Michael Platt is James S. Riepe University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Platt
Professor
University of Pennsylvania
From this contributor
Friends of friends: How monkey island’s residents bonded after Hurricane Maria
On 20 September 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over Puerto Rico’s Cayo Santiago Island, home to more than 1,500 non-native rhesus macaques. After the storm, the monkeys formed new, unexpected relationships in ways that could offer clues about autism.
Friends of friends: How monkey island’s residents bonded after Hurricane Maria
By
Peter Hess
13 April 2021 | 10 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Brain’s blue spot possesses unexpected structure-function ties
The spatial arrangement of neurons in the locus coeruleus of mice corresponds with the cells’ targets across the brain, according to a new study.
Brain’s blue spot possesses unexpected structure-function ties
The spatial arrangement of neurons in the locus coeruleus of mice corresponds with the cells’ targets across the brain, according to a new study.
By
Holly Barker
25 May 2026 | 4 min read
In memoriam: Howard Fields, pain research pioneer
Over six decades, Fields mapped out the circuits of both pain and addiction.
In memoriam: Howard Fields, pain research pioneer
Over six decades, Fields mapped out the circuits of both pain and addiction.
By
Natalia Mesa
22 May 2026 | 7 min read
Still no proof for facilitated spelling methods
A systematic review into whether the “rapid prompting method” or “spelling to communicate” can help autistic people express themselves comes up empty yet again.
Still no proof for facilitated spelling methods
A systematic review into whether the “rapid prompting method” or “spelling to communicate” can help autistic people express themselves comes up empty yet again.
By
Brendan Borrell
21 May 2026 | 6 min read