools and techniques of 2012
2012 saw many new exciting — and often colorful — technical advances, ranging from tools that build brains from the cell up to robots that can replace neuroscientists.
Drugs in development for autism
A look at various drugs attempting to address autism and their stages of development.

Drugs in development for autism
A look at various drugs attempting to address autism and their stages of development.

Predictions for 2013
Take a look through SFARI.org’s crystal ball to predict major developments in autism research in 2013.

Predictions for 2013
Take a look through SFARI.org’s crystal ball to predict major developments in autism research in 2013.
Most-viewed articles of 2012
A list of the ten stories that most caught our readers’ attention this year.

Most-viewed articles of 2012
A list of the ten stories that most caught our readers’ attention this year.
Hot topics in 2012
New candidate genes, drugs in development and diagnostic debates were just a few of the themes that garnered intense interest this year.

Hot topics in 2012
New candidate genes, drugs in development and diagnostic debates were just a few of the themes that garnered intense interest this year.
Director’s column: 2012 in review
SFARI director Gerald Fischbach comments on the year’s most notable papers.

Director’s column: 2012 in review
SFARI director Gerald Fischbach comments on the year’s most notable papers.
Notable papers of 2012
Among a wealth of exciting research, ten sets of papers made an impact this year.

Notable papers of 2012
Among a wealth of exciting research, ten sets of papers made an impact this year.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Emotion research has a communication conundrum
In 2025, the words we use to describe emotions matter, but their definitions are controversial. Here, I unpack the different positions in this space and the rationales behind them—and I invite 13 experts to chime in.

Emotion research has a communication conundrum
In 2025, the words we use to describe emotions matter, but their definitions are controversial. Here, I unpack the different positions in this space and the rationales behind them—and I invite 13 experts to chime in.
Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.

Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.
Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.

Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.