Neuroscience
Advancing Neuroscience Research at Michigan Medicine

Unlocking the complexities of the brain and reducing the impact of brain-related illnesses.

 Drs. Feldman and Hayes looking at a scan of a brain on a computer

The brain regulates the body’s organ systems and helps us interact with the world. Understanding how the brain coordinates signals from inside and outside of the body and drives our health and behavior is the focus of Michigan Medicine’s world-renowned neuroscientists.

Our researchers are quickly advancing knowledge within the field, from understanding diseases of the brain, such as cancer, epilepsy and depression arise to unraveling the brain’s immense complexity.
Great Minds, Greater Discoveries
Michelle Hastings, PhD

Discover how Dr. Hastings is investing in a simple but powerful way to make medicines.

Learn more about Dr. Hastings' work
Neuroscience Researchers
Meet the Experts

Michigan Medicine neuroscience researchers are at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries that shape the understanding of the brain and nervous system.

See All Researchers
Centers & Institutes
Explore Additional Research Centers
als
ALS Center of Excellence

A world leader in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the ALS Center of Excellence at Michigan Medicine features a combination of renowned researchers, unrivaled facilities, and the partnership of a dedicated multidisciplinary clinic team.

Learn more about our research
doctor pointing to a brain scan
Michigan Neuroscience Institute

Our mission is to leverage advances across all fields of science and engineering to solve the mysteries of the brain, advance human health, and address society’s challenges.

Learn more about our research
Dr. Kevin Chen looking through a microscope in the lab
Neuronetwork For Emerging Therapies

We draw upon our expertise and our innovative collaborations, both within the University of Michigan and worldwide, to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and support emerging therapies for neurological diseases.

Learn more about our research
Frankel IHBH Team
The Stanley and Judith Frankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health

The Stanley and Judith Frankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health (Frankel IHBH) brings together current and new U-M researchers to unravel the biological mechanisms that the heart and brain have in common, as well as how these organs signal to each other and impact clinical outcomes.

Learn more about our research
Three older gentlemen and two older ladies smiling in a group outside
Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center

The Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center (MADC) is committed to memory and aging research, patient care, education and wellness to support persons living with or caring for a loved one with dementia.

Learn more about our research
Latest Publications
See All Publications
Applications of oxetanes in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry
Huang, G, Hucek, D, Cierpicki, T, Grembecka, J, Eur J Med Chem, 2023 Dec; DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115802
PMID: 37713805
Refractory generalized myasthenia gravis with myasthenic incomplete ophthalmoplegia successfully treated with eculizumab
Weidmayer, SL, Gallagher, G, Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep, 2023 Dec; DOI:10.1016/j.ajoc.2023.101925
PMID: 37711751
Optoα1AR activation in astrocytes modulates basal hippocampal synaptic excitation and inhibition in a stimulation-specific manner
Courtney, CD, Sobieski, C, Ramakrishnan, C, Ingram, RJ, Wojnowski, NM, DeFazio, RA, Deisseroth, K, Christian-Hinman, CA, Hippocampus, 2023 Dec; DOI:10.1002/hipo.23580
PMID: 37767862
Predicting Neurologically Intact Survival for Advanced Age Adults After Successful Resuscitation of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Adams, D, Nathanson, BH, White, CN, Jackson, EA, Mader, TJ, Coute, RA, CARES Surveillance Group, Array, Am J Cardiol, 2023 Nov; DOI:10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.08.108
PMID: 37757519
Neuropeptide Y signaling regulates recurrent excitation in the auditory midbrain
Silveira, MA, Drotos, AC, Pirrone, TM, Versalle, TS, Bock, A, Roberts, MT, J Neurosci, 2023 Nov; DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0900-23.2023
PMID: 37704372
Magnetic resonance fingerprinting in multiple sclerosis
Ontaneda, D, Gulani, V, Deshmane, A, Shah, A, Guruprakash, DK, Jiang, Y, Ma, D, Fisher, E, Rudick, RA, Raza, P, Kilbane, M, Cohen, JA, Sakaie, K, Lowe, MJ, Griswold, MA, Nakamura, K, Mult Scler Relat Disord, 2023 Nov; DOI:10.1016/j.msard.2023.105024
PMID: 37783196
Inhibition of dopamine neurons prevents incentive value encoding of a reward cue: With revelations from deep phenotyping
Iglesias, AG, Chiu, AS, Wong, J, Campus, P, Li, F, Liu, ZN, Bhatti, JK, Patel, SA, Deisseroth, K, Akil, H, Burgess, CR, Flagel, SB, J Neurosci, 2023 Nov; DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0848-23.2023
PMID: 37709540
Directed evolution unlocks oxygen reactivity for a nicotine-degrading flavoenzyme
Dulchavsky, M, Mitra, R, Wu, K, Li, J, Boer, K, Liu, X, Zhang, Z, Vasquez, C, Clark, CT, Funckes, K, Shankar, K, Bonnet-Zahedi, S, Siddiq, M, Sepulveda, Y, Suhandynata, RT, Momper, JD, Calabrese, AN, George, O, Stull, F, Bardwell, JCA, Nat Chem Biol, 2023 Nov; DOI:10.1038/s41589-023-01426-y
PMID: 37770699
Featured News & Stories
woman sitting outside home destoryed
Health Lab
People living with dementia during natural disasters
Extreme weather and weather-related disasters are becoming more and more common. Unfortunately, disaster related disruptions in healthcare tend to affect the most vulnerable of populations – including older adults living with cognitive impairment. In this episode, Matt & Donovan speak with University of Michigan faculty member, Sue Anne Bell, about how healthcare disruption due to a disaster can affect the population of older adults living with dementia.
 woman touching head talking to front desk person
Health Lab
Cognitive decline comes sooner for people with heart failure
There are over six million Americans with heart failure who are at greater risk of losing their cognitive abilities earlier in life, a study led by University of Michigan suggests. 
 a picture of the globe surrounded by trees
Research News
Celebrating Earth Day at the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Kelly Bakulski, PhD, U-M School of Public Health Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Center Data Core Leader, shares about environmental research taking place at the Center.
Recent Podcast Episodes in Neuroscience
The Fundamentals Podcast Hero Card Final 1800 x 1350
The Fundamentals
Researching Psychedelics for Potential Therapeutic Use
Recently, interest in psychedelic research has seen a resurgence, strengthened by better designed and controlled clinical trials and the use of neuroimaging, examining psychedelics' potential therapeutic use for PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and depression. On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. George Mashour, professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology and founder of the Michigan Psychedelic Center about using rigorous scientific methods to unlock the mysteries of psychedelics and investigate their potential as therapeutics.
 The Fundamentals Podcast Hero Card Final 1800 x 1350
The Fundamentals
A.I. and Bioinformatics to Reveal Hidden Networks of the Brain
There are an estimated 86 billion neurons in the human brain. Neuroscientists are actively exploring the importance of single or small groups of neurons versus networks of billions of neurons in the processing of sensory information, storage of memories, generation of movement, and everything else the brain does. Until recently, it simply wasn't possible to study billions of neurons at once. In today's episode, we talk with U-M's Dr. Anne Draelos, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, who is using A.I. and bioinformatics to reveal the hidden networks of the brain, and exploring how gaining this understanding could improve lives.
 The Fundamentals Podcast Hero Card Final 1800 x 1350
The Fundamentals
If they don't give up, how can I give up?
Today on The Fundamentals is Dr. Maria Castro, the R.C. Schneider collegiate professor of neurosurgery, and a professor of cell and developmental biology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Her research program aims to develop immunotherapies for primary and metastatic brain cancer, studying basic immune biology mechanisms leading to clinical implementation. She has been inducted into the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the Latin American Academy of Sciences, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. She has won numerous awards for her contributions to basic science and cancer research and is a diversity ambassador for the Cancer Biology Graduate Training Program. You can learn more about Dr. Castro here, and you can follow her @castro2355_mg, the Rogel Cancer Center @UMRogelCancer, the department of neurosurgery @umichneuro, Michigan Neurscience Institute @UM_MNI and the department of cell and developmental biology @UMCDB on X
 Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
Health Lab Podcast
Evidence of Conscious-like Activity in the Dying Brain
A study finds intriguing brain wave patterns in comatose patients who died following cardiac arrest.
 Health Lab Podcast in brackets with a background with a dark blue translucent layers over cells
Health Lab Podcast
Can We Slow Age-Related Hearing Loss?
Study suggests that the overexpression of cochlear neurotrophin-3 can help prevent the loss of hearing.