Theories of autism

Recent articles

The signaling imbalance theory of autism, explained

The signaling imbalance theory holds that the brains of autistic people are hyper-excitable because of either excess neuronal activity or weak brakes on that activity.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
1 May 2019 | 4 min read

The female protective effect, explained

One of the leading theories of autism posits that girls and women are biologically protected from the condition.

By Hannah Furfaro
1 May 2019 | 4 min read
Illustration of a strong man holding up a oversized brain

The extreme male brain, explained

The ‘extreme male brain’ theory suggests that autism is an exaggeration of systematic sex differences in ways of thinking.

By Hannah Furfaro
1 May 2019 | 5 min read
Illustration of red figures on a big blue brain are serotonin signaling

Serotonin’s link to autism, explained

Serotonin, the brain chemical best known for its link to depression, may also be involved in autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
1 May 2019 | 5 min read
A DNA helix showing common and rare variants

The multiple hits theory of autism, explained

Researchers are studying how a combination of genetic ‘hits’ may contribute to autism’s diversity.

By Jessica Wright
1 May 2019 | 4 min read
Illustration shows the world is distorted through a point of view pair of glasses

The predictive coding theory of autism, explained

In autism, a person's brain may not form accurate predictions of imminent experiences, or even if it does, sensory input may override those predictions.

By George Musser
1 May 2019 | 6 min read
overlapping network of connections in the brain

The connectivity theory of autism, explained

A growing body of evidence suggests that autism involves atypical communication between brain regions, but how and where in the brain this plays out is unclear.

By Rachel Zamzow
1 May 2019 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Remembering GABA pioneer Edward Kravitz

The biochemist, who died last month at age 92, was part of the first neurobiology department in the world and showed that gamma-aminobutyric acid is inhibitory.

By Claudia López Lloreda
24 October 2025 | 9 min listen

Protein tug-of-war controls pace of synaptic development, sets human brains apart

Human-specific duplicates of SRGAP2 prolong cortical development by manipulating SYNGAP, an autism-linked protein that slows synaptic growth.

By Holly Barker
23 October 2025 | 9 min listen
Mouse sensory neurons express the ion channel TPRV1 .

Neurons tune electron transport chain to survive onslaught of noxious stimuli

Nociceptors tamp down the production of reactive oxygen species in response to heat, chemical irritants or toxins.

By Viviane Callier
22 October 2025 | 5 min listen

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