Holly Barker is a freelance writer specializing in biology, medicine and psychology. She has a Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience from King’s College London in the United Kingdom and a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from the University of Manchester. She has previously written for Discover and BioNews. She is based in London.
Holly Barker
Contributing writer
From this contributor
Untangling biological threads from autism’s phenotypic patchwork reveals four core subtypes
People belonging to the same subtype share genetic variants, behaviors and often co-occurring diagnoses, according to a new preprint.
Untangling biological threads from autism’s phenotypic patchwork reveals four core subtypes
By
Holly Barker
3 October 2024 | 5 min read
Neurons’ spikes may convey their whereabouts
The time lag between spurts of activity holds anatomical information, according to a preprint.
Neurons’ spikes may convey their whereabouts
By
Holly Barker
23 August 2024 | 4 min read
New ‘decoder’ tool translates functional neuroimaging terms across labs
The compendium of brain-parcellation atlases makes it possible to compare large-scale network data, which often involves different and overlapping network names.
New ‘decoder’ tool translates functional neuroimaging terms across labs
By
Holly Barker
23 July 2024 | 4 min read
Brain organoid size matches intensity of social problems in autistic people
Overgrown organoids could point to mechanisms underlying profound autism.
Brain organoid size matches intensity of social problems in autistic people
By
Holly Barker
18 July 2024 | 5 min read
Connectivity takes U-turn in people with rare autism-linked mutations
Patterns of brain connectivity shift during puberty in people with deletion of the 22q11.2 chromosomal region.
Connectivity takes U-turn in people with rare autism-linked mutations
By
Holly Barker
30 May 2024 | 4 min read
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Are Brains and AI Converging?—an excerpt from ‘ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution’
In his new book, to be published next week, computational neuroscience pioneer Sejnowski tackles debates about AI’s capacity to mirror cognitive processes.
Are Brains and AI Converging?—an excerpt from ‘ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution’
In his new book, to be published next week, computational neuroscience pioneer Sejnowski tackles debates about AI’s capacity to mirror cognitive processes.
By
Terrence Sejnowski
21 October 2024 | 12 min read
New tissue-clearing techniques let microscopes peer deeper into living brains
Washing mouse brain tissue with a blood protein or complex sugar can illuminate cells 550 micrometers into the cortex without compromising its normal physiology.
New tissue-clearing techniques let microscopes peer deeper into living brains
Washing mouse brain tissue with a blood protein or complex sugar can illuminate cells 550 micrometers into the cortex without compromising its normal physiology.
By
Calli McMurray
18 October 2024 | 0 min watch
New catalog charts familial ties from autism to 90 other conditions
The research tool reveals associations stretching across three generations.
New catalog charts familial ties from autism to 90 other conditions
The research tool reveals associations stretching across three generations.
By
Charles Q. Choi
17 October 2024 | 4 min read