Katherine Bourzac
Freelance Writer
Simons Foundation
From this contributor
Child development: The first steps
Because infants born into families with autism are more likely to develop the condition, studying them might lead to ways to diagnose people in the general population earlier.
Birth weight predicts brain size later in life, study says
Heavier newborns have larger brains later in life, and a larger cerebral cortex — the brain region responsible for high-level functions such as consciousness and language. The findings, published 19 November in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are the first to assess birth weight’s connection to brain development.
Birth weight predicts brain size later in life, study says
Long-term studies chart autism’s different trajectories
Two new studies that follow the development of children with autism suggest that distinct subgroups of the disorder exist early on, and that the severity of symptoms in most of these children remains stable over time.
Long-term studies chart autism’s different trajectories
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.
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.
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.