Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention
Norepinephrine-producing neurons in the locus coeruleus produce attention focus, impulse control via two distinct connections to prefrontal cortex.
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Aspiring physician explores the many levels of human health
During her time at MIT, senior Ayesha Ng’s interests have expanded from cellular biology to the social systems that shape public health.
Emery Brown wins Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
Award cites major contributions to statistical analysis of brain activity and advancing the neuroscience of anesthesia.
How a worm may yield insights into the gut-brain relationship
Gurrein Madan, brain and cognitive sciences graduate student and MathWorks Fellow, studies gut–brain signaling with implications for human health.
Neuroscientists discover a molecular mechanism that allows memories to form
Modifications to chromosomes in “engram” neurons control the encoding and retrieval of memories.
Statistical model improves analysis of skin conductance
By accounting for sweat physiology, method can make better use of electrodermal activity for tracking subconscious changes in physical or emotional state.
Alzheimer’s risk gene disrupts endocytosis, but another disease-linked gene could help
Astrocytes with the APOE4 gene variant show deficits of a key cellular function, but overexpressing the gene PICALM overcame the defect.
Live imaging method brings structure to mapping brain function
Scientists distinguish brain regions based on what they do, but now have a new way to overlay information about how they are built.
As information flows through brain’s heirarchy, higher regions use higher-frequency waves
Study also finds specific frequency bands of brain waves associated with encoding, or inhibiting encoding, of sensory information across the cortex.
Study suggests animals think probabilistically to distinguish contexts
New statistical model may help scientists understand how animals infer whether surroundings are novel or haven’t changed enough to be a new context.
Neural vulnerability in Huntington’s disease tied to release of mitochondrial RNA
Unique survey of gene expression by cell type in humans and mice reveals several deficits affecting the most vulnerable neurons.
Seemingly similar, two neurons show distinct styles as they interact with the same muscle partner
Diversity in how cells talk to the muscle they innervate reveal distinct propensities for change, or “plasticity.”
Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections
Among study’s many surprises may be a new way to address Fragile X syndrome — by finding a “protein X.”
How worms move: Dopamine helps nematodes coordinate motor behaviors
To spy on worms for days on end, Picower Institute scientists invent a new open-source microscopy platform.
Like a treasure map, brain region emphasizes reward location
The lateral septum encodes spatial information with a special emphasis on where the reward lies.