2019

Source: [Spectrum, Nicole Wetsman | October 16, 2019] Brain activity patterns in the first year of life may predict autism in infants at high risk for the condition, a new study suggests1. Specifically, patterns in electroencephalography (EEG) signals at ages 3, 6, 9 and 12 months seem to distinguish autistic children. “Our predictive models worked best when […]

Source: [Anne Trafton | MIT News Office, October 9, 2019] Fluorescent probe could allow scientists to watch circuits within the brain and link their activity to specific behaviors. Using a fluorescent probe that lights up when brain cells are electrically active, MIT and Boston University researchers have shown that they can image the activity of […]

Brain and cognitive sciences professor studies how the human mind is able to learn so rapidly. Source: [Anne Trafton  | MIT News Office, September 25, 2019] Josh Tenenbaum, a professor in MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences who studies human cognition, has been named a recipient of a 2019 MacArthur Fellowship. The fellowships, often […]

Whitehead Institute team finds drugs that activate a key brain gene; initial tests in cells and mice show promise for rare, untreatable neurodevelopmental disorder. Source: [Nicole Davis  | MIT News Office, July 31, 2019] A research team led by Whitehead Institute scientists has identified 30 distinct chemical compounds — 20 of which are drugs undergoing […]

July 3, 2019 – Neville Sanjana, PhD, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Dr. Sanjana is a Core Faculty Member at the New York Genome Center (NYGC) and holds a joint appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at NYU and Assistant […]

Source: [Anne Trafton | MIT News Office, June 12, 2019] Neuroscientists trace a brain circuit that filters unwanted sensory input. Imagine trying to focus on a friend’s voice at a noisy party, or blocking out the phone conversation of the person sitting next to you on the bus while you try to read. Both of […]

Source: [Spectrum, Jessica Wright | June 12, 2019] Researchers have engineered two generations of monkeys with mutations in SHANK3, a top autism gene. The first generation shows traits reminiscent of the condition, according to a study published today in Nature1. The researchers are the first to engineer monkeys using the gene-editing tool CRISPR and then to breed a second […]

Source: [Anne Trafton | MIT News Office, April 22, 2019] Mouse study yields insights into the rare condition, may shed light on other neurological disorders. Williams Syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1 in 10,000 babies born in the United States, produces a range of symptoms including cognitive impairments, cardiovascular problems, and extreme […]

Source: [Anne Trafton | MIT News Office, February 22, 2019] Noninvasive measurements of calcium could reveal neurons’ roles in different types of behavior. Calcium is a critical signaling molecule for most cells, and it is especially important in neurons. Imaging calcium in brain cells can reveal how neurons communicate with each other; however, current imaging […]

Members have made advances in molecular processes, rheology, computer networking, nanocrystalline metals, affective computing, and semiconductor tech. Source: [MIT News, School of Engineering | February 11, 2019] Six MIT researchers are among the 86 new members and 18 foreign associates elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest […]