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Alison Barth discovers how different neuron types contribute to cortical function

Barth uses learning tasks in mice as a tool to drive synaptic plasticity in the sensory cortex, hoping to unlock more general principles of how the cortex works.

By Paul Middlebrooks
5 August 2026 | 100 min watch

In this “Brain Inspired” episode, Paul Middlebrooks talks with Alison Barth, professor of biological sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. Originally, Barth wanted to understand learning and memory in brains, explaining how different neuron subtypes might provide a mechanistic account. Now she believes learning and memory could be effective tools to better explain the overall function of the cortex.

Read the transcript.

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