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.

November 29, 2021

Research Findings

Tomosyn’s tight regulation of neurotransmitter release distinguishes functions of two neuron classes at the fly neuromuscular junction

November 3, 2021

Research Findings

The findings may help explain why some people who lead enriching lives are less prone to Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia

October 5, 2021

New Research

Large-scale, integrated application of advanced computational, biological techniques aims to discover mechanisms underlying ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease

September 20, 2021

Research Feature

How brain circuits integrate many sources of context to flexibly guide behavior

September 1, 2021

Research Findings

By temporarily suspending retinal activity in the non-amblyopic eye of animal models, neuroscientists restrengthened the visual response in the amblyopic eye, even at ages after the critical period when patch therapy fails

July 26, 2021

Research Findings

The visual cortex stores and remembers individual images, but when they are grouped into a sequence, mice can’t recognize that without guidance from the hippocampus

July 6, 2021

Research Findings

To quickly express genes needed for learning and memory, brain cells snap both strands of DNA in many more places and cell types than previously realized, a new study shows

June 8, 2021

Research Findings

As ‘visual recognition memory’ emerges in visual cortex, one circuit of inhibitory neurons supplants another and slower neural oscillations prevail

May 6, 2021

Research Findings

Machine learning software advances could help anesthesiologists optimize drug dose

April 27, 2021

Research Findings

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

March 31, 2021

Research Findings

MIT neuroscientists have identified a brain circuit that stops mice from mating with others that appear to be sick

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

Study reveals a protein’s key contribution to heterogeneity of neurons

Study links gene to cognitive resilience in the elderly

NIH award funds innovative investigation of neurodegenerative motor diseases

'What Were you Thinking?'

Novel approach reverses amblyopia in animals

Brain’s ‘memory center’ needed to recognize image sequences but not single sights

Memory making involves extensive DNA breaking

As novel sights become familiar, different brain rhythms, neurons take over

New algorithms show accuracy, reliability in gauging unconsciousness under general anesthesia

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

Mice naturally engage in physical distancing, study finds

Study of synapse strength focuses on ‘active zones’