A new study by MIT neuroscientists pinpointed the earliest emergence of amyloid protein plaques in the human brain, finding they correlate strongly with disease progression. The research uses a mouse model to track plaque development and shows that these regions eventually spread throughout the brain.
MIT researchers are developing a multicellular integrated chip platform to model the complexity of Alzheimer's disease. They will integrate blood vessels and key cell types, including neurons, immune cells, and oligodendrocytes, to provide a powerful testbed for personalized research.
Researchers identify lateral septum as crucial link between circuits guiding goal-directed movement and motivated behavior. The study shows that the LS directly encodes information about speed and acceleration, enabling it to integrate or optimize performance across environmental signals.
A $1.5 million, three-year grant will fund the development of new tools to study astrocytes, key players in brain function and disorders. The tools will allow scientists to manipulate astrocyte properties with spatial and temporal control, enabling investigations into their role in modulating neurons.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have developed a new way to classify brain cells based on electrical signals. By analyzing data from nearly 2,500 neurons, they identified four distinct classes of cells with different properties and functions in various regions of the brain.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute identified the gene and protein CPG15 that enables brain cells to select permanent synapses based on experience-driven neural activity. Without CPG15, mice exhibit slower learning and reliance on circuit architectures that haven't been refined by experience.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute found that excess calcium in glia cells causes them to hyper-activate a molecular pathway leading to seizures. They identified calcineurin and sandman proteins as key players in the process, suggesting a promising avenue for future drug development.
A new study shows that deep-brain stimulation improves cognitive control by increasing low-frequency brain rhythms in the prefrontal cortex. This finding could lead to more effective treatment plans tailored to individual patients' needs.
The new center aims to increase understanding of Down syndrome's biology and neuroscience, developing novel interventions and technologies to improve quality of life for people with the condition. It will also provide training opportunities for early career scientists and students.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have discovered a neural circuit in the locus coeruleus (LC) that helps moderate brain activity and maintain calm. The circuit involves connections between neurons releasing GABA and noradrenaline, which work together to regulate arousal levels.
Researchers have made novel discoveries about visual cortex layers and the subplate, a mysterious layer below. The team used optimized three-photon microscopy to measure patterns of activity among neurons in six layers of visual cortex and the subplate.
Researchers discovered that people with bipolar disorder have lower levels of the CPG2 protein, which regulates glutamate receptor numbers at excitatory synapses. Genetic variations in the SYNE1 gene, encoding the protein, undermine its expression and function in neurons.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered a mechanism the brain employs to make returning to a familiar context lead to vivid memories. The study found that brief re-exposure to the initial context increases the electrical excitability of 'engram cells,' which encode memory through specific neural connections.
Researchers have developed a system that can decode neural activity in real-time, allowing them to understand how the brain represents space and navigate. This breakthrough enables new experiments on learning, memory, navigation, and cognition, opening doors to new insights.
A new model of working memory proposes that the brain uses coordinating ensembles of cells with timely bursts of activity at specific brain wave frequencies to hold information in mind. This model challenges traditional beliefs about brainwaves having functional meaning and working memory being maintained by persistent neural firing.
Earl Miller, a renowned expert in working memory, has developed a new model known as Working Memory 2.0, which recognizes the interplay between two distinct rhythms in the cortex. The Cognitive Neuroscience Society awarded Miller the prize for his groundbreaking research with potential to revolutionize the field.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered that SAP102 regulates synaptic AMPAR function differently than PSD-95, with distinct effects on current decay timing. This finding may contribute to the greater cognitive capacity of mammals and other vertebrates.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute argue that targeting nociception can lead to improved anesthesia outcomes, including reduced medication use and faster patient recovery. By combining drugs to affect nociception, anesthesiologists can achieve a more desirable anesthetic state with better pain control.
A new study found that antidepressants can restore lost plasticity in the brain's inhibitory neurons, which are less flexible with age. The researchers showed that fluoxetine, a commonly used antidepressant, can reverse age-related declines in structural and functional plasticity.
Working memory is a crucial aspect of cognitive function, and researchers are trying to understand its underlying mechanisms. A recent study suggests that brief, coordinated bursts of neural activity may be essential for maintaining working memory. This finding challenges the traditional view that neurons fire continuously during this ...
A new study by neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory helps explain why strong synapses are stronger. The team found that strong active zones have higher calcium ion channels and more of the protein Bruchpilot, which clusters these channels, maximizing signal transmission. By studying how strong synapses dev...
A new study tracked how the brain processes visual information from simple sensory inputs to meaningful categories, finding a continuum of activity across multiple cortical regions. The research challenges classic beliefs about separate regions playing distinct roles, suggesting a more integrated network of functional similarities.
A new study at MIT's Picower Institute found that the posterior parietal cortex plays a crucial role in converting vision into action. The research team identified specific neurons in this region that respond to visual patterns and motor actions, suggesting a key link between seeing and acting.
Researchers found that when one synapse strengthens, neighboring synapses weaken due to the action of a crucial protein called Arc. This balance is essential for maintaining healthy neural activity and function. The discovery provides new insights into how brain plasticity works in complex systems.
Researchers found that neurogranin and FMRP proteins quickly form a complex to enable memory encoding within minutes of encountering a novel context. This process is crucial for understanding how abnormalities in these proteins contribute to human neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers found that as working memory load increases, brain wave synchrony among three key regions breaks down, leading to a loss of communication and sustaining working memory. This study sheds light on the intrinsic limit of conscious thought and cognitive performance, potentially explaining psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute identified the MVP gene as essential for homeostatic plasticity in neurons with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, a common genetic cause of autism. The study found that reduced MVP levels disrupted neural circuit adjustments to experience, leading to impaired learning and memory.
Research in brain science and statistical modeling allows for safer anesthesia administration, reducing side effects and improving patient recovery. Brown's methods use EEG data to fine-tune anesthesia dosing, enabling the safe administration of less anesthesia.
Astrocytes may partner with neurons to process information, according to a new MIT study funded by a $1.9 million grant. The research aims to uncover the crucial role of astrocytes in brain function and development, potentially providing insight into disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism.
A new study at MIT's Picower Institute explains how the brain achieves category abstractions through distinct rhythms in the prefrontal cortex. When matching images with close resemblance, gamma rhythms were crucial, while beta rhythms played a key role when abstraction was needed.
A new study maps distinct neighborhoods where feelings are assigned to experience in the basolateral amygdala, revealing a region with diverse and dynamic neurons that interact with each other. The findings shed light on how valence assignment works and may provide insights into mental health disorders.