Sandra Sexton

1 month ago | thetransmitter.org | Sydney Wyatt |Caitlin James |Elizabeth Repasky |Sandra Sexton

A new photometry technique can track absolute levels of dopamine and monitor both fast and slow changes in its concentration in freely moving mice, according to a preprint posted on bioRxiv in January.

2 months ago | thetransmitter.org | Shaena Montanari |Caitlin James |Elizabeth Repasky |Sandra Sexton

Reporter The Transmitter Share this article: Tags: Methods, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid beta, Animal models, animal research, models, neurodegenerative disease Transgenic mice typically help to standardize disease research, but not in the case of a common model of familial Alzheimer’s disease: The amount of amyloid beta plaque in 5XFAD mice—so named for the five familial Alzheimer’s disease variants they carry—varies depending on how they are bred, according to a study published 20 January...

Nov 11, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Anthony M. Zador |Caitlin James |Elizabeth Repasky |Sandra Sexton

The field of NeuroAI encompasses two intertwined research programs: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to model intelligent behavior, and the application of neuroscience insights to improve AI systems. The motivation for using neuroscience to improve AI is clear: If the ultimate goal is, in the words of AI pioneer Marvin Minsky, “to build machines that can perform any […] task that a human can do,” then the most natural strategy is to reverse-engineer the brain.

Nov 11, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Anthony M. Zador |Caitlin James |Elizabeth Repasky |Sandra Sexton

“NeuroAI,” a portmanteau of “neuroscience” and “AI” (artificial intelligence), is on the rise. Almost unheard of until about five years ago, it has now emerged as a “hot” area of research—and the subject of a growing number of workshops, conferences and academic programs, including a BRAIN-Initiative-sponsored workshop that starts tomorrow. The intertwining of these disciplines was almost inevitable.

Nov 5, 2024 | thetransmitter.org | Jill Adams |Elizabeth Repasky |Sandra Sexton |Ashley Juavinett

A suicide-risk screening tool modified for use in autistic people compares well with clinician-based assessments. Spectrum previously covered a different questionnaire to assess suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people on the spectrum. AutismMice missing the FMR1 gene, a model of fragile X syndrome, show autism-like behaviors and disruptions in neural connections between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, according to a preprint.