SYNGAP1 2020

Recent articles

SYNGAP1 protein between neurons.

Reactions from the 2020 SYNGAP1 Scientific Conference

Spectrum is covering the 2020 International SYNGAP1 Scientific Conference, which took place virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here we’re highlighting researchers’ reactions to noteworthy presentations.

By Peter Hess
25 November 2020 | 6 min read
Young zebrafish have transparent skin, which allows researchers to track the movements of glowing beads of excrement through their gut.

Zebrafish and ‘Smurf cakes’ link autism gene mutation to digestive woes

Mutations in a top autism gene called SYNGAP1 slow the rate at which zebrafish digest food and pass waste, and may also disrupt gut function in people.

By Peter Hess
24 November 2020 | 5 min read

Mice reveal roots of sensory issues tied to top autism gene

Mice with mutations in the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 have trouble sensing touch, which may stem in part from brain-circuit alterations and dulled alertness.

By Peter Hess
23 November 2020 | 4 min read

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Shifting neural code powers speech comprehension

Dynamic coding helps explain how the brain processes multiple features of speech—from the smallest units of sounds to full sentences—simultaneously.

By Claudia López Lloreda
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Research image of astrocytes in a mouse brain.

Astrocytes orchestrate oxytocin’s social effects in mice

The cells amplify oxytocin—and may be responsible for sex differences in social behavior, two preprints find.

By Holly Barker
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Tick on a leaf raises its forelegs.

Neuro’s ark: Spying on the secret sensory world of ticks

Carola Städele, a self-proclaimed “tick magnet,” studies the arachnids’ sensory neurobiology—in other words, how these tiny parasites zero in on their next meal.

By Calli McMurray
3 March 2026 | 6 min read

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