Vision happens when patterns of light entering the eye are converted into reliable patterns of brain activity. This reliability allows the brain to recognize the same object each time it is seen. Our brains, however, are not born with this ability; instead, we develop it through visual experience. Collaborating scientists at MPFI and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies have recently discovered key circuit changes that lead to the maturation of reliable brain activity patterns. Their findings, published in Neuron this week, are likely generalizable beyond vision, providing a framework to understand the brain’s unique ability to adapt and learn quickly during the earliest stages of development.

An MIT study reveals how rare variants of a gene called ABCA7 may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s by disrupting lipid metabolism in neurons.

Mass General Brigham researchers have developed a new liquid biopsy tool, HPV-DeepSeek, that can detect HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms appear, potentially enabling earlier and less aggressive treatment. The test uses whole-genome sequencing to identify microscopic fragments of HPV DNA in the bloodstream and has demonstrated high accuracy and specificity in early detection.