Synaptic

Recent articles

This podcast focuses on the people, the science and the challenges in neuroscience.

Illustrated portrait of Damien Fair.

Stimulating the brain with Damien Fair

The MacArthur Foundation “genius” discusses his return to his home state of Minnesota and why it’s important to protect the developing brain.

By Brady Huggett
3 February 2025 | 68 min listen
The logo of the Synaptic podcast.

Season 2 of ‘Synaptic’ draws to a close

Season 3 will begin next year.

By Brady Huggett
1 November 2024 | 2 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Tim Ryan.

Timothy Ryan on his pivotal switch from studying particle physics to decoding synaptic transmission

Dissuaded from pursuing theoretical physics and deterred by the “long feedback loop” in experimental physics, the National Academy of Sciences member took inspiration from “polymath” Watt Webb and “visionary” Stephen Smith—and learned to work “completely outside his comfort zone.”

By Brady Huggett
1 October 2024 | 70 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Lin Tian.

Biosensors and being fearless with Lin Tian

Tian discusses protein function and structure, and the historic city in China where she was born.

By Brady Huggett
1 September 2024 | 62 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Catherine Dulac.

Male and female brains, Proust, and Catherine Dulac

The 2021 Breakthrough Prize winner explains how reading widely shaped her worldview, and discusses the vomeronasal organ.

By Brady Huggett
1 August 2024 | 81 min listen
Illustrated portrait of So Hyun “Sophy” Kim.

Diagnosing autism and teaching neurodiversity with So Hyun “Sophy” Kim

The Korea University professor on her path to autism research and studying in the United States.

By Brady Huggett
1 July 2024 | 67 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Eve Marder

Eve Marder, neural circuits and being heard

The National Medal of Science winner explains why she built her career around the crustacean and what it was like attending high school in a Hudson River town.

By Brady Huggett
1 June 2024 | 79 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Emily Finn.

Brain connectivity and letting the data speak with Emily Finn

The Dartmouth College researcher talks about her quest to understand behavior and doing neuroscience “in the woods.”

By Brady Huggett
1 May 2024 | 70 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Loren Frank.

The value of math and spatial learning with Loren Frank

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator discusses what drew him to study the brain and his current work at the University of California, San Francisco.

By Brady Huggett
1 April 2024 | 62 min listen
Illustrated portrait of Lauren O’Connell.

Setting up a frog colony and pair bonding with Lauren O’Connell

To become a scientist, O’Connell first needed to leave the family farm.

By Brady Huggett
1 March 2024 | 63 min listen

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Explore more from The Transmitter

New dopamine sensor powers three-color imaging in live animals

The tool leverages a previously unused segment of the color spectrum to track the neurotransmitter and can be used with two additional sensors to monitor other neurochemicals at different wavelengths.

By Diana Kwon
25 July 2025 | 5 min listen

Cell ‘antennae’ link autism, congenital heart disease

Variants in genes tied to both conditions derail the formation of cilia, the tiny hair-like structure found on almost every cell in the body, a new study finds.

By Lauren Schenkman
24 July 2025 | 4 min listen
Illustration of people collaborating in different locations.

How to build a truly global computational neuroscience community

Computational sciences offer an opportunity to increase global access to, and participation in, neuroscience. Neuromatch’s inclusive, scalable model for community building shows how to realize this promise.

By Megan Peters, Bradley Roberts
23 July 2025 | 9 min listen