Summer reading

Recent articles

A woman stands in front of two books that are open to reveal that they contain doorways from which blue light emanates.

From reductionism to dynamical systems: How two books influenced my thinking across 30 years of neuroscience

Nicole Rust describes her career-changing literary journey of joy, free will and the evolution of a field.

By Nicole Rust
26 August 2024 | 4 min listen
Illustration of a brain separated into four panes, each rendered in different colors and with different decorative elements.

How did consciousness evolve? An excerpt from ‘A History of Bodies, Brains, and Minds: The Evolution of Life and Consciousness’

In his new book, to be published in September, neuroscientist Francisco Aboitiz links consciousness back to the earliest days of biological life.

By Francisco Aboitiz
26 August 2024 | 12 min read
Illustration of six different noses smelling in six different abstract landscapes.

Consciously smelling—an edited excerpt from ‘Stinking Philosophy! Smell Perception, Cognition, and Consciousness’

In his new book, published earlier this month, Benjamin Young tackles the debates and central questions surrounding olfactory perception, cognition and consciousness.

By Benjamin Young
26 August 2024 | 12 min read
Illustration of a group of books floating against a light blue and yellow background.

Six new neuroscience books for fall—plus five titles you may have missed

We highlight the most anticipated neuroscience books for the remainder of 2024 and recap notable releases since last December.

By Francisco J. Rivera Rosario
26 August 2024 | 6 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustration of two neon-toned sets of concentric circles overlapping, with bright spots where they intersect.

Are Brains and AI Converging?—an excerpt from ‘ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution’

In his new book, to be published next week, computational neuroscience pioneer Sejnowski tackles debates about AI’s capacity to mirror cognitive processes.

By Terrence Sejnowski
21 October 2024 | 12 min read

New tissue-clearing techniques let microscopes peer deeper into living brains

Washing mouse brain tissue with a blood protein or complex sugar can illuminate cells 550 micrometers into the cortex without compromising its normal physiology.

By Calli McMurray
18 October 2024 | 0 min watch
A younger looking set of hands holds an older looking set of hands.

New catalog charts familial ties from autism to 90 other conditions

The research tool reveals associations stretching across three generations.

By Charles Q. Choi
17 October 2024 | 4 min read