natural neuroscience

Recent articles

Neuromechanical models deepen our understanding of animal motor control

Thanks to recent progress in physics-based simulators and robotics, it has never been easier for neuroscientists to use neuromechanical modeling to test hypotheses about animal movement.

By Auke Ijspeert
9 September 2026 | 0 min watch
Illustration of birdsong, bird brain, and DNA.

This paper changed my life: Embracing an early model for naturalistic neuroscience

A 1992 PNAS paper showed how birdsong upregulates the expression of an immediate early gene in bird forebrains. The work revealed to Ribeiro the importance of studying molecular responses in naturalistic contexts.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
14 July 2026 | 4 min read
Ilustração de canto de pássaro, cérebro de pássaro e DNA.

Este artigo mudou minha vida: adotando um dos primeiros modelos de neurociência naturalística

Um artigo publicado na PNAS em 1992 mostrou que o canto das aves aumenta a expressão de um gene de resposta imediata no prosencéfalo dessas aves. O estudo revelou a Ribeiro a importância de investigar as respostas moleculares em contextos naturalísticos.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
14 July 2026 | 5 min read
Ilustración del canto de las aves, el cerebro de las aves y el ADN.

Este artículo cambió mi vida: Adoptando un modelo temprano de neurociencia naturalista

Un estudio del 1992 publicado en PNAS demostró que el canto de las aves aumenta la expresión de un gen de respuesta temprana inmediata en el prosencéfalo de los pájaros. El trabajo le reveló a Ribeiro la importancia de estudiar las respuestas moleculares en contextos naturalistas.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
14 July 2026 | 5 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research figure of fly neurons transforming taste information into movements.

Fly taste connectome traces paths from sensation to action

The map—the first of its kind for an animal more complex than Caenorhabditis elegans—gives neuroscientists a trove of testable hypotheses about how neuronal circuits guide feeding behaviors.

By Lauren Schenkman
30 October 2026 | 5 min read
Gerry Fischbach at a podium.

Remembering Gerry Fischbach, ‘orchestra conductor’ who brought scientists together

Fischbach, who died 25 October, elucidated the dynamic changes in neuromuscular junctions. Beyond the lab, he shaped careers, academic departments and scientific societies.

By Claudia López Lloreda
29 October 2026 | 8 min read
Mouse wearing a white, cube-like device on its head.

WILD platform levels up ability to record brain activity, behavior in nature

The customizable rig combines multimodal recording, onboard processing and neuronal manipulation to power more complex experiments.

By Simon Makin
29 October 2026 | 6 min read