A new tool, BioemuS, enables real-time emulation and hybridization of biological systems using biomimetic Spiking Neural Networks, addressing limitations of current pharmacological treatments. The system, developed through international collaboration, prioritizes cost efficiency and accessibility for closed-loop applications.
SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 20, 2024
A new study on learning has provided insights into the balance between habitual and goal-directed behaviors, with implications for AI development. The research suggests that a balance between these two types of behavior is necessary for efficient and adaptable decision-making in AI systems.
SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 16, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A team of scientists has uncovered how our brains simulate possible future actions using stored memories. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus work together to enable mental simulations, allowing us to make better decisions. This research provides foundational knowledge on brain circuits enabling decision-making.
SourceNew York University·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024
Researchers at EPFL have developed a novel non-invasive technique to target deep brain regions involved in neurological disorders. By applying low-level electrical stimulation on the scalp, they can selectively stimulate key brain regions without invasive procedures.
SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMay 29, 2024
Salk scientists develop new method to quantify synaptic features, revealing high precision of plasticity and up to 10 times more storage capacity. The technique uses information theory to analyze synapse pairs from a rat hippocampus, offering a scalable approach for studying brain function.
SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeural Computation·DateMay 14, 2024
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
Neurons exhibit 'mixed selectivity,' integrating multiple inputs and computations, ensuring focused cognition. The brain employs mechanisms like oscillations and neuromodulators to recruit neurons and tune them to relevant information.
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalNeuron·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 10, 2024
Researchers at Janelia Research Campus have released Kilosort4, an updated version of the popular spike-sorting software that requires less manual work and is more accurate. The new software improves processing and allows for easier use, making it indispensable for neuroscientists worldwide.
SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Methods·DateApr 8, 2024
Researchers developed a new open-source system to interface with living neurons, offering enhanced control and precision in measuring neural processes. The system boasts over 500 electrodes, allowing for more data collection and customization, while being 10 times cheaper than commercial systems.
SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2024
Researchers found large individual differences in roundworm neural activity despite conserved neural circuits. Computer simulations including noise accurately model whole-brain activity, shedding light on neuronal connectivity and essential role of noise in brain function.
SourceSchool of Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2024
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
A new neuroscientific paradigm, the synergistic model, allows better understanding of brain-body-environment interactions. This framework enables more accurate personalized diagnoses and treatments of brain diseases.
SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2024
Researchers discovered how insects navigate using limited brain power by simplifying complex problems through their behavior, a strategy that can be applied to robots and computers. A model of insect neuronal activity showed the robot successfully navigated in various environments, leading to potential improvements in energy efficiency.
SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 12, 2024
The Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference in Toronto will explore the nature of thought and cognition. Registered press members will have access to scientific talks, posters, and receptions.
Researchers have designed a new, affordable system to study neural interactions and compute using living neurons. The open-source MiV system boasts over 500 electrodes, offering improved control and precision in measuring neural processes.
SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 23, 2024
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
Researchers found that brain waves are slower in deep cortical layers and faster in superficial layers, with gamma waves dominating the topmost layers. These oscillations may play a fundamental role in brain function and contribute to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJan 18, 2024
The European Commission has awarded €38 million to further develop EBRAINS, a digital ecosystem for neuroscientific research. The project aims to establish a new standard for brain atlases and push forward digital twin approaches.
A team of researchers led by Keith Hengen proposes a theory that explains both the meaning of sleep and the complexity of the brain. By tracking brain activity in sleeping rats, they found that sleep restores criticality, a state that maximizes thinking and processing.
SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2024
A new study finds that complex and unfamiliar sentences generate stronger responses in the brain's language processing centers. Sentences with higher surprisal and linguistic complexity evoke more activation, while extremely simple or nonsensical sequences elicit little response.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJan 3, 2024
A new tool called Facemap uses deep neural networks to relate mouse facial movements to neural activity in the brain. This allows researchers to track and quantify movements and correlate them with brain activity, bringing them one step closer to understanding how the brain uses persistent, widespread signals.
SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 20, 2023
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
Research suggests that consciousness requires synchronized communication across cortical regions; propofol general anesthesia cancels sensory processing by cutting it off. Neural activity in higher-level processing and cognitive regions fails to propagate during anesthesia.
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2023
Researchers are combining biology, physics, computer science, and engineering to design electric circuits that mimic the brain's adaptive behavior. The goal is to create a more efficient AI application that can learn from history and adapt without significant energy consumption.
SourceUniversity of Texas at San Antonio·DateNov 1, 2023
Researchers at King's College London are studying the effects of maternal prenatal exposure to COVID-19 infection on children's brain development. The six-year study will explore how the maternal immune system affects fetal brain development and identify potential impacts on childhood outcomes.
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
Researchers found that deep neural networks often respond the same way to images with no resemblance to the target, generating unnatural signals. The models develop unique invariances that are different from human perceptual systems, causing them to perceive pairs of stimuli as similar despite their differences.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 16, 2023
Fruit flies use a unique toggle-switch in their brains to switch between solo and mating songs, exchanging information through dialogue. Researchers decoded the tiny brains' behavior using neural imaging and AI, providing insights into complex brain decision-making.
SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 11, 2023
Researchers have found that neural activity in the brain changes between sensing a stimulus and taking action, regardless of the context. This discovery has implications for understanding executive functions and potentially aiding in the development of autonomous vehicle systems.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2023
Researchers have created the first-ever map of a single animal's early visual system, reconstructing it from the eyes to neurons in a tiny parasitic wasp. The study reveals complex behaviors such as flight in an insect with just 8,600 cells compared to the human brain's 171 billion.
SourceSimons Foundation·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 28, 2023
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
In a new study, researchers deciphered mice's behavior during reward-based learning tasks, finding they persistently blend multiple strategies. The findings suggest mice do not fully adopt optimal approaches, and their ability to shift between strategies is crucial for understanding their decision-making process.
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2023
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC will accelerate health sciences research with a focus on cancer and brain disorders. The institute will recruit 14 researchers and support six major projects.
A team of scientists has developed a rigorous accounting of the neurons in the tiny brain of a humble C. elegans worm, mapping out how its brain cells encode essential behaviors such as movement and feeding. The atlas reveals the underlying logic of how the worm's brain produces a sophisticated repertoire of behaviors, even as environm...
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 21, 2023
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Researchers propose a hypothesis that astrocytes, non-neuronal cells in the brain, can perform core computation as transformers, providing insights into human brain function and machine learning success. This discovery could spark future neuroscience research and help explain transformer performance across complex tasks.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 15, 2023
A study published in Neuron found that a structure in rat brains called the periaqueductal gray is essential for play and laughter. The researchers used tickling to simulate playful environments and measured brain activity, finding strong neural responses to both tickling and playing.
SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·TypeObservational study·DateJul 28, 2023
Researchers found that nearly all Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum have multiple primary dendrites, which contradicts the traditional understanding of a one-to-one relationship between climbing fibers and Purkinje cells. This discovery was made possible by analyzing thousands of cells from both human and mouse tissue using immuno...
SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2023
Researchers created a simplified mathematical analysis to visualize neuron activities in daily experiences, employing state-space analysis. This technique allows for visualization of neuronal activity using general statistical software, revealing changes in brain activity over short time periods.
Human metacognitive behavior is distinct from AI's reward-punishment system, with humans adjusting memory retention in response to gain and learning speed in response to loss. This asymmetric property may provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying human metacognition.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 10, 2023
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience clarifies the connection between autism and the microbiome, identifying autism-specific metabolic pathways associated with particular human gut microbes. The analysis, which harmonized dozens of previously published datasets, reveals a common microbial signature distinguishing autistic fr...
SourceSimons Foundation·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2023
Researchers mapped receptor densities across the cortex, identifying two main arrangements that align with functional systems. The findings provide insights into how the brain adapts to a changing world, with potential applications for computational models and neuroscientific research.
SourceHuman Brain Project·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 19, 2023
Researchers at MIT have designed a computational model that can predict other people's emotions, including joy, gratitude, and regret. The model uses insights into human intuition, incorporating factors such as desires, expectations, and observation of actions to make predictions.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 6, 2023
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that predicting movement is crucial for eye-and-hand coordination. The study used high-speed cameras and AI methods to analyze primate behavior and developed a detailed model of vision-guided reaching behavior.
SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 5, 2023
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that instinctual exploratory runs enable mice to learn a map of the world efficiently. The study demonstrates how biological brains can learn faster and more efficiently than AI agents by focusing on salient objects.
SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 28, 2023
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that monkeys can think deeply about problems, consider multiple factors, and find optimal outcomes. This discovery challenges traditional views on animal intelligence and highlights the complexity of monkey cognition.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 24, 2023
The Human Brain Project has achieved significant scientific breakthroughs, including world-leading 3D brain atlases and personalized medicine based on computational modeling. The project's legacy will leave a lasting impact on the research community.
Researchers have developed a multidisciplinary approach using a new microscope, artificial intelligence algorithm, and voltage indicators to better measure brain activity. The technique enables the imaging of up to 100 neurons at a time, far surpassing previous limits.
SourceBoston University·JournalNature Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 27, 2023
Dr. Nico Spiller to develop new analysis methods using machine learning to analyze complex brain data related to memory, decision making, and movement. The fellowship aims to provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
SourceMax Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience·DateJan 30, 2023
Neuroscientists have uncovered a brain circuit that enables mice to rapidly escape to shelter when faced with a threat. The retrosplenial cortex and superior colliculus form a circuit that encodes the direction to a shelter, allowing mice to accurately orient and escape.
SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
Researchers propose that delayed recoveries in COVID-19 patients may be due to a protective response from their brains, similar to those seen in animals exposed to extreme conditions. This theory could lead to new approaches for ICU sedation and recovery from disorders of consciousness.
SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 7, 2022
The Keck School of Medicine's Stevens INI has received a nearly $2 million grant to upgrade its storage system, increasing its capacity to handle vast amounts of brain imaging data. This will enable the lab to maximize scientific productivity and fulfill its promise to collaborate with researchers globally.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that brain stimulation combined with a nose spray containing nanoparticles can improve recovery after ischemic stroke. The treatment increased cognitive and motor functions, and weighed more quickly than those treated with TMS alone.
SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalMaterials Today Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2022
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
A new theory developed by a collaboration between a former cosmologist and a computational neuroscientist has identified essential connections between brain cells. The theory, published in Physical Review Research, uses geometric framework to predict structure from function in neural networks.
SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateJun 30, 2022
A new GPU-based machine learning algorithm, ReAL-LiFE, can rapidly analyze large amounts of data from diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) scans of the human brain. This allows for faster analysis and prediction of brain connectivity, enabling better understanding of brain-behaviour relationships at scale.
SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalNature Computational Science·DateJun 27, 2022
Researchers found that two types of computer models, deep neural networks and the Basel Face Model, are surprisingly accurate at replicating human facial similarity judgments. These models were tested on a dataset of realistic computer-generated faces and ranked by students in terms of similarity.
SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2022
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba develop a model that combines multiple theories to simulate motor learning in humans. The study found that larger amounts of motor exploration aid in learning sensitivity derivatives and transforming errors into motor corrections.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNeural Networks·DateJun 23, 2022
A new AI system uses artificial neural networks to recognize objects more accurately and stably, despite changing visual inputs. The system mimics human eye movements to improve machine vision capabilities, reducing errors in self-driving cars and other applications.
SourceRIKEN·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 22, 2022
Researchers found that walking enhances performance on cognitive tasks in 14 participants by increasing frontal brain function, while 12 others showed no improvement. This discovery highlights the flexibility of a healthy brain and has implications for understanding aging and neurological disorders.
SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateJun 21, 2022
Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre discovered that brain area communication is dynamic and changes over rapid timespans, with influences varying on a fast timescale. This finding suggests that cortical areas may control different aspects of processing in downstream regions over very short time spans.
SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2022
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
A new circuit model provides an explanation for how deep brain stimulation (DBS) relieves Parkinson's disease motor symptoms by interrupting a vicious cycle between the subthalamic nucleus and the striatum. The model suggests that DBS restores a balance with other rhythm frequencies, enabling better movement control.
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 16, 2022
A new study by MIT scientists reveals that propofol anesthesia significantly alters the state of brain waves, with lower frequency delta waves dominating. Higher frequency beta waves decrease in structure and power, with their traveling nature disrupted by the surging delta waves. The findings suggest a profound impact on consciousness.
SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 27, 2022
A study by Tokyo University of Science researchers has demonstrated that a computationally-light model can simulate complex brain cell responses, including periodic and quasi-periodic responses. The Izhikevich neuron model was found to be capable of reproducing both types of responses at lower computational cost.
SourceTokyo University of Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 18, 2022
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University discovered that fruit fly eyes can distinguish six types of global motion patterns generated by self-motion. The T4/T5 cell subtypes directly represent complex motion cues rather than uniform directions, matching the fly's actual behavior closely.
SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 5, 2022
Scientists have developed a new technology to decode brain activity and infer the meaning of a person's mental picture. The study used electrocorticogram to detect patterns in brain activity while patients imagined different images, revealing distinct representations for each concept. This breakthrough could lead to the development of ...
SourceOsaka University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2022
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
Professor Alexander Ecker is awarded a Starting Grant to develop machine-learning methods to describe neurons' shape and function, leveraging a large dataset from the US Brain Initiative. The research aims to uncover how a neuron's shape relates to its role in sensory information processing.
Researchers have published an extensive 7T fMRI dataset to study how humans perceive and interpret naturalistic photographs. The Natural Scenes Dataset provides a massive scale of brain data for training complex deep-learning models that predict brain activity.
SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 16, 2021