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Standout neuroscience news in 2023
Did you miss any of our favorite stories from the past year? Revisit them here.

Standout neuroscience news in 2023
Did you miss any of our favorite stories from the past year? Revisit them here.
Plugging invisible gaps in the synaptic connectome
Two new maps of the roundworm nervous system detail how neurons communicate with short proteins called neuropeptides outside synapses.

Plugging invisible gaps in the synaptic connectome
Two new maps of the roundworm nervous system detail how neurons communicate with short proteins called neuropeptides outside synapses.
Controlling neurons with ultrasound: Q&A with Sreekanth Chalasani
The new method, called sonogenetics, noninvasively manipulates neural circuits in mice.
Controlling neurons with ultrasound: Q&A with Sreekanth Chalasani
The new method, called sonogenetics, noninvasively manipulates neural circuits in mice.
Fish, frogs, flies and other fauna in scientific firsts
Over the past century, scientists have used a variety of animal models to advance their understanding of the developing brain and autism.

Fish, frogs, flies and other fauna in scientific firsts
Over the past century, scientists have used a variety of animal models to advance their understanding of the developing brain and autism.
What studying worms, flies and fish says about autism
Researchers are increasingly turning to simple animals to learn about autism biology and find leads for new drugs.

What studying worms, flies and fish says about autism
Researchers are increasingly turning to simple animals to learn about autism biology and find leads for new drugs.
Stimulant restores cell signaling, eases behavior issues in animals missing autism gene
Worms and zebrafish missing both copies of the gene CHD7 have disrupted cellular signaling, a dearth of inhibitory neurons and behavior changes — all of which are reversed by the stimulant drug ephedrine.

Stimulant restores cell signaling, eases behavior issues in animals missing autism gene
Worms and zebrafish missing both copies of the gene CHD7 have disrupted cellular signaling, a dearth of inhibitory neurons and behavior changes — all of which are reversed by the stimulant drug ephedrine.
Map of fly brain lights up millions of connections
A new wiring diagram of the fruit fly brain is the most complex ever created.
Map of fly brain lights up millions of connections
A new wiring diagram of the fruit fly brain is the most complex ever created.
New maps of neuronal connections reveal roundworms’ wiring
Two new maps show the entire nervous system of the adult roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans.

New maps of neuronal connections reveal roundworms’ wiring
Two new maps show the entire nervous system of the adult roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans.
Roundworm roundup may reveal function of autism genes
Tracking how roundworms crawl has enabled scientists to determine that many autism genes are involved in sensory processing and learning.
Roundworm roundup may reveal function of autism genes
Tracking how roundworms crawl has enabled scientists to determine that many autism genes are involved in sensory processing and learning.
Wriggling worms yield clues to correcting autism mutations
Monitoring the movements of worms can point to potential treatments for autism.

Wriggling worms yield clues to correcting autism mutations
Monitoring the movements of worms can point to potential treatments for autism.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Null and Noteworthy: Neurons tracking sequences don’t fire in order
Instead, neurons encode the position of sequential items in working memory based on when they fire during ongoing brain wave oscillations—a finding that challenges a long-standing theory.

Null and Noteworthy: Neurons tracking sequences don’t fire in order
Instead, neurons encode the position of sequential items in working memory based on when they fire during ongoing brain wave oscillations—a finding that challenges a long-standing theory.
How to teach this paper: ‘Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes are induced by activated microglia,’ by Liddelow et al. (2017)
Shane Liddelow and his collaborators identified the factors that transform astrocytes from their helpful to harmful form. Their work is a great choice if you want to teach students about glial cell types, cell culture, gene expression or protein measurement.

How to teach this paper: ‘Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes are induced by activated microglia,’ by Liddelow et al. (2017)
Shane Liddelow and his collaborators identified the factors that transform astrocytes from their helpful to harmful form. Their work is a great choice if you want to teach students about glial cell types, cell culture, gene expression or protein measurement.
Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior
Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.

Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior
Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.