Our goal for The Transmitter is ambitious but clear. We aspire to become an essential resource for neuroscientists at all career stages, and to help them stay current and build connections.

Ivan Oransky is editor-in-chief of The Transmitter, having previously served in editorial leadership roles at outlets including MedscapeReuters Health and Scientific American. He is a distinguished journalist-in-residence at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, where he teaches medical journalism, and co-founder of Retraction Watch, which reports on scientific retractions.

Education

  • M.D., New York University
  • B.A. in biology, Harvard University

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‘Digital humans’ in a virtual world

By combining large language models with modular cognitive control architecture, Robert Yang and his collaborators have built agents that are capable of grounded reasoning at a linguistic level. Striking collective behaviors have emerged.

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Research image of brain glucose levels in mice.

Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized

The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.

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Abstract illustration of overlapping lines.

Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems

The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?

By Grace Lindsay
7 February 2025 | 6 min read