Emily Sohn is a freelance journalist in Minneapolis. She writes mainly about health, science, adventure and complex conservation questions. Her stories have appeared in Nature, the Washington Post, NPR, Aeon, bioGraphic and many other publications. See more at www.tidepoolsinc.com.
Emily Sohn
Contributing writer
From this contributor
Maiken Nedergaard’s power of disruption
The award-winning researcher’s discoveries have changed the way we think about the brain; that’s exactly what her critics dislike.
Maiken Nedergaard’s power of disruption
By
Emily Sohn
26 February 2024 | 24 min read
Rising star: Ann Kennedy bridges gap between biology, computational theory
A theoretical neuroscientist, Kennedy uses a blend of computational modeling and real-world experiments to understand how brain activity shapes the behaviors of animals that model autism and other conditions.
Rising star: Ann Kennedy bridges gap between biology, computational theory
By
Emily Sohn
26 July 2022 | 14 min read
Low standards corrode quality of popular autism therapy
Rapid growth and inadequate standards in the 'applied behavior analysis' industry may put vulnerable children in the hands of poorly prepared technicians.
Low standards corrode quality of popular autism therapy
By
Emily Sohn
28 October 2020 | 18 min read
The blurred line between autism and intellectual disability
Doctors often conflate autism and intellectual disability, and no wonder: The biological distinction between them is murky. Scientific progress depends on knowing where the conditions intersect — and part ways.
The blurred line between autism and intellectual disability
By
Emily Sohn
15 April 2020 | 15 min read
How abuse mars the lives of autistic people
Many people with autism experience a triad of trauma: neglect at home, abuse from trusted adults and bullying at school or work.
Explore more from The Transmitter
When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 3: Would there be data?
Tempest McDonald takes a postdoctoral position at Vanderbilt University. Researching her paper accusing the National Institutes of Health of discrimination threatens everything she has built.
When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 3: Would there be data?
Tempest McDonald takes a postdoctoral position at Vanderbilt University. Researching her paper accusing the National Institutes of Health of discrimination threatens everything she has built.
By
Brady Huggett
18 June 2026 | 27 min listen
Cousin comparison parses genetic effects in autism
The approach helps reveal whether maternal genes contribute directly to autism in children or have indirect effects on the prenatal environment.
Cousin comparison parses genetic effects in autism
The approach helps reveal whether maternal genes contribute directly to autism in children or have indirect effects on the prenatal environment.
By
Charles Q. Choi
18 June 2026 | 4 min read
Single-neuron recordings zoom into ‘blurry map’ of human motor cortex
The motor cortex is organized into an "intermixed jumble of tiles" to generate meaningful movement.
Single-neuron recordings zoom into ‘blurry map’ of human motor cortex
The motor cortex is organized into an "intermixed jumble of tiles" to generate meaningful movement.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
17 June 2026 | 5 min read