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Society for Neuroscience 2018

SFN 2018
A single ecstasy pill on a blue background.

Distinct brain pathway underlies ecstasy’s social effects

by  /  11 December 2019
The drug popularly known as ecstasy may boost sociability through brain circuits distinct from that underlying its 'high.'
SFN 2018

Brain organoids show realistic neuronal firing rhythms

by  /  29 August 2019
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.
SFN 2018

Invisible man? Move over for invisible mouse

by  /  11 January 2019
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.
November 2018
View of San Diego in twilight.
SFN 2018

Takeaways from SfN 2018

by  /  12 November 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.

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Two hands hold two pills, one red and one blue.
SFN 2018

Drug duo delivers brain, behavioral benefits for fragile X syndrome

by  /  8 November 2018

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

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Marmoset in a clear cage in a lab.
SFN 2018

Monkey motion-capture reveals social behavior in 3-D

by  /  8 November 2018

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.

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white mouse in a man's hands, closeup.
SFN 2018

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

by  /  8 November 2018

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

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Delicate network of neurons and synapses.
SFN 2018

Webbing around neurons altered in autism mouse models

by  /  8 November 2018

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

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Toddle boy having his head measured in a medical setting.
SFN 2018

Brain organoid study firmly links autism mutations to RhoA

by  /  7 November 2018

A cellular pathway that helps neurons grow and move during fetal development may drive the changes in head size in some autistic people.

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Chandelier cells send their signals through fibers arranged in vertical columns that are reminiscent of the candles in a chandelier.
SFN 2018

Chandelier cells may sprout few branches in autism brains

by  /  7 November 2018

Specialized neurons called chandelier cells, which dampen brain signals, make unusually few connections in the brains of people with autism.

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SFN 2018

Fraction of brain’s links create ‘fingerprints’ of identity

by  /  7 November 2018

A tiny fraction of the connections between brain regions can identify an individual.

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SFN 2018

Gene expression ‘barcode’ maps cells in brain tissue

by  /  7 November 2018

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

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SFN 2018

Genetic background can alter behavior of common mouse strains

by  /  7 November 2018

Mice with different genetic backgrounds have distinct behavioral profiles — and that may muddle findings from mouse research.

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