Research Topics

As this gallery of featured people and projects illustrates, Picower Institute scientists study brain structure and function at scales from genes and molecules to cells, circuits and regions. They also study the behaviors and cognitive processes that result, and seek to uncover how disruptions at different scales can result in developmental, psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. They employ—and often invent—the newest technologies in their work. To learn more about any of these specific areas, click "Research Topics" above, select areas of interest, and you'll find relevant Picower people, discoveries and events.

August 5, 2022

Research Findings

By tracking feedback during tasks, the anterior cingulate cortex notices when a new step has become necessary and signals the motor cortex to adjust

August 4, 2022

Research Findings

A breakdown of lipid metabolism in these brain cells promotes inflammation and interferes with neuron activity, a new study finds

July 29, 2022

Research Findings

Using organoids to model early development, researchers used an emerging microscopy technology to see that new neurons struggled to reach their developmental destination

July 28, 2022

Research Findings

To ensure a quick halt, brain circuit architecture avoids a slow process of integration in favor of quicker differentiation, study finds

June 1, 2022

Research Findings

Unexpected outcomes trigger release of noradrenaline, which helps the brain focus its attention and learn from the event

May 17, 2022

Picower People

Emery N. Brown and three other scientists recognized for advancing statistical, theoretical analyses of neuroscience data

April 27, 2022

Research Findings

Under propofol general anesthesia very slow frequency traveling waves transform and dominate, redirecting and disrupting the higher frequency traveling waves associated with conscious function

April 11, 2022

Research Findings

Innovative brain-wide mapping study shows that “engrams,” the ensembles of neurons encoding a memory, are widely distributed, including among regions not previously realized

March 14, 2022

Research Findings

A new study suggests that electric fields may represent information held in working memory, allowing the brain to overcome “representational drift,” or the inconsistent participation of individual neurons

March 14, 2022

Research Feature

A Picower Institute primer on ‘plasticity,’ the brain’s amazing ability to constantly adapt to and learn from experience

February 14, 2022

Research Findings

Single-cell gene expression analyses of human cerebrovascular cells can help reveal new drug targets for Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

January 31, 2022

Research Findings

The act of holding information in mind is accompanied by coordination of rotating brain waves in the prefrontal cortex, a new study finds.

When a task adds more steps, this circuit helps you notice

How microglia contribute to Alzheimer’s disease

Advanced imaging reveals mired migration of neurons in Rett syndrome lab models

Sprint then stop? Brain is wired for the math to make it happen

How the brain responds to surprising events

Brown wins share of 2022 Gruber Neuroscience Prize

Anesthetic drastically diverts the travels of brain waves

A single memory is stored across many connected brain regions

Neurons are fickle. Electric fields are more reliable for information.

The model remodeler

A new “atlas” of cells that carry blood to the brain

‘Traveling’ nature of brain waves may help working memory work