Molecular and Cellular

Picower Institute scientists probe the role of genes, proteins and molecules in the physiology and action of neurons and glia, including how synaptic connections change. To learn more about these or other areas of inquiry, select them under Research Topics and you'll find relevant Picower people, discoveries and events.

April 27, 2021

Research Findings

Simultaneous measurement of neural rhythms and spikes across five brain areas in animals reveals how propofol induces unconsciousness

March 16, 2021

New Research

With new NIH grant, team will learn how neurons build key sites that release neurotransmitters a lot, or a little, to drive nervous system communication

February 23, 2021

Research Findings

A new computational approach for analyzing complex datasets shows that as disease progresses, neurons and astrocytes lose the ability to maintain homeostasis

February 8, 2021

Research Findings

New study explains how the brain helps us remember what we’ve seen, even as it shifts around in our visual system

January 4, 2021

New Research

Two MIT Brain and Cognitive Sciences faculty members earn funding from the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation

December 18, 2020

Research Findings

Researchers identify a new level of complexity in how the brain responds to stimuli

December 14, 2020

Research Feature

Picower scientists are making the dauntingly long but highly motivating climb between associating a gene with disease and developing potential treatments.

November 20, 2020

Recent Events

Speakers describe studies to address Alzheimer’s disease, sleep apnea and to advance fundamental discoveries in cell and chromosome biology

October 26, 2020

Picower People

Award cites major contributions to statistical analysis of brain activity and advancing the neuroscience of anesthesia

August 10, 2020

Research Findings

Theoretical framework shows that many properties of neural connections help biological circuits produce consistent computations

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

July 7, 2020

Research Findings

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

Anesthesia doesn't simply turn off the brain, it changes its rhythms

Study of synapse strength focuses on ‘active zones’

Basic cell health systems wear down in Huntington’s disease, novel analysis shows

As you look around, mental images bounce between right and left brain

Scientists seek insight into Parkinson’s, addiction by tracking gene expression in the brain

Playing chess, not checkers: Neurons dynamically control their myelin patterns

Genes & Disease

Down syndrome symposium highlights clinical, fundamental progress

Brown wins SfN’s Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience

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

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

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