Holly Barker is a freelance writer specializing in biology, medicine and psychology. She has a Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience from King’s College London in the United Kingdom and a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from the University of Manchester. She has previously written for Discover and BioNews. She is based in London.
Holly Barker
Contributing writer
From this contributor
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
The glial cells’ activity reliably tracks with freezing, hesitancy and other behaviors reminiscent of anxiety.
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
By
Holly Barker
24 March 2026 | 4 min read
Revised statistical bar extracts less-common variants from autism genetics studies
Adjusting genetic analyses could help plug autism’s heritability gap, according to a new preprint.
Revised statistical bar extracts less-common variants from autism genetics studies
By
Holly Barker
12 March 2026 | 4 min read
Astrocytes orchestrate oxytocin’s social effects in mice
The cells amplify oxytocin—and may be responsible for sex differences in social behavior, two preprints find.
Astrocytes orchestrate oxytocin’s social effects in mice
By
Holly Barker
4 March 2026 | 5 min read
Aging neurons outsource garbage disposal, clog microglia
Degradation-resistant proteins pass from neurons to glial cells in a process that may spread protein clumps around the brain, according to a study in mice.
Aging neurons outsource garbage disposal, clog microglia
By
Holly Barker
10 February 2026 | 5 min read
‘Tour de force’ study flags fount of interneurons in human brain
The newly discovered cell type might point to the origins of the inhibitory imbalance linked to autism and other conditions.
‘Tour de force’ study flags fount of interneurons in human brain
By
Holly Barker
29 January 2026 | 4 min read
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At 25, INSAR needs to bring autism scientists together more than ever
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22 April 2026 | 5 min read
Autism experts venture to set the narrative for INSAR, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 20 April.
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Jill Adams
21 April 2026 | 2 min read
Frameshift: How Mia Thomaidou tapped a fellowship to connect neuroscience to criminal justice
As a fellow at the Dana Foundation, she merged two familiar passions and discovered a new one: science philanthropy.
Frameshift: How Mia Thomaidou tapped a fellowship to connect neuroscience to criminal justice
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21 April 2026 | 6 min read