Systems neuroscience
Recent articles
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.
In memoriam: Yves Frégnac, influential and visionary French neuroscientist
Frégnac, who died on 18 October at the age of 73, built his career by meeting neuroscience’s complexity straight on.
![Portrait of Yves Fregnac.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fregnac-obit-1200-featured-1024x692.png)
In memoriam: Yves Frégnac, influential and visionary French neuroscientist
Frégnac, who died on 18 October at the age of 73, built his career by meeting neuroscience’s complexity straight on.
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.
![High-resolution image of interconnected brain cells highlighted in magenta and blue.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Histed-neurons-1200-1024x692.png)
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.
Imagining the ultimate systems neuroscience paper
A growing body of papers on systems neuroscience and on giant simulations of neural circuits involves data beyond the point that anyone can reasonably understand end to end. Looking ahead, “paper-bots” could solve that problem.
![Illustration of a person holding a box that is emitting laser-like beams and projecting a large curved black surface.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Humphries-Data-neuro-1200-1024x683.webp)
Imagining the ultimate systems neuroscience paper
A growing body of papers on systems neuroscience and on giant simulations of neural circuits involves data beyond the point that anyone can reasonably understand end to end. Looking ahead, “paper-bots” could solve that problem.
How to be a multidisciplinary neuroscientist
Neuroscience subfields are often siloed. Embracing an integrative approach during training can help change that.
![Illustration of overlapping silhouettes of two faces in profile facing a matrix of dots of various colors and sizes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Coley-Multidisciplinary-neuro-1200-1024x614.webp)
How to be a multidisciplinary neuroscientist
Neuroscience subfields are often siloed. Embracing an integrative approach during training can help change that.
Widely distributed brain areas sync to orchestrate decisions in rodents
Multiple brain areas synchronize their activity to help a rodent accumulate the evidence it needs to make a choice, two new studies suggest.
![Research image of mouse brain scans.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-decision-making-1024x683.webp)
Widely distributed brain areas sync to orchestrate decisions in rodents
Multiple brain areas synchronize their activity to help a rodent accumulate the evidence it needs to make a choice, two new studies suggest.
What makes memories last—dynamic ensembles or static synapses?
Teasing out how different subfields conceptualize central terms might help move this long-standing debate forward. I asked eight scientists to weigh in.
![Illustration of an image of a landscape repeated over and over again, with some versions distorted and warped.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Representational-drift-neuro-1200-1024x692.webp)
What makes memories last—dynamic ensembles or static synapses?
Teasing out how different subfields conceptualize central terms might help move this long-standing debate forward. I asked eight scientists to weigh in.
Should I stay (and eat) or should I go? How the brain balances hunger with competing drives
Understanding the interplay among rival signals, such as pain, thirst and fear, could provide insights into anxiety and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
![Illustration of a mouse with cheese on its left and a drop of water on its right.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CompetingNeeds-mice-neuro-1200-1024x692.webp)
Should I stay (and eat) or should I go? How the brain balances hunger with competing drives
Understanding the interplay among rival signals, such as pain, thirst and fear, could provide insights into anxiety and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
Cristina Savin and Tim Vogels discuss how AI has shaped their neuroscience research
Not all neuroscientists use artificial intelligence in the same way or for the same purpose. Neuroscience researchers from different fields discuss the impact AI has had on their research and how it influences productivity in their labs.
Cristina Savin and Tim Vogels discuss how AI has shaped their neuroscience research
Not all neuroscientists use artificial intelligence in the same way or for the same purpose. Neuroscience researchers from different fields discuss the impact AI has had on their research and how it influences productivity in their labs.
Explore more from The Transmitter
‘Digital humans’ in a virtual world
By combining large language models with modular cognitive control architecture, Robert Yang and his collaborators have built agents that are capable of grounded reasoning at a linguistic level. Striking collective behaviors have emerged.
‘Digital humans’ in a virtual world
By combining large language models with modular cognitive control architecture, Robert Yang and his collaborators have built agents that are capable of grounded reasoning at a linguistic level. Striking collective behaviors have emerged.
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.
To accelerate the study of neurodevelopment, we need a transdiagnostic framework
Our tendency to focus on one condition at a time likely silos expertise and services—and obscures critical connections across diagnostic categories.
![Illustration of a hand and various blocks, check boxes, and shapes and lines.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Guastella-transdiagnostic-1200-1024x692.png)
To accelerate the study of neurodevelopment, we need a transdiagnostic framework
Our tendency to focus on one condition at a time likely silos expertise and services—and obscures critical connections across diagnostic categories.