Six panels show circular arrangements of each individual cell type in a miBrain culture, stained in cyan. The cell types are Pericytes, Astrocytes, Endothelial Cells, Neurons, Oligodendroglia, and Microglia
October 17, 2025
MIT invents human brain model with six major cell types to enable personalized disease research, drug discovery
An array of six panels shows different views of a long, thin, spiny structure that closely resembles a bumpy twig. Each is stained bright green and the degree of bumpiness varies along each one.
October 16, 2025
Study finds circular RNA helps drive brain development
Two stacked electron microscope images show a synapse. Above a small, river-like gap is a dark T shape among many tiny bubble-like circles. In the bottom image the T shape is much bigger than in the upper image.
October 14, 2025
Neural activity helps circuit connections mature into optimal signal transmitters
The almond shape of the amygdala is composed of cells stained red (on the left) and green (on the right).
September 29, 2025
Many Mechanisms of Mood
A closeup on two relay racers as they hand off a blue baton from one runner to the other.
September 22, 2025
How the brain splits up vision without you even noticing

Math shows how brain stays stable amid internal noise and a widely varying world

August 10, 2020
Research Findings
Theoretical framework shows that many properties of neural connections help biological circuits produce consistent computations

To distinguish contexts, animals think probabilistically, study suggests

August 3, 2020
Research Findings
A new statistical model may help scientists understand how animals make inferences about whether their surroundings are novel or haven’t changed enough to be a new context

Neural vulnerability in Huntington’s disease tied to release of mitochondrial RNA

July 17, 2020
Research Findings
Unique survey of gene expression by cell type in humans and mice reveals several deficits affecting the most vulnerable neurons

Seemingly similar, two neurons show distinct styles as they interact with the same muscle partner

July 7, 2020
Research Findings
Diversity in how cells talk to the muscle they innervate reveal distinct propensities for change, or “plasticity”

Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections

June 30, 2020
Research Findings
Among study’s many surprises may be a new way to address Fragile X syndrome – by finding a “Protein X”

The story behind the science: How discovery develops

June 25, 2020
News Feature
An inside look at a key paper illustrates what it can take to publish new knowledge

‘Skyrocketing’ research by investing in young researchers

June 23, 2020
Picower People
Picower Institute postdocs advance new ideas, gain skills with support of NIH’s ‘K99’ awards

Dopamine signaling allows neural circuits to generate coordinated behaviors

June 11, 2020
Research Findings
As part of study, team invents new open-source microscopy platform

Study finds path for addressing Alzheimer’s blood-brain barrier impairment

June 8, 2020
Research Findings
MIT researchers pinpoint mechanism and demonstrate drugs could help

Like a treasure map, brain region emphasizes reward location

June 1, 2020
Research Findings
Lateral septum encodes spatial information with a special emphasis on where the reward lies

Closing social distance with social media by highlighting a volunteer science movement

May 29, 2020
News Feature
While home from the bench, Tonegawa lab postdoc co-runs Twitter feed of the Covid-19 National Scientist Volunteer Database

McKnight Scholars Award supports Flavell lab’s gut-brain connection studies

May 28, 2020
Picower People
Award will help researchers understand how the body’s microbiome influences the brain