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Disorders
Cognition and Motivation
Systems Neuroscience
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Neurotechnology

Brain Imaging

In many ways, Picower Institute neuroscientists are explorers for whom new ways to see inside the brain are essential for finding answers to their questions about how the brain works at scales ranging from synapses to whole networks. Researchers at the institute doesn’t just apply the latest imaging techniques, it often creates new technologies to make imaging better.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism refers to a group of developmental disorders typically affecting behaviors including social interaction. Picower researchers study the neurobiology underlying a variety of forms of autism, including genetic anomalies and other ways that synapses and neural circuits may develop differently. Their studies extend to the level of cognitive functions and associated systems.

Huntington's Disease

Huntington’s disease is an inherited, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder associated with mutation of the Huntingtin protein results in wide-ranging motor, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Work at the Picower Institute involves advancing the understanding of how the mutation gives rise to these consequences.

Schizophrenia

A developmental disorder with typical onset in young adulthood, schizophrenia affects cognition and behavior, sometimes affecting a person’s understanding of reality. Research in the Picower Institute spans synapses and systems to help better understand the condition and how treatments might be improved.

Brain Simulation

March 23, 2026
Research Feature
Picower Institute researchers and collaborators are inventing versatile new models of the brain to accelerate neuroscience discoveries and biomedical advances.

Three anesthesia drugs all have the same effect in the brain, MIT researchers find

March 17, 2026
Research Findings
Discovering this common mechanism could lead to a universal anesthesia-delivery system to monitor patients more effectively.

After 16+ years leading Picower Institute, Li-Huei Tsai will sharpen focus on research, teaching

March 11, 2026
Picower People
Tsai, who has grown the MIT neuroscience institute, will increase focus on research including Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome

In Rett syndrome, leaky brain blood vessels traced to microRNA

February 25, 2026
Research Findings
MIT neuroscientists have found that either of two genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome undermine the structural integrity of developing blood vessels. By showing that the problem derives from overexpression of a microRNA, the new study points to a p

As worms and jellyfish wriggle, new AI tools track their neurons

February 24, 2026
Research Findings
Three new neural network-based tools enable fast, accurate alignment and annotation of images even in very wiggly subjects. The tools might offer a way to automate cell tracking in other imaging datasets, too.

Sloan Fellowship will help Fan advance technology to study how brain circuits change amid learning

February 17, 2026
Picower People
Linlin Fan uses innovative optical tools to precisely investigate how connections change among neurons during memory formation. With Sloan Foundation support, she plans to give the technology a significant upgrade

Fragile X study uncovers brainwave biomarker bridging humans and mice

February 11, 2026
Research Findings
A collaboration centered at MIT discovered that mice modeling the autism spectrum disorder fragile X syndrome exhibit the same pattern of differences in low-frequency waves as human patients, identifying a new biomarker for treatment studies

Opening a new window on the brainstem, AI algorithm enables tracking of its vital white matter pathways

February 6, 2026
Research Findings
Filled with vitally important neural fibers, the brainstem has been hard for brain imaging technologies to dissect. New software reliably and finely resolves eight distinct nerve bundles in live diffusion MRI scans, revealing signs of injury or disease