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The latest developments in neuroscience

Illustration of a mouse with cheese on its left and a drop of water on its right.

Should I stay (and eat) or should I go? How the brain balances hunger with competing drives

Understanding the interplay among rival signals, such as pain, thirst and fear, could provide insights into anxiety and other neuropsychiatric conditions.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
11 October 2024 | 8 min read
Licorice and red candy against a lavender background.

Double-duty neurons in primary olfactory cortex pick up on more than just scent

The cells recognize not only odors, such as bananas and black licorice—but also images and words associated with those smells, according to single-neuron recordings from 17 people.

By Angie Voyles Askham
9 October 2024 | 7 min read
Bret Rutherford.

Former Columbia University psychiatrist committed research misconduct, says federal watchdog

Bret Rutherford, whose research was halted following a suicide in a clinical trial, falsely reported participant eligibility, according to the U.S. Office of Research Integrity.

By Brendan Borrell, Ellie Kincaid
8 October 2024 | 3 min read
Research image of neuronal firing in cultured cells.

Aggression; Angelman syndrome; NLGN3

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 7 October.

By Jill Adams
8 October 2024 | 2 min read
Illustration of hands sewing red and white threads in a DNA-like pattern into a blue-gray fabric.

Untangling biological threads from autism’s phenotypic patchwork reveals four core subtypes

People belonging to the same subtype share genetic variants, behaviors and often co-occurring diagnoses, according to a new preprint.

By Holly Barker
3 October 2024 | 5 min read
Research image of neurons.

CRISPR upregulation of genes; interneuron migration; maternal COVID-19 exposure

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 30 September.

By Jill Adams
1 October 2024 | 2 min read
Photograph of a sea robin against a black background.

How ‘walking fish’ feel, taste hidden food with their legs

Fins-turned-legs in sea robins are innervated with touch-sensitive neurons and taste-receptor-rich cells that can detect prey buried in the sand, according to new research.

By Shaena Montanari
26 September 2024 | 5 min read

Octopus arm anatomy, molecular makeup revealed in new maps

The datasets provide “a very nice reference” for future functional studies.

By Calli McMurray
25 September 2024 | 1 min watch
Research image displaying functional connectivity in zebrafish forebrains.

FOXG1 gene therapy; oligodendrocytes; stereotyped movements

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 23 September.

By Jill Adams
24 September 2024 | 2 min read
Photograph of a child sitting at a laptop and performing an executive function test.

Brain imaging at the fair with Ka Ip

Does environment affect how children from diverse backgrounds perform on tests of executive function? Ip went to the Minnesota State Fair to find out.

By Angie Voyles Askham
24 September 2024 | 9 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Still image of Paul Middlebrooks in conversation with Cristina Savin, Tim Vogels, Gaute Einevoll and Mikel Lepperød.

Cristina Savin and Tim Vogels discuss how AI has shaped their neuroscience research

Not all neuroscientists use artificial intelligence in the same way or for the same purpose. Neuroscience researchers from different fields discuss the impact AI has had on their research and how it influences productivity in their labs.

By Paul Middlebrooks
11 October 2024 | 80 min listen
Two surreal heads touch each other’s faces.

The case for redefining ‘theory of mind’: Q&A with François Quesque

In a new commentary, Quesque and 44 experts in neuroscience and psychology propose a standardized lexicon for research on the attribution of mental states.

By Lauren Schenkman
10 October 2024 | 7 min read
Illustrated portrait of Kanaka Rajan.

How neuroscience comics add KA-POW! to the field: Q&A with Kanaka Rajan

The artistic approach can help explain complex ideas frame by frame without diluting the science, Rajan says.

By Olivia Gieger
9 October 2024 | 7 min read