Neuroscience at MIT

The Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) Department of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a place where science and engineering intersect. Housed under the roof of the recently built BCS Complex (MIT Building 46) (Figures 1 and 2), the largest neuroscience facility in the world, BCS investigators work closely with engineers both to elucidate neural mechanisms behind our cognitive activities and to apply their neuroscientific knowledge to improve treatments for diseases of the brain. Here, we discuss Edward Boyden and Emery Brown, two BCS faculty members who employ genetic engineering techniques and signalprocessing methods, respectively, to further enhance their understanding of the mysterious brain.