SFN 2014

Recent articles

Autism gene needed for growth of neurons during gestation

Mutations in one of the strongest autism candidate genes may block the proliferation of neurons during development.

By Jessica Wright
7 October 2016 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Enriched environment staves off autism-like behavior in rats

Rats exposed in utero to the epilepsy drug valproic acid, a risk factor for autism, do not develop autism-like behaviors if they are reared in a stimulating environment. Researchers presented the unpublished findings yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Who are you going to believe, your body or your lying eyes?

Children with autism tend to rely more on their bodies when learning new motor skills, while controls rely more on their eyes, suggests unpublished research presented Wednesday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Feisty mice may reveal autism gene’s link to aggression

Varying the number of copies of a single autism-linked gene modulates social behavior and aggression in mice, according to unpublished results presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Jessica Wright
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Takeaways from SfN 2014

Scientists reflect on the current state of autism research as the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. comes to a close.

By Greg Boustead
20 November 2014 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Different autism subtypes share same genetic signature

A rare form of autism linked to a duplication of the 15q11-13 chromosomal region shares a molecular signature with more common forms of the disorder, suggests unpublished research presented yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Katie Moisse
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

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.

By Virginia Hughes
20 November 2014 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

In autism, RNA snippets vary little by brain region, age

The expression patterns of microRNAs vary less by brain region and age in people with autism than in controls. Researchers presented the unpublished findings Tuesday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Robots come to the rescue in sensory processing studies

Robots that help children with autism become more socially engaged may also increase understanding of sensory processing in the disorder, suggests unpublished research presented today at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
20 November 2014 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

In mouse model of Rett, immune cells overly sensitive

Loss of MeCP2, the Rett syndrome gene, depletes immune cells throughout the bodies of mice, researchers reported yesterday at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

By Jessica Wright
20 November 2014 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Coding error caused layoffs at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke this week, source says

Thirty employees—including 11 lab heads—at the institute should “immediately return to work,” according to an email the institute’s Office of Human Resources sent to top administration at the institute Wednesday evening.

By Sydney Wyatt
3 April 2025 | 3 min read

PTEN problems underscore autism connection to excess brain fluid

Damaging variants in the autism-linked gene cause congenital hydrocephalus—a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain—by turbocharging a downstream signaling pathway that promotes the growth of cells, according to a new study.

By Holly Barker
3 April 2025 | 4 min read

U.S. health agency purge includes 10 lab heads at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The reasons for selecting these researchers—who have led work on neuronal migration, dopamine receptors in neuronal signaling and the structure of ion channels, among other areas—remain unclear.

By Angie Voyles Askham, Sydney Wyatt
2 April 2025 | 5 min read