Neuroscience

Neuroscientists reverse autism symptoms

Turning on a gene later in life can restore typical behavior in mice.

February 17, 2016

In this image of the dorsal raphe nucleus, dopamine neurons are labeled in green, red, or both (appearing yellow).

Pinpointing loneliness in the brain

Scientists identify cells that represent feelings of isolation.

February 11, 2016

MIT neuroscientists discovered that the protein CPG2 connects the cytoskeleton (represented by the scaffold of the bridge) and the endocytic machinery (represented by the cars) during the reabsorption of glutamate receptors. Each "car" on the “bridge" carries a vesicle containing glutamate receptors.

How neurons lose their connections

Scientists identify protein that allows brain cells to dampen their sensitivity.

January 14, 2016

People building their own devices for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have often invested substantial time looking at academic research on the subject. “They do look to scientific papers and in a lot of ways they do follow scientific precedent,” PhD student Anna Wexler says. “In other ways, they do their own thing.”

Stimulus plan?

Interest is growing in brain stimulation devices — and regulating them may prove tricky.

December 18, 2015

(Left to right) Caroline Robertson and Nancy Kanwisher.

Study finds altered brain chemistry in people with autism

Neuroscientists link autism to reduced activity of key neurotransmitter in human brain.

December 17, 2015

“One of the core debates surrounding music is to what extent it has dedicated mechanisms in the brain and to what extent it piggybacks off of mechanisms that primarily serve other functions,” Josh McDermott says.

Music in the brain

For the first time, scientists identify a neural population highly selective for music.

December 16, 2015

The gene Shank3 has been linked to both autism and schizophrenia. Researchers found that two different mutations of the Shank3 gene produce some distinct molecular and behavioral effects in mice.

How one gene contributes to two diseases

Neuroscientists unravel Shank3 gene’s role in autism and schizophrenia.

December 10, 2015

Labeling different proteins in a single tissue sample offers a new way to classify neurons and other cells. On the top row, pyramidal neurons are shown in green, and different types of inhibitory interneurons are labeled red, blue, and orange. In the bottom row, at far left, interneurons only are labeled. The two middle images show blood vessels in cyan, and astrocytes in purple. At far right, eve...

Protein imaging reveals detailed brain architecture

New technique could contribute to efforts to map the human brain.

December 3, 2015

When zebra finches first begin to sing, they produce only nonsense syllables similar to the babble of human babies. Now researchers at MIT have uncovered the brain activity that supports the birds’ song-learning process.

Singing in the brain

Neuroscientists identify neural patterns birds use to learn their songs.

November 30, 2015

Motor neurons (green) form synapses (highlighted in magenta) on muscle fibers in a fruit fly. MIT neuroscientists have discovered a pathway that contributes to strengthening these synapses.

Neuroscientists reveal how the brain can enhance connections

Newly identified mechanism allows the brain to strengthen links between neurons.

November 18, 2015

What counts as fair?

Neuroscientists find that children’s ability to count is key to distributing resources based on merit.

November 10, 2015

To locate objects, brain relies on memory

Neuroscientists identify brain region that holds objects in memory until they are spotted.

October 29, 2015

Kwanghun Chung awarded Packard Fellowship

Funding will support the development of novel technologies for better understanding of large-scale biological systems.

October 20, 2015

Neumitra co-founder and CEO Robert Goldberg, a former MIT researcher

Taking stress to a new level

MIT spinout Neumitra brings an innovative approach to quantifying, understanding, and managing stress.

October 19, 2015

Human neuron progenitors express neural stem cell marker Nestin (green).

Leveraging genetic diversity to drive precision medicine

Taking advantage of genetic heterogeneity in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders could lead to precision therapies.

October 16, 2015

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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