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

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.
Season 2 of ‘Synaptic’ draws to a close
Season 3 will begin next year.

Season 2 of ‘Synaptic’ draws to a close
Season 3 will begin next year.
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.”

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.”
Biosensors and being fearless with Lin Tian
Tian discusses protein function and structure, and the historic city in China where she was born.

Biosensors and being fearless with Lin Tian
Tian discusses protein function and structure, and the historic city in China where she was born.
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.

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.
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.

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.
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.

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.
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.”

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.”
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.

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.
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.

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.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.

Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.
Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.

Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.
Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain
The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.
Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain
The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.