A new preprint shows that deep learning can make a fly walk realistically using a worm’s brain — exposing a fundamental problem with how connectome models are being built and sold to investors.

By Natalia Mesa

https://www.thetransmitter.org/systems-neuroscience/digital-sphinx-raises-questions-about-connectome-models/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260402-news-digital-sphinx-raises-question-about-connectome-models

Astrocytes are the most abundant non-neuronal cell in the brain and a subject of fascination in autism research.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/taking-a-closer-look-at-astrocytes-and-autism/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260402-sp-a-closer-look-at-astrocytes-and-autism

Catherine Carr explains her discovery that geckos retain a vibration-sensing pathway previously thought to be lost when animals moved onto land.

By Helena Kudiabor
https://www.thetransmitter.org/neuros-ark/neuros-ark-sounding-out-the-evolution-of-hearing-with-geckos/

The authors of a Nature paper outlining a mechanism for multisensory memories in Drosophila melongaster have retracted the work after they were unable to replicate a set of imaging experiments.

By Calli McMurray

https://www.thetransmitter.org/retraction/researchers-retract-multisensory-learning-paper-after-failed-replications/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260331-news-retraction-multisensory-learning-paper-after-failed-replications

The requested boost would help counter the planned sunsetting of one of the program’s long-standing funding streams, which will result in a $195 million drop in funding for fiscal year 2027.

By @avaskham

https://www.thetransmitter.org/funding/letter-asks-congress-for-nearly-500-million-to-sustain-brain-initiative/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260331-news-letter-asks-congress-nearly-500-million-sustain-BRAIN-Initiative

Scientists and educators are concerned about students using AI to shortcut their learning. But there are also opportunities, especially when it comes to teaching neuroscience students how to code, writes Ashley Juavinett.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/how-to-teach-this-paper/how-to-teach-programming-in-the-age-of-ai/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260330-perspectives-how-to-teach-programming-AI

Organizers of a leading neuroscience conference are trying to allay concerns after a policy that bars submissions from researchers based at institutions sanctioned by the United States government attracted intense scrutiny online.

By Dalmeet Singh Chawla

https://www.thetransmitter.org/science-and-society/neuroscience-conference-policy-draws-confusion-apology/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20250327-news-neuroscience-conf-policy-draws-confusion

Last week, the NIH announced an influx of $150 million to develop infrastructure for the testing of novel alternative methods, following the administration’s push to move away from animal research.

By Claudia López Lloreda

https://www.thetransmitter.org/funding/funding-for-animal-research-alternatives-reaches-inflection-point/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260326-news-funding-animal-research-alternatives

Trainees need to learn how to identify a paper’s major takeaways and integrate them into their understanding. In her essay, Nora Bradford argues that this skill doesn’t come from outsourcing the work to large language models.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/neuro-education/friction-maxxing-in-school-students-should-read-primary-literature-not-ai-summaries/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20250326-perspectives-friction-maxxing