Optogenetics
Recent articles
Dopamine ‘gas pedal’ and serotonin ‘brake’ team up to accelerate learning
Mice learn fastest and most reliably when they experience an increase in dopamine paired with an inhibition of serotonin in their nucleus accumbens, a new study shows, helping to resolve long-standing questions about the neuromodulators’ relationship.
Dopamine ‘gas pedal’ and serotonin ‘brake’ team up to accelerate learning
Mice learn fastest and most reliably when they experience an increase in dopamine paired with an inhibition of serotonin in their nucleus accumbens, a new study shows, helping to resolve long-standing questions about the neuromodulators’ relationship.
Putting a bright idea to the test
A surprising wave of findings in mice suggests that light and sound flickering at 40 hertz clears the brain of Alzheimer’s-disease-linked plaques. Several companies are hoping to prove it works in people.
Putting a bright idea to the test
A surprising wave of findings in mice suggests that light and sound flickering at 40 hertz clears the brain of Alzheimer’s-disease-linked plaques. Several companies are hoping to prove it works in people.
Climbing to new heights: Q&A with Kaspar Podgorski
The optical physiologist tracks neural computations inside the lab and scales sheer rock faces outside—even after a life-changing fall.
Climbing to new heights: Q&A with Kaspar Podgorski
The optical physiologist tracks neural computations inside the lab and scales sheer rock faces outside—even after a life-changing fall.
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.
Robots boost data consistency in rodent studies reliant on mechanical, optogenetic stimulation
Two new devices take experimenter variation out of the equation, the lead investigators say.
Learning or performance? Why the distinction matters for memory science
New methods make it possible to probe the neural substrates of memory with unprecedented precision. Making the most of them demands careful experimental design.
Learning or performance? Why the distinction matters for memory science
New methods make it possible to probe the neural substrates of memory with unprecedented precision. Making the most of them demands careful experimental design.
Newly found hypothalamus circuits shape bullying behaviors in mice
Activity in the tiny brain region helps submissive rodents learn to avoid aggressors, and aggressive mice to curb their attacks, according to two recent studies.
Newly found hypothalamus circuits shape bullying behaviors in mice
Activity in the tiny brain region helps submissive rodents learn to avoid aggressors, and aggressive mice to curb their attacks, according to two recent studies.
What goes up must come down: New marker flags decreased neural activity
Phosphorylation of the metabolic enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase inversely correlates with neural activity, offering scientists a tool to study inhibition for the first time.
What goes up must come down: New marker flags decreased neural activity
Phosphorylation of the metabolic enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase inversely correlates with neural activity, offering scientists a tool to study inhibition for the first time.
Sheena Josselyn and memories lost, found and created
Her hunt for the engram opened a new avenue in memory research.
Sheena Josselyn and memories lost, found and created
Her hunt for the engram opened a new avenue in memory research.
Immune-activation model mice escape infantile amnesia, retain early memories
Male pups born to mothers treated with immune-stimulating molecules show autism-like behaviors and, unlike wildtype animals, do not lose memories formed during early life.
Immune-activation model mice escape infantile amnesia, retain early memories
Male pups born to mothers treated with immune-stimulating molecules show autism-like behaviors and, unlike wildtype animals, do not lose memories formed during early life.
‘VIP’ interneurons may drive autism traits in Dravet syndrome
The inhibitory cells misfire and contribute to social difficulties in mice that model the syndrome.
‘VIP’ interneurons may drive autism traits in Dravet syndrome
The inhibitory cells misfire and contribute to social difficulties in mice that model the syndrome.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Video catches microglia in the act of synaptic pruning
Live cell imaging reveals the clearest picture yet of this elusive process. Whether it’s something these cells do regularly remains up for debate.
Video catches microglia in the act of synaptic pruning
Live cell imaging reveals the clearest picture yet of this elusive process. Whether it’s something these cells do regularly remains up for debate.
Gabriele Scheler reflects on the interplay between language, thought and AI
She discusses how verbal thought shapes cognition, why inner speech is foundational to human intelligence and what current artificial-intelligence models get wrong about language.
Gabriele Scheler reflects on the interplay between language, thought and AI
She discusses how verbal thought shapes cognition, why inner speech is foundational to human intelligence and what current artificial-intelligence models get wrong about language.
Accepting “the bitter lesson” and embracing the brain’s complexity
To gain insight into complex neural data, we must move toward a data-driven regime, training large models on vast amounts of information. We asked nine experts on computational neuroscience and neural data analysis to weigh in.
Accepting “the bitter lesson” and embracing the brain’s complexity
To gain insight into complex neural data, we must move toward a data-driven regime, training large models on vast amounts of information. We asked nine experts on computational neuroscience and neural data analysis to weigh in.