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Rockefeller University

·May 23, 2026·12 min read

Brain Region Discovered for Abstract Thought

A new study provides the first direct neural evidence of "compositional generalization," the cognitive capacity to recombine familiar elements into novel ideas.

Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·10 min read

Mapping Millions of Aging Brain Cells Simultaneously

By developing IRISeq and EnrichSci, researchers can now map the spatial neighborhoods of millions of aging brain cells and zoom in on rare, vulnerable populations. Their discovery that inflammatory cells cluster in white matter and that exonic changes drive oligodendrocyte aging provides precise new targets for anti-aging interventions and neurodegenerative disease treatment.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 18, 2026·8 min read

Glutathione Prevents Cellular Clogs

Researchers have identified SLC33A1 as the key transporter that maintains the ER’s glutathione balance, ensuring proteins fold correctly and preventing the "cellular debris" linked to neurodegeneration.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 21, 2026·9 min read

How Ants Map Social Identity

Researchers found that clonal raider ants can learn to tolerate genetically distinct outsiders through repeated exposure, effectively updating their brain's template for who belongs.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 26, 2025·8 min read

Brain Uses Molecular Timers to Decide What We Remember

New research shows that long-term memory is not stored by a single molecular switch, but by a sequence of timed genetic programs unfolding across different brain regions. Using a virtual-reality learning model in mice, scientists found that experiences are promoted or demoted through multiple biological “durability gates.”

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 19, 2025·5 min read

How Neurons Pick Just One Scent Receptor

Researchers studying clonal raider ants have uncovered how each sensory neuron manages to express just one odorant receptor gene from a library of hundreds. Unlike fruit flies or mammals, ants employ a unique system of transcriptional interference: once one receptor gene is chosen, surrounding genes are silenced by readthrough and antisense transcripts.

Neuroscience

·September 15, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Protein Keeps Neurons Healthy and Extend Lifespan

Scientists have identified a new therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases by boosting a protein called PI31, which ensures proteasomes reach synapses to clear protein waste. In fruit flies and mice, restoring PI31 prevented neuronal degeneration, reversed motor defects, and even extended lifespan nearly fourfold.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 14, 2025·6 min read

Hormones Shape Love and Lust Differently in Male & Female Brains

New research uncovers how a hormonally tuned brain circuit in mice governs sex-specific mating behaviors. Scientists identified a subset of neurons in the prefrontal cortex that integrate oxytocin, ovarian hormones, and social cues to modulate sexual receptivity in females and suppress mating interest in males.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 2, 2025·8 min read

How Visual Neurons Adapt in Real Time

New research reveals that neurons in the visual cortex are far more adaptable than previously thought, responding dynamically to complex stimuli during object recognition tasks. While visual processing has traditionally been viewed as mostly feedforward, this study shows that feedback from higher brain areas conveys prior knowledge and behavioral context to shape perception.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2025·9 min read

Tiny Brain Structure Reveals New Paths to Treat Addiction, Depression

New research spotlights the habenula, a tiny but powerful brain region, as a key player in addiction, motivation, and emotional regulation. Studies show that the habenula’s circuitry influences how the brain processes rewards, disappointment, and drug cravings, offering potential drug targets like the GPR151 receptor.

This shows a modern human and a Neanderthal.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2025·8 min read

Genetic Link Between Humans and the Evolution of Speech Found

New research suggests a genetic variant in the NOVA1 protein may have played a key role in the emergence of human speech. Scientists introduced this exclusively human variant into mice and observed altered vocalizations, indicating a potential role in vocal communication.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 7, 2024·5 min read

Newly Discovered Brain Neurons May Help Curb Hunger

Scientists have uncovered a new neuron type, BNC2, which acts quickly to counter hunger-promoting neurons, potentially leading to more effective appetite regulation. These BNC2 neurons, located in the brain’s arcuate nucleus, respond rapidly to hunger cues by inhibiting AGRP neurons responsible for driving appetite. This discovery adds a crucial layer to our understanding of the neural circuits controlling hunger and opens the door for novel treatments for obesity and metabolic conditions.