Lauren Schenkman

4 weeks ago | thetransmitter.org | Laura Dattaro |Lauren Schenkman |Jill Adams

The goal of publishing careful replications—and, humbly, of this newsletter—is to gain a more accurate scientific picture of reality. Adhering closely to original methodologies and reporting all results are key, but often overlooked, steps in this process. Enter preregistration, a process whereby researchers publish their intended methods before they begin their experiments, enabling the research community to evaluate how and why any subsequent deviations occurred.

Jan 21, 2025 | thetransmitter.org | Omar Abubaker |Karla R Kaun |Eric J. Nestler |Lauren Schenkman

Over the past 20 years, our understanding of the brain and how things can go awry in disease has exploded, driven by advances in our ability to visualize, record and manipulate discrete circuits in the brain; in molecular biology and genetics; and in funding programs, such as the BRAIN Initiative, to bolster brain research. But much of this knowledge has not trickled down to nonscientists.

Oct 22, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Rachel Buckley |Megan Peters |Jason Shepherd |Lauren Schenkman

Alzheimer’s disease is not just a brain thief; it’s a gendered one. Of all people living with this form of dementia, two-thirds are women. They face a disproportionately higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s not simply because they typically outlive men but also because of intricate differences in brain biology. The gender disparity is woven into the very fabric of how the disease manifests and progresses, suggesting that Alzheimer’s isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition.

Oct 22, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Jill Adams |Charles Choi |Lauren Schenkman |Rachel Buckley

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 21 October. Contributing writer Share this article: Tags: Spectrum, Autism, Science and society, Spotted Autistic people with depression perceive themselves as having more autism traits and worse social interactions than clinician or objective ratings detect, according to a preprint.

Oct 17, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Charles Choi |Jill Adams |Lauren Schenkman |Megan Peters

A new open-source catalog now identifies associations between autism and family histories of dozens of conditions. “If you’re interested in whether a particular condition is associated with autism, you can use our map to help generate study questions,” says lead investigator Diana Schendel, a professor and leader of the Research Program in Modifiable Factors in Autism at Drexel University in Philadelphia.