MIT neuroscientists asked patients who had recently had their sight restored to identify and trace the shapes they saw. While a normally sighted person would likely trace two overlapping squares, these patients interpreted the drawing as three separate shapes. Image/ Sinha Lab.

Spotlights

Out of darkness, sight

By studying rare cases of restored vision in older children and young adults, MIT neuroscientists are figuring out how the brain learns to see. Read More >>

Back to (brain) basics

MIT neuroscientists are using their knowledge of the brain to generate promising treatments for autism, mental retardation and Alzheimer’s disease.

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A head of time

For the first time, neuroscientists find brain cells that keep track of time with extreme precision. Read More >>

We want to know how the mind works

MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences stands at the nexus of neuroscience, biology and psychology. We combine these disciplines to study specific aspects of the brain and mind including: vision, movement systems, learning and memory, neural and cognitive development, language and reasoning. Working collaboratively, we apply our expertise, tools, and techniques to address and answer both fundamental and universal questions about how the brain and mind work.

don't you?