Before CRISPR gene-editing tools can be used to treat brain disorders, scientists must find safe ways to deliver the tools to the brain. One promising method involves harnessing viruses that are benign, and replacing non-essential genetic cargo with therapeutic CRISPR tools. But there is limited room for additional tools in a vector already stuffed with […]
As part of our Ask the Brain series, Martin Wienisch and Jonathan Wilde of the Feng lab look into the crystal ball to predict the future of CRISPR tech. _____ Where will CRISPR be in five years? Jonathan: We’ll definitely have more efficient, more precise, and safer editing tools. An immediate impact on human health […]
Think of the human body as a community of cells with specialized roles. Each cell carries the same blueprint, an array of genes comprising the genome, but different cell types have unique functions — immune cells fight invading bacteria, while neurons transmit information. But when something goes awry, the specialization of these cells becomes a […]
Having trouble paying attention? MIT neuroscientists may have a solution for you: Turn down your alpha brain waves. In a new study, the researchers found that people can enhance their attention by controlling their own alpha brain waves based on neurofeedback they receive as they perform a particular task. The study found that when subjects […]
McGovern researchers Sam Rodriques and Jonathan Strecker have been named to the class of 2019 STAT wunderkinds. This group of 22 researchers was selected from a national pool of hundreds of nominees, and aims to recognize trail-blazing scientists that are on the cusp of launching their careers but not yet fully independent. “We were thrilled […]
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The School of Science has announced that 14 of its faculty members have been appointed to named professorships. The faculty members selected for these positions receive additional support to pursue their research and develop their careers. Riccardo Comin is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics. He has been named a Class of 1947 […]
People with autism often experience hypersensitivity to noise and other sensory input. MIT neuroscientists have now identified two brain circuits that help tune out distracting sensory information, and they have found a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice by boosting the activity of those circuits. One of the circuits the researchers identified is involved […]