AI SummaryResearchers at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT have conducted a comprehensive study on how serotonin affects behavior in the nematode worm C. elegans, which has similarities to the human brain. The study provides insights into the role of serotonin receptors and their complex interactions in controlling behavior, which could enhance… Continue reading From molecular to whole-brain scale in a simple animal, study reveals serotonin’s effects
Category: Neuroscience
3 Questions: A new model of nervous system form, function, and evolution
How does animal behavior emerge from networks of connected neurons? How are these incredible nervous systems and behaviors actually generated by evolution? Are there principles shared by all nervous systems or is evolution constantly innovating? What did the first nervous system look like that gave rise to the incredible diversity of life that we see… Continue reading 3 Questions: A new model of nervous system form, function, and evolution
3 Questions: Sara Prescott on the brain-body connection
AI SummarySara Prescott, a faculty member in the Department of Biology at MIT, is researching the interoceptive nervous system and its role in detecting and responding to stimuli in the body. Her focus is on the mammalian airway and how neural pathways affect respiratory function and overall health. The goal of her research is to… Continue reading 3 Questions: Sara Prescott on the brain-body connection
Four researchers with MIT ties earn 2023 Schmidt Science Fellowships
AI SummaryFour researchers with ties to MIT have been named Schmidt Science Fellows. Lillian Chin, Neil Dalvie, Suong Nguyen, and Yirui Zhang are among the 32 exceptional early-career scientists worldwide chosen to receive the prestigious fellowships. They will receive a stipend of $100,000 a year for up to two years of postdoctoral research in a… Continue reading Four researchers with MIT ties earn 2023 Schmidt Science Fellowships
Scientists discover how mutations in a language gene produce speech deficits
AI SummaryMutations in the gene Foxp2 have been linked to speech disorders, specifically apraxia. Researchers from MIT and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University conducted a study on mice and found that these mutations disrupt the formation of dendrites and neuronal synapses in the brain, affecting the ability to produce high-frequency sounds. The mutations prevent… Continue reading Scientists discover how mutations in a language gene produce speech deficits
Scientists discover anatomical changes in the brains of the newly sighted
AI SummaryRecent research from MIT Professor Pawan Sinha reveals that there is a longer window of brain plasticity for visual tasks than previously believed, as older children with congenital cataracts can learn visual skills such as recognizing faces and distinguishing objects from a background after their sight is restored through surgery. The researchers have also… Continue reading Scientists discover anatomical changes in the brains of the newly sighted
Studying consciousness without affecting it
Studies of consciousness often run into a common conundrum of science — it’s hard to measure a system without the measurement affecting the system. Researchers assessing consciousness, for instance as volunteers receive anesthesia, typically use spoken commands to see if subjects can still respond, but that sound might keep them awake longer or wake them… Continue reading Studying consciousness without affecting it
Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks
AI SummaryResearchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed liquid neural networks that enable drones to navigate unfamiliar environments with precision and ease. These adaptable models outperformed other navigation systems and could have real-world applications in search and rescue, delivery, and wildlife monitoring. The liquid neural networks address the challenge of… Continue reading Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks
Neuroscientists identify cells especially vulnerable to Alzheimer’s
AI SummaryNeurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease affects different brain regions unequally, with one of the first regions to show damage being the mammillary body in the hypothalamus. MIT researchers have identified a subset of neurons in the mammillary body that are most susceptible to neurodegeneration and hyperactivity, which leads to memory impairments. The findings suggest that… Continue reading Neuroscientists identify cells especially vulnerable to Alzheimer’s
A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer’s treatment
AI SummaryMIT neuroscientists have discovered a peptide that can reverse neurodegeneration and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by interfering with an enzyme called CDK5 that is overactive in Alzheimer’s patients. In mice, the peptide led to reductions in neurodegeneration, DNA damage, and improvements in cognitive abilities, leading researchers to believe it could serve as a… Continue reading A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer’s treatment