Megan Scudellari

Freelance Writer
SFARI

Megan Scudellari is a freelance writer based in Durham, North Carolina.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By Megan Scudellari

11 July 2011

5 min read

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

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.

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Spectrum

Brains of toddlers with autism out of sync

By Megan Scudellari

11 July 2011 | 5 min read

Spectrum

By Megan Scudellari

28 April 2011

4 min read

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

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.

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Spectrum

Autism candidate gene implicated in social deficits

By Megan Scudellari

28 April 2011 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Spectrum

By Giorgia Guglielmi

12 November 2026

4 min read

Research image showing genes containing microexons in mice.

Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing

The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.

Research image showing genes containing microexons in mice.

Spectrum

Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing

The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.

By Giorgia Guglielmi

12 November 2026 | 4 min read

Systems neuroscience

By Natalia Mesa

11 November 2026

10 min read

Illustration of two overlapping speech bubbles patterned with blue and pink horizontal lines on a background of pink and brown horizontal lines.

Future of AI brain models sparks debate

Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.

Illustration of two overlapping speech bubbles patterned with blue and pink horizontal lines on a background of pink and brown horizontal lines.

Systems neuroscience

Future of AI brain models sparks debate

Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.

By Natalia Mesa

11 November 2026 | 10 min read

Spectrum

By Jill Adams

10 November 2026

2 min read

Scans of brains using the OPM-MEG method.

Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.

Scans of brains using the OPM-MEG method.

Spectrum

Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.

By Jill Adams

10 November 2026 | 2 min read