The featured researcher is Jun Yao, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Riccio College of Engineering. Jun and his team of researchers have developed the first artificial neurons capable of directly interfacing with living cells. These artificial neurons are built using protein nanowires derived from the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, combining low-power operation with biocompatibility. Unlike earlier designs that required much higher voltages (and thus much more power), these artificial neurons operate at about 0.1 volt—which is comparable to natural neurons—allowing potential direct electrical communication without amplifiers. The researchers envision applications ranging from ultra‑efficient, bio‑inspired computing to wearable or implantable devices that can talk directly with our bodies, eliminating many of the inefficiencies of today’s sensors and circuitry. You can read more about this discovery in the recently published paper in Nature Communications, “Constructing artificial neurons with functional parameters comprehensively matching biological values“. You can also read a UMass article about this work here.

Here’s what else is new for ‘ ”University of Massachusetts” AND Amherst AND neuroscience’ in PubMed. These publications appeared online in summer 2025. They are just a fraction of the neuroscience research that occurs on campus. You can click on the PubMed ID to find the publication.

1: Zikereya T, Liu C, Wei L, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Han C, Shi K, Chen W. The cannabinoid receptor 1 mediates exercise-induced improvements of motor skill learning and performance in parkinsonian mouse. Exp Neurol. 2025 Sep;391:115289. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115289. Epub 2025 May 6. PMID: 40340015.

2: Hartsock MJ, Karatsoreos IN, Spencer RL. A Pocket Guide for the Experimenter Studying Daily Rhythms in Memory-Related Behavior. Curr Protoc. 2025 Jun;5(6):e70157. doi: 10.1002/cpz1.70157. PMID: 40530505.

3: Bourdon NS, Dickinson SY, Bergan JF. Aromatase and its role in shaping sex-differentiated brain networks. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2025 Jun 26;93:103066. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2025.103066. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40578169.

4: Han C, Wang B, Peng X, Li M, Zhang Z, Yao C, Tu M, Chen X, Zhou J, Wang C, Zhao X. Distinct oscillatory mechanisms in low and high alpha-band activities for screening and potential treatment of Schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Jun 23;15(1):210. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03426-z. PMID: 40550812; PMCID: PMC12185684.

5: Stringer AY, Fuchs K, Bordes Edgar V, Bristow T, Correia S, Penna S, Reyes A, Whiteside DM, Block C, Bodin D, Butt S, Calamia M, Didehbani N, Dodzik P, Dotson VM, Fernandes M, Freece K, Fuller R, Getz G, Harder L, Irani F, Janzen L, Johnstone B, Kaseda E, Kramer M, Kubu C, Lafosse J, Lee-DaRocha J, MacDonald B, Strutt AM, Madore M, McBride W, Medina LD, Mucci G, Nayar K, Paltzer J, Ray C, Ready R, Schmitt TR, Rush B, Singh S, Sperling S, Stanford L, Stiers W, Stricker N, Thornton A, Van Patten R, Vandermorris S, Verroulx K, Wilson J, Wright I, Zartman A, Bilder R, Fujii D, Heffelfinger A, Parsons T, Puente AE, Rey-Casserly C, Roper B, Schmitter-Edgecombe M. The Minnesota Conference proposed guidelines for education and training in clinical neuropsychology. Clin Neuropsychol. 2025 Jul 2:1-42. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2520957. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40604361.

6: Nguyen N, Gomar JJ, Truong JN, Barbero J, Do PP, Rommal A, Oh A, Eidelberg D, Koppel J, Vo A. An artificial intelligence-derived metabolic network predicts psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Commun. 2025 Apr 25;7(3):fcaf159. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf159. PMID: 40599906; PMCID: PMC12209852.

7: Al-Hassan SM, Duell N, Lansford JE, Dodge KA, Gurdal S, Liu Q, Long Q, Oburu P, Pastorelli C, Skinner AT, Sorbring E, Steinberg L, Tapanya S, Tirado LMU, Yotanyamaneewong S, Alampay LP, Bacchini D, Bornstein MH, Chang L, Deater-Deckard K, Giunta LD. Parents’ learning support and school attitudes in relation to adolescent academic identity and school performance in nine countries. Eur J Psychol Educ. 2024 Dec;39(4):3841-3866. doi: 10.1007/s10212-024-00827-4. Epub 2024 Mar 22. PMID: 40740658; PMCID: PMC12306645.

8: Roberts BL, Wang J, Chargui H, Cupertino NC, Sorensen W, Karatsoreos IN. Perinatal circadian desynchronization disrupts sleep and prefrontal cortex function in adult offspring. Sleep. 2025 Jul 26:zsaf210. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf210. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40720779.

9: Rodheim KG, Jones BJ, Hollister PR, Vane MF, Spencer RMC. Does sleep change the emotional bias in memory in older adults? Neuropsychologia. 2025 Jul 24;217:109237. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109237. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40714058.

10: Doctor KP, McKeever C, Wu D, Phadnis A, Plawecki MH, Nurnberger JI Jr, José JV. Deep learning diagnosis plus kinematic severity assessments of neurodivergent disorders. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 8;15(1):20269. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-04294-9. PMID: 40628787; PMCID: PMC12238649.

11: Berg H, McDermott TJ, Kuplicki R, Yeh HW, Thompson WK, Smith R, Akeman E, Kirlic N, Clausen A, Cannon M, White E, Martell CR, Wolitzky-Taylor KB, Craske MG, Abelson JL, Paulus MP, Aupperle RL. Prediction of generalized anxiety disorder treatment outcomes with neurobehavioral responses to approach-avoidance conflict: a randomized clinical trial. Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 5;15(1):231. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03460-x. PMID: 40617801; PMCID: PMC12228681.

12: Winsor AM, Katz PS. The wiring diagram of an entire animal. Elife. 2025 Aug 27;14:e108573. doi: 10.7554/eLife.108573. PMID: 40862472; PMCID: PMC12387741.

13: McDonnell P, Grimmitt AB, Jaramillo JM, Hoogkamer W, Martini DN. Posterior parietal cortex activity during visually cued gait: a preliminary study. Exp Brain Res. 2025 Aug 25;243(9):199. doi: 10.1007/s00221-025-07146-0. PMID: 40853390.

14: Bourdon NS, Dickinson SY, Bergan JF. Aromatase and its role in shaping sex-differentiated brain networks. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2025 Aug;93:103066. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2025.103066. Epub 2025 Jun 26. PMID: 40578169.

15: Psyllou C, Luman M, van den Hoofdakker BJ, Van der Oord S, Aghebati A, Boyer B, Buitelaar J, Chronis-Tuscano A, Daley D, Dekkers TJ, DuPaul GJ, Fabiano GA, Ferrin M, Franke N, Tsahor NG, Harvey E, Hennig T, Herbert S, Hoekstra PJ, Kern L, Mautone JA, Mikami AY, Normand S, Pfiffner LJ, Shimabukuro S, Schramm SA, Schweitzer JB, Sibley MH, Sonuga-Barke E, Thompson C, Thompson MJ, Tripp G, Webster-Stratton C, Xie Y, Leijten P, Groenman AP. Research Review: Mechanisms of change and between-family differences in parenting interventions for children with ADHD – an individual participant data meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025 Sep;66(9):1304-1319. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.14120. Epub 2025 Feb 5. PMID: 39910778; PMCID: PMC12350818.

16: Rodheim KG, Jones BJ, Hollister PR, Vane MF, Spencer RMC. Does sleep change the emotional bias in memory in older adults? Neuropsychologia. 2025 Oct 10;217:109237. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109237. Epub 2025 Jul 24. PMID: 40714058.

17: Psyllou C, Luman M, van den Hoofdakker BJ, Van der Oord S, Aghebati A, Boyer B, Buitelaar J, Chronis-Tuscano A, Daley D, Dekkers TJ, DuPaul GJ, Fabiano GA, Ferrin M, Franke N, Tsahor NG, Harvey E, Hennig T, Herbert S, Hoekstra PJ, Kern L, Mautone JA, Mikami AY, Normand S, Pfiffner LJ, Shimabukuro S, Schramm SA, Schweitzer JB, Sibley MH, Sonuga-Barke E, Thompson C, Thompson MJ, Tripp G, Webster-Stratton C, Xie Y, Leijten P, Groenman AP. Research Review: Mechanisms of change and between-family differences in parenting interventions for children with ADHD – an individual participant data meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025 Sep;66(9):1304-1319. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.14120. Epub 2025 Feb 5. PMID: 39910778; PMCID: PMC12350818.