Different anesthetics, same result: unconsciousness by shifting brainwave phase

MIT study finds an easily measurable brain wave shift may be a universal marker of unconsciousness under anesthesia.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
June 5, 2025 ~6 min

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

New evidence suggests sensory stimulation of gamma-frequency brain rhythm may promote broad-based restorative neurological health response.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
May 12, 2025 ~8 min


Dopamine signals when a fear can be forgotten

Study shows how a dopamine circuit between two brain regions enables mice to extinguish fear after a peril has passed.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
May 7, 2025 ~8 min

In kids, EEG monitoring of consciousness safely reduces anesthetic use

Clinical trial finds several outcomes improved for young children when an anesthesiologist observed their brain waves to guide dosing of sevoflurane during surgery.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
April 29, 2025 ~6 min

Response to infection highlights the nervous system’s surprising degrees of flexibility

Upon infection, the C. elegans worm reshuffles the roles of brain cells and flips the functions of some of the chemicals it uses to regulate behavior.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
April 29, 2025 ~8 min

Molecules that fight infection also act on the brain, inducing anxiety or sociability

New research on a cytokine called IL-17 adds to growing evidence that immune molecules can influence behavior during illness.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
April 7, 2025 ~9 min

Evidence that 40Hz gamma stimulation promotes brain health is expanding

A decade of studies provide a growing evidence base that increasing the power of the brain’s gamma rhythms could help fight Alzheimer’s, and perhaps other neurological diseases.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
March 14, 2025 ~6 min

Study suggests new molecular strategy for treating fragile X syndrome

Enhancing activity of a specific component of neurons’ “NMDA” receptors normalized protein synthesis, neural activity, and seizure susceptibility in the hippocampus of fragile X lab mice.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
March 4, 2025 ~7 min


Study: Even after learning the right idea, humans and animals still seem to test other approaches

New research adds evidence that learning a successful strategy for approaching a task doesn’t prevent further exploration, even if doing so reduces performance.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
Feb. 21, 2025 ~6 min

MIT method enables ultrafast protein labeling of tens of millions of densely packed cells

Tissue processing advance can label proteins at the level of individual cells across large samples just as fast and uniformly as in dissociated single cells.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
Feb. 6, 2025 ~9 min

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