Science and society

Recent articles

World map displaying an analysis of years of life lost to suicide among autistic people in 2021.

PPP2R5D gene; social-communication intervention in infants; autism and suicide

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

By Jill Adams
10 September 2024 | 2 min read
Research image of astrocytes and microglia in mouse brains.

X-chromosome genes; neurobiology of infant crying; MCHAT in preemies

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 2 September.

By Jill Adams
3 September 2024 | 2 min read
Research image visualizing cell-to-cell communications in cerebral organoids.

CHD8 gene; minority participation in research; machine-learning autism screen

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 26 August.

By Jill Adams
27 August 2024 | 2 min read
Illustration of two hands of different colors holding up a piece of paper together.

Creating a more inclusive autism research community

The Transmitter rounds up efforts to improve equity and diversity both within the field and in research projects.

By Daisy Yuhas
22 August 2024 | 2 min read
Research image of human neurons.

Congenital heart disease; community-driven policymaking; empathy in autism

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 19 August.

By Jill Adams
20 August 2024 | 3 min read
Stock photograph of a women and her young child at a clinician’s office.

A genetics-first clinic for catching developmental conditions early: Q&A with Jacob Vorstman

A new clinic is assessing children who have a genetic predisposition for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions—sometimes before traits appear.

By Lauren Schenkman
15 August 2024 | 7 min read
Research image of cell-type representation in the frontal cortex.

Ketamine for ADNP syndrome; electrical gap junctions; echolalia

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 12 August.

By Jill Adams
13 August 2024 | 2 min read
Research image of microglial forms color-coded into distinct categories.

Noncoding variants; trofinetide; microglia shapes

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 5 August.

By Jill Adams
6 August 2024 | 2 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Baby sibs; sleep in Dup15q syndrome; pediatrician deserts

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 29 July.

By Jill Adams
30 July 2024 | 2 min read
Research image showing connectivity in brain regions in female mice with and without a UBE3A variant.

CNTNAP2 variants; trait trajectories; sensory reactivity

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 22 July.

By Jill Adams
23 July 2024 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustration of cranes attempting to assemble a structure out of very small black squares.

Reconstructing dopamine’s link to reward

The field is grappling with whether to modify the long-standing theory of reward prediction error—or abandon it entirely.

By Angie Voyles Askham
13 September 2024 | 18 min read
Illustration of cranes attempting to assemble a structure out of very small black squares.

Dopamine and the need for alternative theories

Some experimental findings are inconsistent with the dominant model of reward prediction error, highlighting the need for alternative testable and falsifiable models for dopamine function.

By Vijay Mohan K. Namboodiri
13 September 2024 | 7 min read
Illustration of several structures constructed out of small black squares, with scaffolding on some of the structures.

Does a new theory of dopamine replace the classic model?

My answer would be no, but the model poses challenges that will sharpen our understanding of dopamine and learning.

By Naoshige Uchida
13 September 2024 | 8 min read