ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Biggest Mysteries of the Human Brain
How much do we know about the brain? How much remains a mystery? Join us in celebrating Brain Awareness Week with a special event hosted jointly by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Brain Science Initiative on Thursday, March 13. The evening will begin with short talks by bestselling author and cartoonist Jorge Cham and neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin, coauthors of Out of Your Mind: The Biggest Mysteries of the Human Brain (2025, Pantheon), and will be followed by a book signing and opportunities to meet and chat with Harvard brain scientists in the museum galleries.
Community Stories
The Development of Instincts at the Single Cell Level
A new study from Catherine Dulac and colleagues, first author Harris Kaplan explores how one small brain region called the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus changes through early life in mice. Though tiny, the POA is a known hub for neurons that govern basic needs like thirst and hunger, as well as neurons that regulate social behavior.
A new study from Catherine Dulac and colleagues, first author Harris Kaplan explores how one small brain region called the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus changes through early life in mice. Though tiny, the POA is a known hub for neurons that govern basic needs like thirst and hunger, as well as neurons that regulate social behavior.
Nature’s Blueprint: Designing Smarter Electronic Noses Inspired by Biology
Haritosh Patel and colleagues explore how nature’s blueprint for smell can inspire next-generation gas sensors. By applying principles from biological olfaction—such as active sniffing, adaptive sensing, and neural-inspired processing—this work presents a new perspective for more sensitive, selective, and robust electronic noses with applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and beyond.
Haritosh Patel and colleagues explore how nature’s blueprint for smell can inspire next-generation gas sensors. By applying principles from biological olfaction—such as active sniffing, adaptive sensing, and neural-inspired processing—this work presents a new perspective for more sensitive, selective, and robust electronic noses with applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and beyond.
The SKA2 Effect: Linking Stress and Bipolar Disorder
Jakob Hartmann and Kerry Ressler share new work uncovering how SKA2, a protein regulating stress-related signaling, interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor to maintain balance in the brain’s stress response. By highlighting altered SKA2 expression in bipolar disorder, this work offers new insights into the molecular underpinnings of stress-related psychiatric conditions and potential pathways for therapeutic intervention.
Jakob Hartmann and Kerry Ressler share new work uncovering how SKA2, a protein regulating stress-related signaling, interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor to maintain balance in the brain’s stress response. By highlighting altered SKA2 expression in bipolar disorder, this work offers new insights into the molecular underpinnings of stress-related psychiatric conditions and potential pathways for therapeutic intervention.
Upcoming Events
Neural Development Club
March 18, 2025
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: Warren Alpert 236
Panel discussion featuring: Lisa Goodrich (HMS), Gord Fishell (HMS & Broad Institute), Dániel Barabási (Broad Institute), Janet Song (BCH)5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: Warren Alpert 236
In First-Person: Medical Disorders of Voluntary Action
April 9, 2025
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: Tosteson Medical Education Center (TMEC), Room 250
Featuring Alice Flaherty and Isabelle Chopin12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: Tosteson Medical Education Center (TMEC), Room 250