Brain networks encoding memory come together via electric fields, study finds
Electric fields shared among neurons via “ephaptic coupling” provide the coordination necessary to assemble the engrams that represent remembered information.
Department
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Study finds tracking brain waves could reduce post-op complications
Distinctive EEG patterns indicate when a patient’s state of unconsciousness under general anesthesia is more profound than necessary.
Thirty-four community members receive 2023 MIT Excellence Awards, Collier Medal, and Staff Award for Distinction in Service
Prestigious awards recognize community support of MIT’s goals, values, and mission.
Magnetic robots walk, crawl, and swim
New soft-bodied robots that can be controlled by a simple magnetic field are well suited to work in confined spaces.
When computer vision works more like a brain, it sees more like people do
Training artificial neural networks with data from real brains can make computer vision more robust.
Researchers uncover a new CRISPR-like system in animals that can edit the human genome
The first RNA-guided DNA-cutting enzyme found in eukaryotes, Fanzor could one day be harnessed to edit DNA more precisely than CRISPR/Cas systems.
Uncovering the invisible pressures shaping language
Sihan Chen, a PhD student in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, studies the social and environmental factors that shape the development of languages.
Without a key extracellular protein, neuronal axons break and synaptic connections fall apart
Scientists find a protein common to flies and people is essential for supporting the structure of axons that neurons project to make circuit connections.
Unraveling connections between the brain and gut
MIT engineers’ new technology can probe the neural circuits that influence hunger, mood, and a variety of diseases.
Atlas of human brain blood vessels highlights changes in Alzheimer’s disease
MIT researchers characterize gene expression patterns for 22,500 brain vascular cells across 428 donors, revealing insights for Alzheimer’s onset and potential treatments.
Envisioning the future of computing
MIT students share ideas, aspirations, and vision for how advances in computing stand to transform society in a competition hosted by the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing.
Bringing the social and ethical responsibilities of computing to the forefront
The inaugural SERC Symposium convened experts from multiple disciplines to explore the challenges and opportunities that arise with the broad applicability of computing in many aspects of society.
From labs to the streets, experts work to defuse childhood threats to mental health
Symposium speakers describe numerous ways to promote prevention, resilience, healing, and wellness after early-life stresses.
40 Hz vibrations reduce Alzheimer’s pathology, symptoms in mouse models
Tactile stimulation improved motor performance, reduced phosphorylated tau, preserved neurons and synapses, and reduced DNA damage, a new study shows.
Computational model mimics humans’ ability to predict emotions
Using insights into how people intuit others’ emotions, researchers have designed a model that approximates this aspect of human social intelligence.