SFN 2018

Recent articles

A single ecstasy pill on a blue background.

Distinct brain pathway underlies ecstasy’s social effects

The drug popularly known as ecstasy may boost sociability through brain circuits distinct from that underlying its 'high.'

By Nicholette Zeliadt
11 December 2019 | 3 min read

Brain organoids show realistic neuronal firing rhythms

Brain organoids made from typical human stem cells begin to show synchronized neuronal firing patterns after growing in a dish for at least four months.

By Hannah Furfaro
29 August 2019 | 3 min read

Invisible man? Move over for invisible mouse

A combination of chemical cocktails has created mice that are — yes — virtually invisible. And new imaging technology reveals the mice's underlying nerves and lymphatic system in unprecedented detail.

By Rachel Zamzow
11 January 2019 | 4 min read
View of San Diego in twilight.

Takeaways from SfN 2018

After the presentation of more than 14,000 abstracts over five days, the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego ended last week.

By Claire Cameron
12 November 2018 | 4 min read
Marmoset in a clear cage in a lab.

Monkey motion-capture reveals social behavior in 3-D

A monkey-sized jacket embedded with motion sensors — similar to technology used to animate creatures in movies — is helping researchers develop the common marmoset as a model for studying human social behavior.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
8 November 2018 | 6 min read
Two hands hold two pills, one red and one blue.

Drug duo delivers brain, behavioral benefits for fragile X syndrome

Administering a cholesterol drug alongside an antibiotic eases atypical behavior and restores the signaling balance in the brains of people with fragile X syndrome.

By Rachel Zamzow
8 November 2018 | 3 min read
white mouse in a man's hands, closeup.

Mouse, human ‘co-clinical’ trials could speed autism drug discovery

A team of researchers is trialing a fast approach to autism drug development: simultaneously testing candidates in people and in mice.

By Hannah Furfaro
8 November 2018 | 3 min read
Delicate network of neurons and synapses.

Webbing around neurons altered in autism mouse models

Lattice-like structures that surround neurons may be overly abundant — or scarce — in brain regions of three autism mouse models.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
8 November 2018 | 3 min read
Infant in fnirs cap, wrapped in blankets.

Study tracks social brain development in African infants

An inexpensive, noninvasive method can track social brain development in infants in low-resource countries.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
7 November 2018 | 3 min read

Gene expression ‘barcode’ maps cells in brain tissue

A new technique transforms the previous broad-brush picture of a brain region into a pointillist masterpiece of neuronal subpopulations associated with specific activities.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
7 November 2018 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Abstract flowing shapes.

Perimenopause: An important—and understudied—transition for the brain

Many well-known perimenopause symptoms arise in the brain, but we still know little about the specific mechanisms at play. More research—in both animals and humans—is essential.

By Marija Kundakovic
12 November 2025 | 7 min listen
Speech bubbles and images of a brain overlaid on a globe.

A community-designed experiment tests open questions in predictive processing

More than 50 scientists came together to identify the key missing data needed to rigorously test theoretical models.

By Jérôme Lecoq
12 November 2025 | 6 min read
Colorful drawing of a human brain.

‘Neuroethics: The Implications of Mapping and Changing the Brain,’ an excerpt

In his new book, published today, philosopher Walter Glannon examines the ethics of six areas of neuroscience. In Chapter 4, a portion of which appears below, he tackles the ethical considerations of using brain organoids in research.

By Walter Glannon
11 November 2025 | 7 min read

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