Emily Anthes is a freelance science journalist and author based in Brooklyn, New York. She writes news stories for The Transmitter. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Nature and elsewhere. Her book, “Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts,” was published in March 2013. She has a master’s degree in science writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in the history of science and medicine from Yale.

Emily Anthes
Contributing Writer
Spectrum
From this contributor
Extra proteins alter microglia and behavior in mice
The overproduction of proteins in brain cells called microglia causes social impairments, cognitive deficits and repetitive behavior in male mice, a new study has found.

Extra proteins alter microglia and behavior in mice
Popular autism screening tool is unreliable, study suggests
A short, widely used screening survey for autism called the AQ-10 may not be reliable for measuring traits of the condition in the general population.

Popular autism screening tool is unreliable, study suggests
Little-known gene tied to autism, developmental delay
Rare mutations in a gene called BAZ2B are associated with various conditions of brain development, including autism.

Little-known gene tied to autism, developmental delay
Sponsors of clinical trials may report data late or never
Many clinical trials, including those related to autism, do not report their results within a year of their completion.

Sponsors of clinical trials may report data late or never
Autism-linked gene variants increase odds of attention deficit
A collection of rare genetic variants associated with autism and schizophrenia also seem to increase a person's odds of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Autism-linked gene variants increase odds of attention deficit
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Bespoke photometry system captures variety of dopamine signals in mice
The tool tracks the excitation of an engineered protein that senses dopamine’s absolute levels, including fast and slow fluctuations in real time, and offers new insights into how the signals change across the brain.

Bespoke photometry system captures variety of dopamine signals in mice
The tool tracks the excitation of an engineered protein that senses dopamine’s absolute levels, including fast and slow fluctuations in real time, and offers new insights into how the signals change across the brain.
What infant fMRI is revealing about the developing mind
Cognitive neuroscientists have finally clocked how to perform task-based functional MRI experiments in awake babies—long known for their inability to lie still or take direction. Next, they aim to watch cognition take shape and settle a debate about our earliest memories—with one group publishing a big clue today.

What infant fMRI is revealing about the developing mind
Cognitive neuroscientists have finally clocked how to perform task-based functional MRI experiments in awake babies—long known for their inability to lie still or take direction. Next, they aim to watch cognition take shape and settle a debate about our earliest memories—with one group publishing a big clue today.
Molecular changes after MECP2 loss may drive Rett syndrome traits
Knocking out the gene in adult mice triggered up- and down-regulated expression of myriad genes weeks before there were changes in neuronal function.

Molecular changes after MECP2 loss may drive Rett syndrome traits
Knocking out the gene in adult mice triggered up- and down-regulated expression of myriad genes weeks before there were changes in neuronal function.