Reevaluating an approach to functional brain imaging
An MRI method purported to detect neurons’ rapid impulses produces its own misleading signals instead, an MIT study finds.
McGovern Institute
A new computational technique could make it easier to engineer useful proteins
MIT researchers plan to search for proteins that could be used to measure electrical activity in the brain.
For people who speak many languages, there’s something special about their native tongue
An MIT study finds the brains of polyglots expend comparatively little effort when processing their native language.
How sensory gamma rhythm stimulation clears amyloid in Alzheimer’s mice
Study finds stimulating a key brain rhythm with light and sound increases peptide release from interneurons, driving clearance of an Alzheimer’s protein.
How the brain coordinates speaking and breathing
MIT neuroscientists have discovered a circuit that controls vocalization and makes sure that breathing is prioritized over speaking.
School of Science announces 2024 Infinite Expansion Awards
Nine postdocs and research scientists honored for contributions to the Institute.
Exposure to different kinds of music influences how the brain interprets rhythm
A study of people in 15 countries reveals that while everyone favors rhythms with simple integer ratios, biases can vary quite a bit across societies.
Imaging method reveals new cells and structures in human brain tissue
A new microscopy technique that enables high-resolution imaging could one day help doctors diagnose and treat brain tumors.
Simons Center’s collaborative approach propels autism research, at MIT and beyond
Team-based targeted projects, multi-mentor fellowships ensure that scientists studying social cognition, behavior, and autism integrate multiple perspectives and approaches to pressing questions.
How the brain responds to reward is linked to socioeconomic background
An MIT study finds the brains of children who grow up in less affluent households are less responsive to rewarding experiences.
Study reveals a universal pattern of brain wave frequencies
Across mammalian species, brain waves are slower in deep cortical layers, while superficial layers generate faster rhythms.
Complex, unfamiliar sentences make the brain’s language network work harder
A new study finds that language regions in the left hemisphere light up when reading uncommon sentences, while straightforward sentences elicit little response.
Deep neural networks show promise as models of human hearing
Study shows computational models trained to perform auditory tasks display an internal organization similar to that of the human auditory cortex.
A new way to see the activity inside a living cell
Using fluorescent labels that switch on and off, MIT engineers can study how molecules in a cell interact to control the cell’s behavior.
Search algorithm reveals nearly 200 new kinds of CRISPR systems
By analyzing bacterial data, researchers have discovered thousands of rare new CRISPR systems that have a range of functions and could enable gene editing, diagnostics, and more.