Systems Neuroscience

Picower Institute scientists seek to understand the complex circuits and processes that the brain constructs and employs so that we can perceive, learn, think, plan, and feel. 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.

October 14, 2022

Picower People

Gloria Choi’s studies of how the immune system and nervous system influence each other could yield new approaches to treating neurological disorders.

October 4, 2022

Research Feature

When fundamental research yields discoveries with medical potential, Picower Institute professors find ways to test whether they’ll help patients.

September 28, 2022

Recent Events

At an exhibition marking two decades since a transformative gift from The Picower Foundation, current and alumni members described research at the forefront of neuroscience and beyond

September 5, 2022

Research Findings

When holding information in mind, neural activity is more focused when and where there are bursts of gamma frequency rhythms

August 19, 2022

Research Findings

New research reveals cells that span brain hemispheres to coordinate activity in visual processing centers and shows that Alzheimer’s degrades their structure and therefore their function

August 15, 2022

Picower People

As he works to solve an advanced problem at the intersection of computing and neurobiology, Picower Institute post-baccalaureate scholar Eric Bueno is also thinking of how he could pay his experience forward

August 5, 2022

Research Findings

By tracking feedback during tasks, the anterior cingulate cortex notices when a new step has become necessary and signals the motor cortex to adjust

July 28, 2022

Research Findings

To ensure a quick halt, brain circuit architecture avoids a slow process of integration in favor of quicker differentiation, study finds

July 20, 2022

Research Findings

Nerve cells regulate and routinely refresh the collection of calcium channels that enable them to send messages across circuit connections

June 1, 2022

Research Findings

Unexpected outcomes trigger release of noradrenaline, which helps the brain focus its attention and learn from the event

April 21, 2022

Research Findings

With a comprehensive map of the wiring, researchers can now discern what information flows into the circuit to enable a key brain function

April 11, 2022

Research Findings

Innovative brain-wide mapping study shows that “engrams,” the ensembles of neurons encoding a memory, are widely distributed, including among regions not previously realized

Building a bridge between neuroscience and immunology

To the clinic!

Celebrating 20 years of discovery, Picower Institute looks ahead to continuing impact

How the brain focuses on what’s in mind

When Alzheimer’s degrades cells that cross hemispheres, visual memory suffers

At a research forefront, young scholar looks ahead to graduate school, chance to mentor others

When a task adds more steps, this circuit helps you notice

Sprint then stop? Brain is wired for the math to make it happen

New findings reveal how neurons build and maintain their capacity to communicate

How the brain responds to surprising events

Circuit that focuses attention brings in wide array of inputs

A single memory is stored across many connected brain regions