Megan Scudellari is a freelance writer based in Durham, North Carolina.
Megan Scudellari
Freelance Writer
SFARI
From this contributor
Brains of toddlers with autism out of sync
Many toddlers with autism have weak connections between the two sides of the brain, according to the first-ever analysis of brain connections in young children with the disorder, published 23 June in Neuron.
Autism candidate gene implicated in social deficits
Mutations in a protein called GRIP1, important for the function of synapses — the junctions between neurons — may contribute to social deficits in autism, researchers reported 22 March in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Autism candidate gene implicated in social deficits
By
Megan Scudellari
28 April 2011 | 4 min read
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‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
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5 June 2026 | 5 min read
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
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Natalia Mesa
5 June 2026 | 5 min read
Exclusive: Brain and spinal cord institute halts research, citing funding problems
The Burke Neurological Institute, which calls itself “the only research institute in the U.S. dedicated to finding treatments to repair the brain and spinal cord,” ceased research operations on 22 May.
Exclusive: Brain and spinal cord institute halts research, citing funding problems
The Burke Neurological Institute, which calls itself “the only research institute in the U.S. dedicated to finding treatments to repair the brain and spinal cord,” ceased research operations on 22 May.
By
Lauren Schenkman
4 June 2026 | 5 min read