Edward Boyden wins 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
MIT physicists share prize in fundamental physics; Larry Guth and Liang Fu win New Horizons Prizes.
McGovern Institute
Engineers design magnetic cell sensors
New protein nanoparticles allow scientists to track cells and interactions within them.
To locate objects, brain relies on memory
Neuroscientists identify brain region that holds objects in memory until they are spotted.
How the brain recognizes objects
Neuroscientists find evidence that the brain’s inferotemporal cortex can identify objects.
More-flexible machine learning
Giving machine-learning systems “partial credit” during training improves image classification.
New system for human genome editing has potential to increase power and precision of DNA engineering
CRISPR-Cpf1 offers simpler approach to editing DNA; technology could disrupt scientific and commercial landscape.
Possible new weapon against PTSD
Blocking a newly identified memory pathway could prevent the disorder.
Young brains can take on new functions
Visual cortex of blind children can be remodeled to process language.
Wired for habit
Researchers discover neurons in the brain that weigh costs and benefits to drive formation of habits.
Toward smarter selection of therapy for psychiatric disorders
Researchers find that brain scans can predict the success of treatment for social anxiety disorder.
MRIs for a more peaceful world
Neuroscientists and political scientists join together to advance peace and reconciliation.
How we make emotional decisions
Neuroscientists identify a brain circuit that controls decisions that induce high anxiety.
Seeking deeper understanding of how the brain works
Edward Boyden develops techniques to study the brain, and how it operates, in finer detail.