Open neuroscience and data-sharing
Recent articles
This series of scientist-written essays explores some of the benefits and challenges of data-sharing.
To keep or not to keep: Neurophysiology’s data dilemma
An exponential growth in data size presents neuroscientists with a significant challenge: Should we be keeping all raw data or focusing on processed datasets? I asked experimentalists and theorists for their thoughts.
![Illustration of a funnel taking abstract shapes in at the top and spouting an organized flow of shapes out at the bottom.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/OpenData-Neuro-Lede-1200-1024x692.png)
To keep or not to keep: Neurophysiology’s data dilemma
An exponential growth in data size presents neuroscientists with a significant challenge: Should we be keeping all raw data or focusing on processed datasets? I asked experimentalists and theorists for their thoughts.
The S-index Challenge: Develop a metric to quantify data-sharing success
The NIH-sponsored effort aims to help incentivize scientists to share data. But many barriers to the widespread adoption of useful data-sharing remain.
![Illustration of three figures standing in front of a grid of dots and a world map.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1200-frank-s-index-transmitter-neuroscience-1-1024x692.webp)
The S-index Challenge: Develop a metric to quantify data-sharing success
The NIH-sponsored effort aims to help incentivize scientists to share data. But many barriers to the widespread adoption of useful data-sharing remain.
A README for open neuroscience
Making data (and code) useful for yourself automatically makes it useful for others.
![Illustration of three figures cleaning data with brooms and brushes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Data-cleaning-neuroscience-1200-1024x692.webp)
A README for open neuroscience
Making data (and code) useful for yourself automatically makes it useful for others.
Neuroscience graduate students deserve comprehensive data-literacy education
Despite growing requirements around how to handle and share data, formal training is lacking.
![Illustration of a scientist attempting to wrangle many forms of data at once: a pile of charts and graphs threatens to knock them off of their feet as they attempt to prop it up.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200-open-neuro-data-literacy-education-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Neuroscience graduate students deserve comprehensive data-literacy education
Despite growing requirements around how to handle and share data, formal training is lacking.
Designing an open-source microscope
Funding for the development of open-source tools is on the rise, but support for their maintenance and dissemination, both crucial for their meaningful uptake, remains a major challenge.
![Image of neural activity in a mouse as seen through the Miniscope.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Miniscope-1200-1024x692.webp)
Designing an open-source microscope
Funding for the development of open-source tools is on the rise, but support for their maintenance and dissemination, both crucial for their meaningful uptake, remains a major challenge.
Neuroscience needs a research-video archive
Video data are enormously useful and growing rapidly, but the field lacks a searchable, shareable way to store them.
![An illustration of a figure looking at a flow chart](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Froemke-Databrary-1200-1024x692.webp)
Neuroscience needs a research-video archive
Video data are enormously useful and growing rapidly, but the field lacks a searchable, shareable way to store them.
Unleashing the power of DIY innovation in behavioral neuroscience
Widespread adoption of open-source tools calls for more support and training.
Unleashing the power of DIY innovation in behavioral neuroscience
Widespread adoption of open-source tools calls for more support and training.
Pooling data points to new potential treatment for spinal cord injury
By gathering raw data from multiple labs, we identified an overlooked predictor of recovery after spinal cord injury. Many more insights remain trapped in scattered data.
![An abstract illustration of colorful lines on a yellow background](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1200-ferguson-open-neuroscience-data-sharing-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Pooling data points to new potential treatment for spinal cord injury
By gathering raw data from multiple labs, we identified an overlooked predictor of recovery after spinal cord injury. Many more insights remain trapped in scattered data.
How scuba diving helped me embrace open science
Our lab adopted practices to make data- and code-sharing feel safer, including having the coding equivalent of a dive buddy. Trainees call the buddy system a welcome safety net.
![An illustration of a diver assisting a scientist at a giant computer.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Reproducibility-Data-neuroscience-1200-1024x692.webp)
How scuba diving helped me embrace open science
Our lab adopted practices to make data- and code-sharing feel safer, including having the coding equivalent of a dive buddy. Trainees call the buddy system a welcome safety net.
We found a major flaw in a scientific reagent used in thousands of neuroscience experiments — and we’re trying to fix it.
As part of that ambition, we launched a public-private partnership to systematically evaluate antibodies used to study neurological disease, and we plan to make all the data freely available.
![Abstract illustration of antibodies scattered against a peach-colored background.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1200-edwards-open-neuroscience-transmitter-1024x683.webp)
We found a major flaw in a scientific reagent used in thousands of neuroscience experiments — and we’re trying to fix it.
As part of that ambition, we launched a public-private partnership to systematically evaluate antibodies used to study neurological disease, and we plan to make all the data freely available.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized
The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.
![Research image of brain glucose levels in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-lactate-shuttle-astrocyte-1024x683.png)
Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized
The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.
Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems
The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?
![Abstract illustration of overlapping lines.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Necessary-sufficient-neuro-1200-1024x692.png)
Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems
The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?
Subthalamic plasticity helps mice squelch innate fear responses
When the animals learn that a perceived threat is not dangerous, long-term activity changes in a part of the subthalamus suppress their instinctive fears.
![Research image of a mouse brain slice stained in purple and yellow.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Fear-coronal-brain-1200-1-1024x692.png)
Subthalamic plasticity helps mice squelch innate fear responses
When the animals learn that a perceived threat is not dangerous, long-term activity changes in a part of the subthalamus suppress their instinctive fears.