Molecular neuroscience

Recent articles

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
3 August 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
3 August 2026 | 5 min read
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
Illustration of cells converting from fibroblasts to myoblasts.

This paper changed my life: Learning the molecular rules of cell identity

A 1987 Cell paper showed that a single transcription factor could turn fibroblasts into muscle cells. The work inspired Ardem Patapoutian to think about the molecular codes that define neuronal subtypes.

By Ardem Patapoutian
17 June 2026 | 6 min read
Headshots of the 2026 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience winners.

Four protein synthesis pioneers win Kavli Prize in Neuroscience

Their research revealed how neurons synthesize proteins in previously unrecognized places.

By Alissa de Chassey
10 June 2026 | 4 min read
Research image of patterns of expression of autosomal genes.

Gene activity in human cortex shows striking sex differences

The results mark a “dramatic shift” in how neuroscientists think about sex differences, and they may help explain sex biases in certain neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions.

By Lauren Schenkman
5 May 2026 | 5 min read
Figure in profile walking through the woods holding a branch that resembles a dendrite.

Dendrites help neuroscientists see the forest for the trees

Dendritic arbors provide just the right scale to study how individual neurons reciprocally interact with their broader circuitry—and are our best bet to bridge cellular and systems neuroscience.

By Justin O’Hare
27 February 2026 | 7 min read
Illustration of a synapse.

Neuroscience needs single-synapse studies

Studying individual synapses has the potential to help neuroscientists develop new theories, better understand brain disorders and reevaluate 70 years of work on synaptic transmission plasticity.

By Seth Grant
17 February 2026 | 5 min read
Research image of myelinated axons.

Oligodendrocytes need mechanical cues to myelinate axons correctly

Without the mechanosensor TMEM63A, the cells cannot deposit the appropriate amount of insulation, according to a new study.

By Calli McMurray
11 February 2026 | 5 min read
Books.

The Transmitter’s most-read neuroscience book excerpts of 2025

Books by Nachum Ulanovsky, Nicole Rust, and Andrew Iwaniuk and Georg Striedter made the list of some of the year's most engaging neuroscience titles.

By The Transmitter
24 December 2025 | 2 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Portrait of insect-cognition researcher Martin Giurfa.

O que significa ‘lar’ para Martín Giurfa

O pesquisador especializado em cognição de insetos já trabalhou em vários continentes, mas a Argentina nunca está longe de seus pensamentos.

By Gina Jiménez
10 August 2026 | 15 min read
Ilustração de um cientista diante de uma paisagem fragmentada.

Redefinindo a sub-representação na neurociência mundial

Mudar o foco das iniciativas de equidade das categorias identitárias para as barreiras estruturais pode revelar desafios negligenciados e aumentar o apoio e a participação em todo o mundo.

Ilustración del científico frente a un paisaje fracturado.

Redefiniendo la subrepresentación en la neurociencia global

Si se cambia el enfoque de las iniciativas de promoción de equidad desde categorías de identidad a barreras estructurales, se revelan desafíos que habían pasado desapercibidos que pueden aumentar la participación a nivel mundial.