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Innovative, collaborative research.

The Department of Neuroscience at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is devoted to outstanding research and committed to excellence in education. Our faculty participate in teaching medical and graduate students and are proud of their contribution to this important enterprise.

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What We Do

Research

Our research spans the full spectrum of investigation into neural function and dysfunction, bridging the levels of genes, molecules, dendrites, axons, cell types, circuits, systems and behavior.

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Education

In addition to directing their own independent research programs, our faculty are responsible for supervising the research training of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

EXPLORE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Recent Publications

Stress and stiffness as predictors of shear wave velocity in peripheral nerve.

Rugel CL, Thompson SD, Franz CK, Heckman CJ, Lavasani M, Lee SSM.

PLoS One. 2025 Mar 11;20(3):e0319439. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319439. eCollection 2025.

Less is more: selection from a small set of options improves BCI velocity control.

Alcolea PI, Ma X, Bodkin KL, Miller LE, Danziger ZC.

J Neural Eng. 2025 Mar 5. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/adbcd9. Online ahead of print.

The NKCC1 Inhibitor Bumetanide Restores Cortical Feedforward Inhibition and Lessens Sensory Hypersensitivity in Early Postnatal Fragile X Mice.

Kourdougli N, Nomura T, Wu MW, Heuvelmans A, Dobler Z, Contractor A, Portera-Cailliau C.

Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 1;97(5):507-516. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.023. Epub 2024 Jun 29.

Advancing the prediction and understanding of placebo responses in chronic back pain using large language models.

Nunes DAP, Furrer D, Berger S, Cecchi G, Ferreira-Gomes J, Neto F, Martins de Matos D, Apkarian AV, Branco P.

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Feb 13:2025.01.21.25320888. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.21.25320888.

Direct and Retrograde Wave Propagation in Unidirectionally Coupled Wilson-Cowan Oscillators.

Elisha G, Gast R, Halder S, Solla SA, Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE, Patankar NA.

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 7;134(5):058401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.058401.

How Dopamine Enables Learning from Aversion.

Lopez GC, Lerner TN.

Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2025 Feb;61:101476. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101476. Epub 2024 Dec 21.

Roles of ANK2/ankyrin-B in neurodevelopmental disorders: Isoform functions and implications for autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.

Yoon S, Penzes P.

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2025 Feb;90:102938. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102938. Epub 2024 Dec 3.

Pharmacological blocking of spinal GABAA receptors in monkeys reduces sensory transmission to the spinal cord, thalamus, and cortex.

Mahrous AA, Liang L, Balaguer JM, Ho JC, Grigsby EM, Karapetyan V, Damiani A, Fields DP, Gonzalez-Martinez JA, Gerszten PC, Bennett DJ, Heckman CJ, Pirondini E, Capogrosso M.

Cell Rep. 2025 Jan 28;44(1):115100. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115100. Epub 2024 Dec 18.

State-dependent modulation of spiny projection neurons controls levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Zhai S, Cui Q, Wokosin D, Sun L, Tkatch T, Crittenden JR, Graybiel AM, Surmeier DJ.

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 7:2025.01.02.631090. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.02.631090.

Cortical dynamics in hand/forelimb S1 and M1 evoked by brief photostimulation of the mouse's hand.

Novo DP, Gao M, Yu J, Barrett JM, Shepherd GMG.

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Dec 2:2024.12.02.626335. doi: 10.1101/2024.12.02.626335.

Basic Science Administration

Our department is supported by the Basic Science Administration group. The team provides assistance related to research and financial administration, professional affairs, facilities and communications.

VISIT BASIC SCIENCE ADMINISTRATION SITE

 

Physician-Scientist Training & Resources

We offer a wide range of resources, mentorship opportunities and formal training programs to help our residents and fellows excel as physician-scientists. Explore all of the resources and hear from housestaff who are making research a major part of their career development plans.

Visit the Starzl Academy Site

Health Equity

Our vision is to make Northwestern, our communities, all communities, our lives and the world a better place — with everyone having the chance and responsibility for reaching their own pinnacle of health.

Visit the Office of Health Equity

MD students see patients as part of the Education-Centered Medical Home program.

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