Select Topics
Disorders
Cognition and Motivation
Systems Neuroscience
Molecular and Cellular
Neurotechnology

Biology-based brain model matches animals in learning, enables new discovery

December 29, 2025
Research Findngs
A new ‘biomimetic’ model of brain circuits and function at multiple scales produced naturalistic dynamics and learning, and even identified curious behavior by some neurons that had gone unnoticed in real-brain data.

To flexibly organize thought, the brain makes use of space

December 22, 2025
Research Findngs
In a new study, MIT researchers tested their theory of Spatial Computing, which holds that the brain recruits and controls ad hoc groups of neurons for cognitive tasks by applying brain waves to patches of the cortex.

Focus on Fats

December 17, 2025
Research Feature
A Picower Institute lab is on a mission to discover how cells mishandle lipid molecules in Alzheimer’s disease and is using that knowledge to develop treatments.

Prefrontal cortex reaches back into the brain to shape how other regions function

November 25, 2025
Research Findngs
A new MIT study illustrates how areas within the brain’s executive control center tailor their messages in specific circuits with other brain regions to influence them with information about behavior and internal feelings.

Too sick to socialize: How the brain and immune system promote staying in bed

November 25, 2025
Research Findngs
MIT researchers have discovered how an immune system molecule triggers neurons in a specific brain circuit to shut down social behavior in mice modeling infection.

RNA editing study finds many ways for neurons to diversify

November 20, 2025
Research Findngs
When MIT neurobiologists tracked how more than 200 motor neurons in fruit flies each edited their RNA, they cataloged hundreds of target sites and widely varying editing rates. Scores of edits altered proteins involved in neural communication and function

MIT study shows how vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia

November 19, 2025
Research Findngs
Temporarily anesthetizing the retina briefly reverts the activity of the visual system to that observed in early development and enables growth of responses to the amblyopic eye, new research shows

Brain waves’ analog organization of cortex enables cognition and consciousness, MIT professor proposes at SfN

November 15, 2025
Picower People
On neuroscience’s big stage Nov. 15, MIT Professor Earl K. Miller proposed that thought and consciousness emerge from the fast and flexible organization of the cortex produced by the analog computations of brain waves.

Q&A: Picower researchers join effort to investigate the ‘Biology of Adversity’

November 3, 2025
New Research
Assistant Professor Sara Prescott and Research Affiliate Ravikiran Raju are key collaborators in a new Broad Institute research project to better understand physiological and medical effects of acute and chronic life stressors.

After distractions, rotating brain waves may help thought circle back to the task

November 3, 2025
Research Findngs
To get back on track after a distraction, the cortex appears to employ a rotating traveling wave, a new study by MIT neuroscientists finds.

Symposium examines the neural circuits that keep us alive and well

October 28, 2025
Picower Events
Seven speakers from around the country convened at MIT to describe some of the latest research on the neural mechanisms that we need to survive.

Small study suggests 40Hz sensory stimulation may benefit some Alzheimer’s patients for years

October 27, 2025
Research Findngs
Five volunteers continued receiving 40Hz stimulation for around two years after an early-stage MIT clinical study. Those with late-onset Alzheimer’s performed significantly better on assessments than comparable Alzheimer’s patients outside the trial