Research Topics

As this gallery of featured people and projects illustrates, Picower Institute scientists study brain structure and function at scales from genes and molecules to cells, circuits and regions. They also study the behaviors and cognitive processes that result, and seek to uncover how disruptions at different scales can result in developmental, psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. They employ—and often invent—the newest technologies in their work. To learn more about any of these specific areas, click "Research Topics" above, select areas of interest, and you'll find relevant Picower people, discoveries and events.

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 11, 2021

Research Findings

Findings suggest this hippocampal circuit helps us to maintain our timeline of memories.

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.

December 8, 2020

Research Findings

Unbiased, high-throughput analysis pipeline improves utility of ‘minibrains’ for understanding development and diseases such as Zika infection

November 23, 2020

Research Findings

The brain uses different frequency rhythms and cortical layers to suppress expected stimulation and increase activity for what’s novel

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

November 2, 2020

Research Findings

Study shows that norepinephrine producing neurons in the locus coeruleus produce attention focus, impulse control via two distinct connections to prefrontal cortex