Controlling movement with light
MIT neuroscientists inhibit muscle contractions by shining light on spinal cord neurons.
Illuminating neuron activity in 3-D
New technique allows scientists to monitor the entire nervous system of a small worm.
Feng Zhang wins NSF's Alan T. Waterman Award
Waterman Award is NSF's highest honor recognizing an outstanding researcher under the age of 35.
Optogenetic toolkit goes multicolor
New light-sensitive proteins allow scientists to study how multiple sets of neurons interact with each other.
In the brain, timing is everything
Study reveals how the brain links memories of events that occur one after the other.
A common brain pathway for anxiety and social behavior
MIT neuroscientist Kay Tye finds a discrete brain circuit that controls social interaction, which is impaired in many brain disorders.
Brain circuit can tune anxiety
New findings may help neuroscientists pinpoint better targets for antianxiety treatments.
Controlling genes with light
New technique can rapidly turn genes on and off, helping scientists better understand their function.
Compulsive no more
MIT study sheds light on what causes compulsive behavior, could improve OCD treatments.
Boyden to share prestigious brain prize
Ed Boyden honored for his work on optogenetics; will share 1 million Euro prize with five other researchers.
Gloria Choi to join McGovern Institute
Choi will serve as McGovern Investigator and as assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences.
Tiny tools help advance medical discoveries
MIT researchers are designing tools to analyze cells at the microscale.
Institute faculty share prestigious neuroscience prize
Ed Boyden and Feng Zhang awarded the Perl/UNC Neuroscience Prize
Researchers show that memories reside in specific brain cells
Simply activating a tiny number of neurons can conjure an entire memory.