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 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

October 5, 2020

Research Findings

Modifications to chromosomes in “engram” neurons control the encoding and retrieval of memories

September 17, 2020

Research Feature

How basic neuroscience research by Picower faculty has mattered to AI

September 17, 2020

Research Findings

Scientists distinguish brain regions based on what they do, but now have a new way to overlay information about how they are built

September 8, 2020

Research Findings

Study also finds specific frequency bands associated with encoding, or inhibiting encoding, of sensory information across the cortex

August 10, 2020

Research Findings

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

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

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

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”

June 25, 2020

News Feature

An inside look at a key paper illustrates what it can take to publish new knowledge

June 8, 2020

Research Findings

MIT researchers pinpoint mechanism and demonstrate drugs could help

May 20, 2020

Research Findings

Drug compound, tested in mice, could be effective in treating the leading heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism

Scientists identify specific brain region and circuits controlling attention

Neuroscientists discover a molecular mechanism that allows memories to form

From Biological Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence

Live imaging method brings structural information to mapping of brain function

As information flows through brain’s heirarchy, higher regions use higher frequency waves

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

To distinguish contexts, animals think probabilistically, study suggests

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

Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections

The story behind the science: How discovery develops

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

Scientists find a new way to reverse symptoms of Fragile X