We’re moving closer to unraveling the mysteries of brain function, thanks to The BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative established by the Obama administration. The Initiative received a major boost on September 16, when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved initial areas of high-priority research to be supported by $40 million of its 2014 funding.

The Initiative’s goal is to provide a clearer picture of how cells and neural circuits interact within the brain. Gaining this knowledge will improve our understanding of how we think, learn, and remember. It will also advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of brain diseases. The NIH investment will fuel development of new tools and resources for creating structural maps of the brain, recording the capabilities of neural networks, linking neuronal activity to behavior, and much more.

You can find out more about The BRAIN Initiative at www.nih.gov/science/brain/.

As the project generates important findings, Rewire Me will respond with new articles that keep you informed about the research and its implications for making the most of our mental capacities. So stay tuned!