The Transmitter

Psilocybin rewires specific mouse cortical networks in lasting ways Neuronal activity induced by the psychedelic drug strengthens inputs from sensory brain areas and weakens cortico-cortical recurrent loops.

The psychedelic psilocybin prompts network-specific changes in the mouse frontal cortex, including enhanced sensory inputs and dampened cortico-cortical loops.

By @siddhantpusdekar.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...

Home makeover helps rats better express themselves: Q&A with Raven Hickson and Peter Kind The “Habitat”—a complex environment with space for large social groups—expands the behavioral repertoire of rodent models, Hickson and Kind say.

The “Habitat,” a complex experimental environment for rats, gives researchers insight into greater behavioral nuance than traditional cages do, say Peter Kind and Raven Hickson at the University of Edinburgh.

By Holly Barker

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/hom...

Beyond the algorithmic oracle: Rethinking machine learning in behavioral neuroscience Machine learning should not be a replacement for human judgment but rather help us embrace the various assumptions and interpretations that shape behavioral research.

Machine learning should not be a replacement for human judgment but rather help us embrace the various assumptions and interpretations that shape behavioral research, write Nedah Nemati and Matthew Whiteway.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/behavioral-n...

This paper truly changed my life!!

Tatiana Engel explains how to connect high-dimensional neural circuitry with low-dimensional cognitive functions Neuroscientists have long sought to understand the relationship between structure and function in the vast connectivity and activity patterns in the brain. Engel discusses her modeling approach to…

In this episode of @braininspired.bsky.social, @engeltatiana.bsky.social discusses her modeling approach to discovering the connections between structure and function in the vast connectivity and activity patterns in the brain.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/brain-inspir...

Survey: Which sources fund your neuroscience research? Government sources are the main contributors to neuroscience labs, but funding breakdown varies across labs, career stages and neuroscience subfields.

33 neuroscience researchers from across the world shared how their labs our funded, providing insight into the current state of funding and how that might shift.

By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/whic...

‘Wired for Words: The Neural Architecture of Language,’ an excerpt In his new book, Hickok provides a detailed overview of the research into the circuits that control speech and language. In this excerpt from Chapter 5, he shares how meeting his colleague David…

In an excerpt from his new book, @gregoryhickok.bsky.social details how meeting @davidpoeppel.bsky.social upended his understanding of speech processing in the brain and led to them developing the theory for bilateral speech perception.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/language/wir...

Newsletters and alerts The latest news and perspectives on the neuroscience topics that interest you most, direct to your inbox

Want to stay up to date on the latest developments in human neuroimaging research? Subscribe to the quarterly newsletter in partnership with the @ohbmofficial.bsky.social to receive news and announcements from both of our organizations: www.thetransmitter.org/newsletters-...

#neuroskyence

"Neuroscientists need better training in computational methods."

We got you.

Join us in July: neuromatch.io/courses/

Our #ComputationalNeuroscience course is the perfect way to gain practical experience and build a strong foundation in this field.

Neuroscience funding: A source directory Our list features expected and lesser-known governmental and nongovernmental sources of funding for basic neuroscience research.

Most basic neuroscience research in the U.S. is funded by the federal government, but there is an entire funding landscape that lies beyond those federal agencies. To bring those sources together, @thetransmitter.bsky.social presents a funding source directory: bit.ly/4pBBF2B

#StateOfNeuroscience

This paper changed my life: Nancy Padilla-Coreano on learning the value of population coding The 2013 Nature paper by Mattia Rigotti and his colleagues revealed how mixed selectivity neurons—cells that are not selectively tuned to a stimulus—play a key role in cognition.

“I will die on the hill that population coding is the relevant level of encoding information in the brain.” In the latest “This paper changed my life,” Nancy Padilla-Coreano discusses a paper on mixed selectivity neurons.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...

Tracking trends in NIH neuroscience funding from 2008 to 2024 Funding for neuroscience-related projects more than doubled in 16 years, rising from $4.2 billion in 2008 to $10.5 billion in 2024.

NIH funding for neuroscience-related projects has more than doubled during the past 16 years. But not everyone has benefited equally.

By Natalia Mesa

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/esta...

Survey: Should neuroscience focus on big team science? Learn which types of projects are better for big team science versus smaller-group support.

Should neuroscience focus on big team science or the traditional model? Explore what survey respondents had to say about it: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/shou...

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

Did you pick up this flyer at #SfN2025?

📣 Calling all early-career neuroscience researchers! @thetransmitter.bsky.social & @neuromatch.bsky.social want to hear from you about the support you need to thrive in your career.

➡️ Take this short survey: www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...

Survey: How will neuroscience training need to change? Training in computational neuroscience, data science and statistics is needed but must be balanced with grounding in the scientific method, say respondents.

As neuroscience expands, @thetransmitter.bsky.social asks, how can neuroscience training programs best meet the needs of students and the field? See what survey respondents had to say: www.thetransmitter.org/training/how...

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

Genetic profiles separate early, late autism diagnoses Age at diagnosis reflects underlying differences in common genetic variants and developmental trajectories among people with autism.

Age at autism diagnosis may reflect one of two genetic and developmental profiles, a new study finds.

By Natalia Mesa

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/gen...

Closeup of the 2025 Gruber Neuroscience Prize awarded to Edward F. Chang for the fundamental expansion of human knowledge. The award is engraved with a drawing of neurons that is based on the work on Cajal.

Graphic showing The Transmitter's logo that announces Shailee Jain, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California San Francisco, as a Rising Star in Neuroscience 2025.

A big year for the @changlabucsf.bsky.social at #SfN25! Congratulations to Edward Chang, MD, who was awarded this year’s Gruber Neuroscience Prize, and to @shaileejain.bsky.social, who was named one of @thetransmitter.bsky.social's Rising Stars in Neuroscience. www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...

The Transmitter’s New Lab Directory Learn about neuroscience labs launched in the past two years, plus a few opening their doors in 2026.

@thetransmitter.bsky.social’s “New Lab Directory” features a list of new neuroscience labs that opened in 2024-2025, and some set to launch in 2026. Check out the list to learn about the work of more than 50 new neuroscience labs. www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...

#StateOfNeuroscience

Winners of top prizes in neuroscience in 2025 The awards honor recipients for lifetime achievements and new discoveries.

Who won the Kavli, and other neuroscience prizes this year? See our list here www.thetransmitter.org/awards/top-n...

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

To persist, memories surf molecular waves from thalamus to cortex During the later stages of learning, the mouse brain progressively activates transcriptional regulators that drive memory consolidation.

During the later stages of learning, the mouse brain progressively activates transcriptional regulators that drive memory consolidation.

By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/memory/to-pe...

#neuroskyence

The neuroscience leaders we have lost since 2023 Learn more about the lives and legacies of the neuroscientists who passed away between 2023 and 2025.

The past three years marked the passing of neuroscientists Eleanor Maguire, Krishna Shenoy and Larry Young, among others.

www.thetransmitter.org/community/th...

Sex hormone boosts female rats’ sensitivity to unexpected rewards During the high-estradiol stages of their estrus cycle, female rats learn faster than they do during other stages—and than male rats overall—thanks to a boost in their dopaminergic response to reward…

“It’s giving mechanistic insight into how estrogen modulates reinforcement learning—all the way down to the molecular mechanism,” says Ilana Witten.

By @avaskham.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/sex-hormones...

Tracing neuroscience’s family tree to track its growth By mapping connections among researchers, Neurotree makes it possible to see how the field has evolved and what factors shape its direction.

By mapping connections among researchers, Neurotree makes it possible to trace how the field has evolved and to visualize how shifts in lab size, training and other factors can shape its direction, writes founder @stephenvdavid.bsky.social.

bit.ly/4od0SiL

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

Remembering Mark Hallett, leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation The long-time NINDS researcher, best known for studying movement disorders, has died at age 82.

In the late 1980s, things were “a bit Wild West” in the transcranial magnetic stimulation field, says Mark George. “You could do things you couldn’t do now.”

By @daviddobbs.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/brain-stimul...

#neuroskyence

The Transmitter’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025 We recognize the outstanding achievements of 25 neuroscientists who stand to shape the field for years to come.

Very grateful to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for including me in their Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025 alongside some really inspiring scientists. Check out the link to see some of their cool work 🧠✨

www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...

In @thetransmitter.bsky.social’s Rising Stars of Neuroscience 2025, we recognize 25 early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to mentoring and community-building in neuroscience.

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

bit.ly/4rnFnyQ

Autism scientists push back on CDC’s invalid vaccine claims The CDC falsely suggests autism-vaccine research still an open question, prompting distrust and dismay among researchers.

The CDC website now falsely suggests that autism-vaccine research is still an open question, prompting distrust among researchers—some of whom anticipate more unreliable statements.

www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/aut...

Survey: What are neuroscience’s most transformative new tools? Which new tools—including artificial intelligence, deep-learning methods, genetic tools and advanced neuroimaging—are making the largest impact?

To identify the most transformative tools and technologies in the past five years, @thetransmitter.bsky.social surveyed readers and contributors and worked with a market-research firm to interview neuroscientists around the world. See what they had to say: bit.ly/3LYTNoB

#StateOfNeuroscience

The most-cited neuroscience papers from the past 30 years Highly cited papers reflect the surge in artificial-intelligence research in the field and other technical advances.

@thetransmitter.bsky.social gathered citation metrics for the top neuroscience papers published over the past 30 years and assembled a list of the top 20 to try to capture a different view of the field’s changing landscape. www.thetransmitter.org/publishing/w...

#neuroskyence #StateOfNeuroscience

Thank you to @thetransmitter.bsky.social for selecting me among the Rising Stars in Neuroscience 2025. It's an honor to be among a list of great scientists that I look up to. Check them out here: www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...