David Amaral is distinguished professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, Davis MIND Institute.
David Amaral
Director
Autism BrainNet
From this contributor
‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end
Efforts to define “frank” or “classic” forms of the condition build on several assumptions that the science has not yet borne out.
‘Prototypical autism’ research is likely a dead end
By
Deborah Fein, David Amaral, Einat Waizbard-Bartov
25 January 2024 | 8 min read
Questions for Amaral, Halladay: Boosting brainpower
A new network of brain banks aims to collect and disburse tissue donations to U.S. autism researchers.
Questions for Amaral, Halladay: Boosting brainpower
By
Katie Moisse
15 December 2015 | 6 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Dispute erupts over universal cortical brain-wave claim
The debate highlights opposing views on how the cortex transmits information.
Dispute erupts over universal cortical brain-wave claim
The debate highlights opposing views on how the cortex transmits information.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
12 December 2025 | 5 min read
Waves of calcium activity dictate eye structure in flies
Synchronized signals in non-neuronal retinal cells draw the tiny compartments of a fruit fly’s compound eye into alignment during pupal development.
Waves of calcium activity dictate eye structure in flies
Synchronized signals in non-neuronal retinal cells draw the tiny compartments of a fruit fly’s compound eye into alignment during pupal development.
By
Lauren Schneider
12 December 2025 | 0 min watch
Among brain changes studied in autism, spotlight shifts to subcortex
The striatum and thalamus are more likely than the cerebral cortex to express autism variants or bear transcriptional changes, two unpublished studies find.
Among brain changes studied in autism, spotlight shifts to subcortex
The striatum and thalamus are more likely than the cerebral cortex to express autism variants or bear transcriptional changes, two unpublished studies find.
By
Holly Barker
11 December 2025 | 5 min read