Richard A. Chance
illustrator
From this contributor
Stimulating the brain with Damien Fair
The MacArthur Foundation “genius” discusses his return to his home state of Minnesota and why it’s important to protect the developing brain.
Happy 1st Birthday, The Transmitter!
It takes a village to build something beautiful—and useful.
Timothy Ryan on his pivotal switch from studying particle physics to decoding synaptic transmission
Dissuaded from pursuing theoretical physics and deterred by the “long feedback loop” in experimental physics, the National Academy of Sciences member took inspiration from “polymath” Watt Webb and “visionary” Stephen Smith—and learned to work “completely outside his comfort zone.”
Timothy Ryan on his pivotal switch from studying particle physics to decoding synaptic transmission
Biosensors and being fearless with Lin Tian
Tian discusses protein function and structure, and the historic city in China where she was born.
Biosensors and being fearless with Lin Tian
Male and female brains, Proust, and Catherine Dulac
The 2021 Breakthrough Prize winner explains how reading widely shaped her worldview, and discusses the vomeronasal organ.
Male and female brains, Proust, and Catherine Dulac
Explore more from The Transmitter
The illusion of AI consciousness: Lessons from human unconscious processing
Complex, goal-directed and even emotionally responsive behavior can unfold without awareness, providing a useful lens for interpreting artificial systems.
The illusion of AI consciousness: Lessons from human unconscious processing
Complex, goal-directed and even emotionally responsive behavior can unfold without awareness, providing a useful lens for interpreting artificial systems.
‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
‘Push-pull’ recipe for neural wiring used in multiple brain regions
A versatile pair of proteins steers neurons toward their targets and helps establish the brain’s sensory maps, new studies suggest.
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Reward-learning algorithm hardwired into dopamine circuit
The finding bolsters the canonical model of reward prediction error, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.