The Senses
May 1, 2018
How Two Brains Agree on Smells
Columbia researchers develop mathematical model that proposes new and critical role for neurons in the brain’s smell center.
Computation
April 5, 2018
Columbia Scientists Build Better Way to Decode the Genome
New computer algorithm deciphers DNA’s most well-kept secrets; may help find the links between genes and disease.
Evolution
April 4, 2018
How Genes Shape Behavior
Andrés Bendesky, MD, PhD, argues that deciphering the astounding diversity of animal behaviors will help to gain insight into ourselves. In appreciation of this work, he is now being recognized as one of the most promising early-career scientists in America.
The Senses
March 16, 2018
The Nerve Cells That Enable Fruit Flies to Escape Danger
Findings offer clues into comparable survival strategies in people.
Learning & Memory
March 1, 2018
In Pursuit of Pleasure, Brain Learns to Hit the Repeat Button
New study in mice shows how the brain learns to reproduce patterns of brain activity that lead to reward; provides insights for treating addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Tools & Technology
February 16, 2018
The Brain Science of Sound
Nima Mesgarani, PhD, deciphers how the human brain distinguishes and interprets the sounds we hear. Now, he’s being recognized as one of 2018’s top innovators for his achievements.
Growth & Development
February 14, 2018
Learning the Language of Love: The Brain Science of Songbirds
By examining birds' courtship rituals, and deciphering how they learn to sing to each other, Sarah Woolley, PhD, is shedding new light on how two brains can connect to become a pair.
Movement
February 8, 2018
The Brain Science of Figure Skating: How Practice Makes Perfect
In celebration of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Silver Medalist Paul Wylie joins Drs. Rui Costa and Nathaniel Sawtell, neuroscientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, on a journey inside the mind of some of the world's most elite athletes.
Disease
January 31, 2018
Body Movements Just Need a “Puff” of Dopamine to Get Started
A new study in mice suggests that a burst of dopamine levels at the beginning of a movement only, as opposed to all the time, is what gets us going. This may have important implications for treating Parkinson’s disease.
Growth & Development
January 25, 2018
The Stem Cells that Build a Fly’s Nervous System
Columbia study in fruit flies sheds light on key aspect of development; findings could build understanding of comparable system in people.
