James DiCarlo named director of the MIT Quest for Intelligence
Brain and cognitive sciences professor will lead the Institute’s interdisciplinary initiative to advance research in natural and artificial intelligence.
Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
Scientists seek insight into Parkinson’s, addiction by tracking gene expression in the brain
Two MIT faculty members earn funding from the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation.
Brain waves guide us in spotlighting surprises
The brain uses different frequency rhythms and cortical layers to suppress expected stimulation and increase activity for what’s novel.
Neuroscientists identify brain circuit that encodes timing of events
Findings suggest this hippocampal circuit helps us to maintain our timeline of memories.
Cortex over reflex: Study traces circuits where executive control overcomes instinct
Frontal brain region overrides reflexive inclination of a deeper, older region when rules require.
“SCOUT” helps researchers find, quantify significant differences among organoids
Unbiased, high-throughput analysis pipeline improves utility of “minibrains” for understanding development and diseases such as Zika infection.
Down syndrome symposium highlights clinical, fundamental progress
Speakers describe studies to address Alzheimer’s disease, sleep apnea, and to advance fundamental discoveries in cell and chromosome biology.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Neuroscientists discover a molecular mechanism that allows memories to form
Modifications to chromosomes in “engram” neurons control the encoding and retrieval of memories.
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.