Courtney Humphries is a freelance writer based in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
Courtney Humphries
Freelance Writer
SFARI.org
From this contributor
Noncoding gene linked to autism
Researchers have identified a noncoding RNA, a genetic message that is not translated into a protein, that may be involved in autism. The discovery, published 4 April in Science Translational Medicine, came from examining a region on chromosome 5 that has been previously linked to the disorder.
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The illusion of AI consciousness: Lessons from human unconscious processing
Complex, goal-directed and even emotionally responsive behavior can unfold without awareness, providing a useful lens for interpreting artificial systems.
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‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
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Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
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The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
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Natalia Mesa
5 June 2026 | 5 min read