AI SummaryMIT senior Teresa Gao has been named one of the 12 winners of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship’s Class of 2024. After graduating next spring with a double major in computer science and engineering as well as brain and cognitive sciences, she will study augmented and virtual reality at Trinity College Dublin. Gao is… Continue reading Teresa Gao named 2024 Mitchell Scholar
Category: Neuroscience
Alzheimer’s risk gene undermines insulation of brain’s “wiring”
AI SummaryA new study published in Nature by an MIT-based team provides insight into how the APOE4 gene variant increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study shows that APOE4 disrupts the management of cholesterol in brain cells called oligodendrocytes, leading to a deficiency in the fatty insulation of neurons known as myelin, which impairs… Continue reading Alzheimer’s risk gene undermines insulation of brain’s “wiring”
Are Covid-19 “comas” signs of a protective hibernation state?
AI SummaryMany Covid-19 patients who have been treated with mechanical ventilation are slow to regain consciousness even after being taken off sedation, and a new study suggests that this could be due to a hibernation-like state induced by the brain to protect cells during periods of oxygen scarcity. This state has been observed in other… Continue reading Are Covid-19 “comas” signs of a protective hibernation state?
Study: Zebrafish are smarter than we thought
AI SummaryA study from MIT and Harvard University reveals that zebrafish are able to use visual information to create 3D maps of their environment, challenging previous assumptions about their cognitive abilities. The researchers found that zebrafish can navigate around obstacles while escaping predators, suggesting that they possess more sophisticated cognitive skills than previously believed. This… Continue reading Study: Zebrafish are smarter than we thought
Ila Fiete wins Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
AI SummaryIla Fiete, professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, has been awarded the Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) for her breakthrough research on modeling hippocampal grid cells, which are involved in the brain’s navigational system. Fiete’s work has significantly influenced the field… Continue reading Ila Fiete wins Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
Solving brain dynamics gives rise to flexible machine-learning models
AI SummaryMIT researchers have developed a new type of artificial intelligence algorithm called “closed-form continuous-time” (CfC) neural networks, which are faster and more efficient than traditional models. These models can solve the differential equation behind the interaction of neurons, making them suitable for various tasks involving data over time. They outperformed state-of-the-art models in tasks… Continue reading Solving brain dynamics gives rise to flexible machine-learning models
Not every reader’s struggle is the same
AI SummaryMany children struggle to read, especially those from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. In a new study, neuroscientists at MIT found that the difficulties and brain signatures associated with reading disabilities differ between lower-SES and higher-SES students. Lower-SES students who struggle with reading often have difficulties with rapid word or letter naming, while higher-SES… Continue reading Not every reader’s struggle is the same