Community newsletter

Recent articles

Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Neural recordings in freely moving mice; MBD5 variant

Researchers took to social media to discuss a new tool for recording brain activity in freely moving mice and a study linking a mutation in the gene MBD5 to epilepsy and intellectual disability. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
10 September 2023 | 4 min read
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Neuropixels probe; sex differences in brain anatomy

Researchers on social media reacted to a new version of the Neuropixels probe and a study of sex differences in the brain. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
3 September 2023 | 5 min read
Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Cerebral cortex genetics; calcium imaging of astrocytes

This week on social media, researchers discussed a genome-wide association study of the human cerebral cortex, how astrocytes integrate calcium signals, and more.

By Michael Fergenson
27 August 2023 | 5 min read
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Mitochondria and anxiety; brain structure in autism

Researchers reacted to a study of brain mitochondria and behavior in mice and a study of brain structure differences in autism and other conditions. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
20 August 2023 | 4 min read
Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Cognitive mapping; PTEN in peripheral nerves

Researchers took to social media to discuss how cognitive maps form during learning. There was also talk about a study of peripheral nerves in mice missing PTEN, an autism-linked gene. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
13 August 2023 | 4 min read
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

NeuroDev retrospective; repetitive behaviors in fragile X mice

A look back at NeuroDev’s first year gathering genomic and phenotypic data in Kenya and South Africa and a study on an underlying cause of repetitive behaviors in fragile X model mice absorbed researchers’ attention on social media this week. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
6 August 2023 | 4 min read
Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Sensory traits in fragile X; epidurals and autism

This week on social media, researchers discussed research on sensory issues in fragile X mice, and they considered yet another study of epidurals and autism. That and more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
30 July 2023 | 4 min read
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Stress response in neurons; quantitative bioimaging tutorial

Researchers discussed a study of the integrated stress response in fragile X syndrome and a new how-to guide for quantitative bioimaging — plus more in this week’s Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
23 July 2023 | 4 min read
Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

‘wildDISCO’ whole-mouse mapping; high-resolution imaging of living brain tissue

A new technique to map the entire body of a mouse and a high-resolution 4D imaging method for living brain tissue samples piqued researchers’ interest on social media this week — that and more in this issue of Community Newsletter.

By Michael Fergenson
16 July 2023 | 4 min read
Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Community Newsletter: Neuroimaging study size; fragile X RNA

This week on social media, researchers discussed sample size in neuroimaging studies and the potential of antisense oligonucleotides to restore the protein lost in fragile X syndrome.

By Michael Fergenson
9 July 2023 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Photograph of Floyd Bloom.

Remembering the life of neuropharmacologist Floyd Bloom

The co-author of the classic textbook “The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology” and pioneer in studying the roles of neurotransmitters in the brain died on 8 January at 88 years old.

By Sydney Wyatt
24 January 2025 | 7 min read
Research image of circuits emerging from striosomes in the striatum.

Newly characterized striatal circuits add twist to ‘go/no-go’ model of movement control

The two novel pathways control dopamine release in opposing ways and may link motivation and mood to action, a new study shows.

By Claudia López Lloreda
24 January 2025 | 4 min read
Research image of cells lacking microexon 4.

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.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
23 January 2025 | 4 min read