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.

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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.

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Centers & Institutes

Explore Additional Research Centers

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Latest Publications

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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

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

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

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

Featured News & Stories

A team of medical professionals in surgical attire performs a procedure in an operating room. They are surrounded by medical equipment, including a robotic arm and various monitors.

News Release

University of Michigan implants first-in-human Paradromics wireless brain-computer interface, designed to restore communication

Neurosurgeons at University of Michigan Health completed the first-in-human implantation of a Paradromics Inc., wireless brain-computer interface, or BCI, as part of a national clinical trial for patients with difficulty speaking.

darker pink brain with electrodes from white device

Health Lab

Emergency EEG study suggests need for faster seizure diagnosis and care options

Study finds emergency EEG study suggests need for faster seizure diagnosis and care options for patients.

couple sitting on bench black and white kissing on cheek

Health Lab

Helping an employee-turned-patient overcome a brain tumor

A patient with a brain tumor talks about their experience being an employee receiving care at Michigan Medicine.

Recent Podcast Episodes in Neuroscience

Health Lab Podcast

Could preeclampsia become a thing of the past?

The findings position VGLL3 as a promising novel treatment target for the pregnancy-related condition.

Health Lab Podcast

Hospice Patients with Dementia Face Higher Risk from Certain Prescriptions

A study of those prescribed benzodiazepines or antipsychotics after hospice enrollment highlights two hospice policy issues.

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.