Skip to main content

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.

Learn About Us

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.

BROWSE OUR LABORATORIES

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

Oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein impairs dendritic arbors via schizophrenia risk gene Trio.

Parnell E, Christiansen JM, Spratt MA, Ruiz S, Macdonald ML, Penzes P, Sweet RA, Grubisha MJ.

Neurobiol Dis. 2025 Jul;211:106928. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2025.106928. Epub 2025 Apr 22.

Presynaptic mu opioid receptors suppress the functional connectivity of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons with aversion-related brain regions.

Wu Y, Perez-Rosello T, Awatramani R, Surmeier DJ.

J Neurosci. 2025 Jun 13:e1194242025. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1194-24.2025. Online ahead of print.

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

Piña Novo D, Gao M, Fischer R, Richevaux L, Yu J, Barrett JM, Shepherd GMG.

Elife. 2025 May 19;14:RP105112. doi: 10.7554/eLife.105112.

Region-specific nucleus accumbens dopamine signals encode distinct aspects of avoidance learning.

Lopez GC, Van Camp LD, Kovaleski RF, Schaid MD, Sherathiya VN, Cox JM, Lerner TN.

Curr Biol. 2025 May 19;35(10):2433-2443.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.006. Epub 2025 Apr 22.

The causal role of brain circuits in osteoarthritis pain.

Barroso J, Branco P, Apkarian AV.

Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2025 May;21(5):261-274. doi: 10.1038/s41584-025-01234-9. Epub 2025 Mar 31.

Alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays: Data sharing, standardization needed for clinical use.

Lashuel HA, Surmeier DJ, Simuni T, Merchant K, Caughey B, Soto C, Fares MB, Heym RG, Melki R.

Sci Adv. 2025 Apr 4;11(14):eadt7195. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adt7195. Epub 2025 Apr 2.

Intrinsic properties of spinal motoneurons degrade ankle torque control in humans.

Beauchamp JA, Pearcey GEP, Khurram OU, Negro F, Dewald JPA, Heckman CJ.

J Physiol. 2025 Apr;603(8):2443-2463. doi: 10.1113/JP287446. Epub 2025 Mar 28.

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

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

J Neural Eng. 2025 Mar 17;22(2):10.1088/1741-2552/adbcd9. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/adbcd9.

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

Piña Novo D, Gao M, Fischer R, Richevaux L, Yu J, Barrett JM, Shepherd GMG.

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Mar 13:2024.12.02.626335. doi: 10.1101/2024.12.02.626335.

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.

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.

Follow Neuroscience on