Virginia Hughes

Freelance Writer
Simons Foundation

Virginia Hughes is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By Virginia Hughes

20 November 2014

4 min read

Monkey missing Rett gene prompts primate research debate

Scientists have created a transgenic monkey modeling Rett syndrome, they announced yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This model and others sparked a lively discussion about the relative value of animal models in research.

Spectrum

Monkey missing Rett gene prompts primate research debate

By Virginia Hughes

20 November 2014 | 4 min read

Spectrum

By Virginia Hughes

19 November 2014

3 min read

Diabetes drug is sweet cure for fragile X in fruit flies

The memory and sleep troubles that accompany fragile X syndrome originate in a glitch in insulin signaling, suggests an unpublished study of fruit flies presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The study points to a widely available diabetes treatment for the syndrome.

Spectrum

Diabetes drug is sweet cure for fragile X in fruit flies

By Virginia Hughes

19 November 2014 | 3 min read

Spectrum

By Virginia Hughes

19 November 2014

3 min read

Imaging lights up dynamics of neurons’ connections in mice

Researchers have developed a way to capture dynamic changes in the part of the neuron that sends out signals, they reported yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Spectrum

Imaging lights up dynamics of neurons’ connections in mice

By Virginia Hughes

19 November 2014 | 3 min read

Spectrum

By Virginia Hughes

18 November 2014

4 min read

Cesarean birth alters immune system, social behavior in mice

Mice born via cesarean section show subtle social deficits and increased immune and stress responses, suggesting a link between microbe exposure during birth and behavior. Researchers presented the unpublished work today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Spectrum

Cesarean birth alters immune system, social behavior in mice

By Virginia Hughes

18 November 2014 | 4 min read

Spectrum

By Virginia Hughes

18 November 2014

3 min read

Deaf mouse study hints at gap between squeaks, speech

Do mice use their high-pitched vocalizations to communicate, just as people use speech? It’s not likely, according to an unpublished study of deaf mice presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Spectrum