Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 19h

While the newly awarded Autism Data Science Initiative projects look “outstanding,” concerns remain over the program’s abnormal and opaque review process.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exc...

Autism researchers remain concerned about NIH data project

An atypical funding mechanism, short timeline and opaque review process had generated concern over the quality of projects that would be selected.

www.thetransmitter.org

2 2

Reposted by The Transmitter

The Venkatesh Lab @venkatesh-lab.bsky.social · 21h

Exciting time to be in Cancer Neuroscience! Thank you to The Transmitter for featuring our lab's work.

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 1d

Neurons in the brain form functional connections with small-cell lung cancer cells that have spread there, fueling the growth of these brain metastases, two independent studies show.

By @sarahdeweerdt.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/neurobiology...

Neurons fuel lung tumors that have spread to brain

Functional synapses between brain cells and cancer cells are key to the metastatic growth, according to new findings from two independent teams.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 8

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

It took more than a decade to trace the 130,000 connections in a fruit fly's brain. With the map in hand, researchers are turning to the next step in connectomics: building simulations.

By @ldattaro.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/connectome/c...

Connectomics 2.0: Simulating the brain

With a complete fly connectome in hand, researchers are taking the next step to model how brain circuits fuel function.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 3

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

Bradley Dickerson on how a 1940s fly neuroanatomy paper influences his research to this day

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...

This paper changed my life: Bradley Dickerson on how a 1940s fly neuroanatomy paper influences his research to this day

This classic paper by zoologist John Pringle describes the haltere—a small structure in flies that plays a crucial role in flight control. It taught me to think about circuits and behavior as greater…

www.thetransmitter.org

1

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

Two species of Drosophila with different odor preferences show the same number and type of cells in their olfactory circuits, but the way their interneurons connect to olfactory sensory neurons differs.

By @martajhill.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/connectome/c...

Cross-species connectome comparison shows uneven olfactory circuit evolution in flies

The findings start to reveal evolutionary changes that may have helped two species develop different olfactory preferences and adapt to their particular environments.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 2

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

Sensory and effector neurons link up in specific body parts to produce behaviors while higher-order brain regions supervise from afar, according to a recent study mapping out the fly central nervous system.

By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/connectome/l...

Local circuit loops within body control fly behavior, new ‘embodied’ connectome reveals

The mapping, which traces how the central nervous system interacts with the rest of the body, challenges the idea that behavior control is centralized.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 1

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

Take a look back at our previous coverage on the FlyWire and connectome

www.thetransmitter.org

The Transmitter: Neuroscience News and Perspectives

The Transmitter is dedicated to helping neuroscientists stay current. Read news and analysis written by journalists and scientists.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 1

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 23h

To celebrate the first anniversary of the release of FlyWire, we asked nine neuroscientists to share how they are using connectome data in their research and what they hope is in store for the future of fly connectomics.

By @franciscorr25.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

bit.ly/3Wx5nt3

How FlyWire is redefining Drosophila research, one year in

Nine Drosophila researchers share how the connectome transformed the field and what additional new tools they would like to see.

bit.ly

2 11 27

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 1d

Neurons in the brain form functional connections with small-cell lung cancer cells that have spread there, fueling the growth of these brain metastases, two independent studies show.

By @sarahdeweerdt.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/neurobiology...

Neurons fuel lung tumors that have spread to brain

Functional synapses between brain cells and cancer cells are key to the metastatic growth, according to new findings from two independent teams.

www.thetransmitter.org

4 13

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 4d

The awarded projects plan to study gene-and-environment interactions in people, stem cells and organoids, as well as predictors of positive life outcomes in autistic youth and adults.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/mee...

Meet the Autism Data Science Initiative grantees

The projects plan to study gene-and-environment interactions in people, stem cells and organoids, as well as predictors of positive life outcomes.

www.thetransmitter.org

5 14

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 4d

“It is rich that the NIH and Big Pharma want to take over leucovorin when they and the universities have fought my research for 20 years,” says Richard Frye.

By Brendan Borrell

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exc...

Exclusive: Meet Richard Frye, who studies leucovorin for autism

Frye has led two placebo-controlled trials of the folate supplement in autistic people; the first was suspended by regulators, and the other has yet to be published.

www.thetransmitter.org

3 5

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 4d

The FDA wants to expand the use of leucovorin to treat autism traits, based on an analysis of the scientific research. @thetransmitter.bsky.social has obtained the list of 23 studies.

By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exc...

Exclusive: The 23 studies the FDA based its expanded leucovorin label on

The studies include 46 people, mostly toddlers, who have cerebral folate deficiency due to variants in a folate transporter.

www.thetransmitter.org

5 8

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 5d

“I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that the list did not include multiple studies on why vaccines cause autism,” says Brian Lee about the newly awarded Autism Data Science Initiative projects.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exc...

Autism researchers remain concerned about NIH data project

An atypical funding mechanism, short timeline and opaque review process had generated concern over the quality of projects that would be selected.

www.thetransmitter.org

3 10

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 5d

The NIH has spent nearly its entire budget for this fiscal year, but the number of new grants has dropped compared with past years.

By Natalia Mesa

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...

NIH awarded 37 percent fewer neuroscience-related grants in 2025 than in past years

But the agency has spent nearly its entire budget for this fiscal year, which ends tomorrow.

www.thetransmitter.org

2 13

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 6d

Meet Richard Frye, whose research record on leucovorin traces the gulf between promise and proof.

By Brendan Borrell

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/exc...

Exclusive: Meet Richard Frye, who studies leucovorin for autism

Frye has led two placebo-controlled trials of the folate supplement in autistic people; the first was suspended by regulators, and the other has yet to be published.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 7 9

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 6d

Applications are now open for our spring internship! This is an excellent opportunity for a beginning science journalist to report and write about the fast-moving field of neuroscience. Apply now: simonsfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/simons...

#neuroskyence

Science Reporting Intern, The Transmitter

The Transmitter offers up-to-date news and analysis of neuroscience and is dedicated to helping scientists at all career stages stay current and build connections. Our award-winning news team is seeki...

simonsfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

10 13

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 6d

@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...

Why we need basic science to better understand the neurobiology of psychedelics

Despite the many psychedelics clinical trials underway, there is still much we don’t know about how these drugs work. Preclinical studies represent our best viable avenue to answer these lingering…

www.thetransmitter.org

11 29

Reposted by The Transmitter

Pain Research Forum @painresforum.bsky.social · 6d

Did you know that #PRF now has articles from @thetransmitter.bsky.social displayed on our home page? Check it out now! painresearchforum.or...

1 4

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 7d

Congratulations to Rachel Buckley @bucklr01.bsky.social on being a finalist for a National Association of Science Writers @sciencewriters.org award. Read Rachel's essay,
www.thetransmitter.org/sex-differen...

#neuroskyence

Brains, biases and amyloid beta: Why the female brain deserves a closer look in Alzheimer’s research

New results suggest the disease progresses differently in women, but we need more basic science to unpack the mechanisms involved.

www.thetransmitter.org

13 37

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 7d

Thinking about which neuroscience conferences to attend in 2026? Check out our recently updated calendar, featuring top neuroscience meetings and events through April 2027.

Are you organizing a conference? Share it with us at [email protected].

www.thetransmitter.org/events/?utm_...

Events

www.thetransmitter.org

14 21

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 7d

Facial movements reflect a mouse’s decision-making patterns independent of their chosen action during a foraging task, per a new study.

By @lauren-schneider.com

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/motor-behavi...

2 11 38

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 8d

“It’s hard to know if I should close down my existing projects and/or redouble my efforts writing new grant applications,” Joshua Jacobs, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, told @thetransmitter.bsky.social.

By Natalia Mesa

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...

NIH awarded 37 percent fewer neuroscience-related grants in 2025 than in past years

But the agency has spent nearly its entire budget for this fiscal year, which ends tomorrow.

www.thetransmitter.org

23 37

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 8d

A Madrid-based research team earned its second retraction for its work on gelsolin’s potential applications in Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

By @lauren-schneider.com

www.thetransmitter.org/publishing/a...

Alzheimer’s paper retracted over apparent image duplication

The 2009 Neurobiology of Disease paper touted gelsolin’s ability to reduce amyloid burden.

www.thetransmitter.org

2 5

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 9d

Building reproducible systems across labs is possible, even in large-scale neuroscience. You just need rigor, collaboration and the willingness to look your own practices in the eye, writes Anne Churchland.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/reproducibil...

Reproducibility is a team sport

Building reproducible systems across labs is possible, even in large-scale neuroscience—with rigor and collaboration.

www.thetransmitter.org

1 10 26

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 11d

Even though the controversial DIANA method didn’t pan out, neuroimaging researchers still hold out hope to one day measure neuronal activity using fMRI.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/a...

Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method

Several MRI artifacts contribute to the neuronal activity signal picked up by the method, according to a preprint the authors posted this month.

www.thetransmitter.org

3 14