Perspectives
Recent articles
Expert opinions on trends and controversies in neuroscience
Neuroscientists need to do better at explaining basic mental health research
The knowledge gap between scientists, health-care professionals, policymakers and people with mental health conditions is growing, slowing the translation of basic science to new treatments. Like lawyers learning to present a case to the court, scientists should learn to educate nonscientists about their findings.
Neuroscientists need to do better at explaining basic mental health research
The knowledge gap between scientists, health-care professionals, policymakers and people with mental health conditions is growing, slowing the translation of basic science to new treatments. Like lawyers learning to present a case to the court, scientists should learn to educate nonscientists about their findings.
Dose, scan, repeat: Tracking the neurological effects of oral contraceptives
We know little about how the brain responds to oral contraceptives, despite their widespread use. I am committed to changing that: I scanned my brain 75 times over the course of a year and plan to make my data openly available.
Dose, scan, repeat: Tracking the neurological effects of oral contraceptives
We know little about how the brain responds to oral contraceptives, despite their widespread use. I am committed to changing that: I scanned my brain 75 times over the course of a year and plan to make my data openly available.
Cracking the code of the extracellular matrix
Despite evidence for a role in plasticity and other crucial functions, many neuroscientists still view these proteins as “brain goop.” The field needs technical advances and a shift in scientific thinking to move beyond this outdated perspective.
Cracking the code of the extracellular matrix
Despite evidence for a role in plasticity and other crucial functions, many neuroscientists still view these proteins as “brain goop.” The field needs technical advances and a shift in scientific thinking to move beyond this outdated perspective.
Why practical summer courses in neuroscience matter
Among other reasons, this tradition helps researchers rekindle the unfettered joy that initially brought them to the field.
Why practical summer courses in neuroscience matter
Among other reasons, this tradition helps researchers rekindle the unfettered joy that initially brought them to the field.
This paper changed my life: ‘A massively parallel architecture for a self-organizing neural pattern recognition machine,’ by Carpenter and Grossberg
This paper taught me that we can use mathematical modeling to understand how neural networks are organized—and led me to a doctoral program in the department led by its authors.
This paper changed my life: ‘A massively parallel architecture for a self-organizing neural pattern recognition machine,’ by Carpenter and Grossberg
This paper taught me that we can use mathematical modeling to understand how neural networks are organized—and led me to a doctoral program in the department led by its authors.
In your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, consider public outreach
If every person in the neuroscience community committed to doing one thing, imagine the cumulative difference it would make.
In your New Year’s resolutions for 2025, consider public outreach
If every person in the neuroscience community committed to doing one thing, imagine the cumulative difference it would make.
My hope for displaced Ukrainian children with autism, an update
The largest ongoing refugee crisis in Europe has overwhelmed humanitarian agencies. Meeting the needs of families affected by autism has not been a priority.
My hope for displaced Ukrainian children with autism, an update
The largest ongoing refugee crisis in Europe has overwhelmed humanitarian agencies. Meeting the needs of families affected by autism has not been a priority.
What are recurrent networks doing in the brain?
The cortex is filled with excitatory local synapses, but we know little about their role in brain function. New experimental tools, along with ideas from artificial intelligence, are poised to change that.
What are recurrent networks doing in the brain?
The cortex is filled with excitatory local synapses, but we know little about their role in brain function. New experimental tools, along with ideas from artificial intelligence, are poised to change that.
Open-access neuroscience comes to the classroom: Q&A with Liz Kirby
Neuroscience textbooks can be prohibitively expensive for some undergraduate students. A new open-access alternative seeks to change that.
Open-access neuroscience comes to the classroom: Q&A with Liz Kirby
Neuroscience textbooks can be prohibitively expensive for some undergraduate students. A new open-access alternative seeks to change that.
Solving intelligence requires new research and funding models
Our research ecosystem isn't built to deliver the breakthroughs needed to understand intelligence at scale. We need a dedicated research institution to take up the task.
Solving intelligence requires new research and funding models
Our research ecosystem isn't built to deliver the breakthroughs needed to understand intelligence at scale. We need a dedicated research institution to take up the task.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Neuroscientists fear Trump’s DEI order may tank diversity-focused grants
Programs that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in the field may be at risk, leaving researchers in a “holding pattern,” according to one grant recipient.
Neuroscientists fear Trump’s DEI order may tank diversity-focused grants
Programs that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in the field may be at risk, leaving researchers in a “holding pattern,” according to one grant recipient.
Remembering the life of neuropharmacologist Floyd Bloom
The co-author of the classic textbook “The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology” and pioneer in studying the roles of neurotransmitters in the brain died on 8 January at 88 years old.
Remembering the life of neuropharmacologist Floyd Bloom
The co-author of the classic textbook “The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology” and pioneer in studying the roles of neurotransmitters in the brain died on 8 January at 88 years old.
Newly characterized striatal circuits add twist to ‘go/no-go’ model of movement control
The two novel pathways control dopamine release in opposing ways and may link motivation and mood to action, a new study shows.
Newly characterized striatal circuits add twist to ‘go/no-go’ model of movement control
The two novel pathways control dopamine release in opposing ways and may link motivation and mood to action, a new study shows.