SFN 2009

Recent articles

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Mounting evidence links language pathway to autism

A pathway involved in language development is increasingly proving to be important in autism, suggest a series of new studies on cellular and behavioral aspects of the disorder.

By Virginia Hughes
26 October 2009 | 8 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Enriched environment improves symptoms of Rett

Giving mouse models of Rett syndrome access to toys, wheels and contact with other mice rescues motor skill and other deficits characteristic of the disorder, according to results presented in a poster session Wednesday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Kelly Rae Chi
23 October 2009 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Gene on chromosome 22 leads to autism mouse model

Mice lacking a gene located in the chromosomal region 22q13 — which has been linked to autism — have motor learning and social deficits reminiscent of the disorder, according to unpublished findings presented in a poster session yesterday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Kelly Rae Chi
22 October 2009 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Antibodies to fetal proteins trigger autism features

Antibodies directed against the fetal brain are present in some mothers of children with autism, confirming previous findings and suggesting that the antibodies could be used as a marker for the disorder, according to unpublished research presented yesterday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Kelly Rae Chi
21 October 2009 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Fragile X mice marked by immature synapses

Young mice that mimic fragile X syndrome have immature and unstable dendritic spines, the neuronal branches that receive signals from other cells, according to unpublished research presented Tuesday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Virginia Hughes
21 October 2009 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Postmortem study hints at two types of autism

The brains of people with autism show high levels of inflammation compared with controls, suggests a study of postmortem brain tissue from 11 individuals with autism, presented at a poster session Monday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Virginia Hughes
21 October 2009 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

MeCP2 loss ups inhibitory signaling

Selectively disrupting an autism-related gene in cultured human neurons causes a dramatic imbalance of excitation and inhibition in cell signaling, according to unpublished results presented today at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Kelly Rae Chi
21 October 2009 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Neuroligin mutation triggers oxidative stress

Deleting a neuronal protein associated with autism causes oxidative stress — characterized by an excess of free radicals — which has been linked to diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, according to new research in worms. The results were presented yesterday at a poster session at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Kelly Rae Chi
20 October 2009 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Lack of corpus callosum linked to autistic features

People born without the large bundle of nerve fibers that bridges the brain's hemispheres have trouble identifying fearful faces, and don't look preferentially at others' eyes to perform this task, according to research presented Sunday at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.

By Virginia Hughes
20 October 2009 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Video: NIH director bemoans ‘lack of trust’ in autism field

On Saturday, a top government official resigned from the Interagency Autism Coordination Committee, the body of scientists and advocates that's responsible for guiding all autism research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Institute director Francis Collins responds.

By Virginia Hughes
20 October 2009 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of brain glucose levels in mice.

Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized

The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
7 February 2025 | 6 min read
Abstract illustration of overlapping lines.

Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems

The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?

By Grace Lindsay
7 February 2025 | 6 min read
Research image of a mouse brain slice stained in purple and yellow.

Subthalamic plasticity helps mice squelch innate fear responses

When the animals learn that a perceived threat is not dangerous, long-term activity changes in a part of the subthalamus suppress their instinctive fears.

By Sydney Wyatt
6 February 2025 | 5 min read