September 1, 2026
Atlas of the brain’s striatum could guide researchers to new drug treatments
Three brain-shaped speak bubbles are black but full of white concentric lines that appear as ripples or waves in complex patterns
August 19, 2026
Cognition and consciousness arise from analog computations, says new theory
a cartoon of a brain with cogs and gears
August 17, 2026
Flexible brain circuits can switch between different tasks
Over a tangle of dark blue neurons, bright orange spots appear along the lengths of some of the axons, highlighting their paths through the tangle
August 13, 2026
Brain circuit keeps tabs on what just happened to aid judgement of what’s happening now
Shanshan Zhang and Rosie Firenze stand before a Massachusetts Life Sciences Center backdrop holding and award certificate
July 29, 2026
With Mass. Women’s Health Award, team will study how Alzheimer’s risk varies with hormone replacement

Takato Honda receives MIT Infinite Expansion Award

May 22, 2026
Picower People
Picower Institute Research Scientist honored for studies, mentoring and recently discovering a new marine species

The rules neurons follow to make sense of what we see

May 14, 2026
Research Findings
Brain cells take in many signals through thousands of circuit connections. A new study in mice discerns the rules that turn what could be a cacophony of inputs into a functional arrangement for neurons that process vision.

MIT-based team releases first AI foundation model for Alzheimer's prevention

April 26, 2026
Research Feature
FINGERS-7B integrates lifestyle, clinical, genomic, and proteomic data from tens of thousands of at-risk individuals to discover multi-omic biomarkers for preclinical Alzheimer's

How neurons sense bacteria in the gut

April 20, 2026
Research Findings
Neural interaction with bacteria, e.g. in the gut microbiome, has important effects on brains of animals from worms to people. A new study investigates how neurons sense bacteria by revealing, in nematodes, the bacterial signals that a key neuron detects

Alana Down Syndrome Center symposium highlights studies from brain to heart

April 14, 2026
Picower Events
Seven researchers from MIT, Rutgers University and the University of São Paulo shared the research they are doing to help people with trisomy 21 throughout their lifespan.

Rett syndrome study highlights potential for personalized treatments

April 14, 2026
Research Findings
Using advanced human cell cultures to model Rett syndrome, MIT researchers tracked how two different mutations alter neural circuit development and how each could be addressed with distinct potential therapeutics

A complete rethinking of how our brains use categories to make sense of the world

April 13, 2026
Research Findings
Challenging the classic view, two cognitive scientists argue in a new review that categorization is not a late, specialized stage of sensory processing. Instead, it is a core function operating at every level, anticipating bodily needs and motor plans.

With navigating nematodes, scientists map out how brains implement behaviors

April 10, 2026
Research Findings
How do nervous systems produce behaviors? A new MIT study provides a detailed mechanistic mapping of exactly what happens in the brains of C. elegans worms when they “follow their nose” to savor attractive odors or avoid unappealing ones

Leading with rigor, kindness, and care

April 2, 2026
Picower People
“We cannot be effective scientists if we are unhappy or unhealthy outside of the lab,” says “Committed to Caring” honoree Sara Prescott.

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