We explore the brain’s circuits and activity

Discovering how information processed by networks of neurons generates our thoughts, emotions, and actions

Our Mission

From individual neurons to the whole brain, we work to reveal how the brain interprets environments to make decisions.

Our approach

Innovative methods and groundbreaking discoveries to deepen our understanding of the brain, while paving the way for new treatments for brain disorders.

Scientists at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics analyze and trace the path of signaling in neural circuits cascading across the whole brain and body.

Our approach is focused on how the parts of the brain work together to produce behavior. Teams of researchers develop next-generation neurotechnologies that capture rich data that are shared with the wider scientific community.  

Open Science

We are doing science in the open. Our data and tools are openly available to the community.

Explore our Open Tools
Learn more about Open Science
Collaborative Process

We work in a coordinated manner to address complex and deep scientific challenges, leveraging the joint strengths and expertise of diverse scientists and technical staff.​

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Data platforms accelerate our work

Neuropixels Electrophysiology

The Neuropixels platform uses pioneering technology for highly reproducible, targeted, brain-wide, cell-type-specific electrophysiology to record neural activity from defined neuron types across the brain.

Brain-Wide Anatomy At Cellular Resolution

The Molecular Anatomy platform combines innovative histology, imaging, and analysis techniques to map the morphology and molecular identity of neuron types across the whole brain.

Fiber Photometry

The Fiber Photometry platform enables optical measurement of neural activity in live animals to study neural circuits' function and dynamics in behaving animals.

Behavior

The Behavior platform uses advanced technology to implement a standardized, modular, multi-task virtual reality gymnasium for mice, with the goal to study brain function across different behaviors at scale.

Projects

Team-based research efforts, with the primary goal of answering a foundational scientific question to make discoveries.

Dynamic Routing

We are studying task-switching behaviors in mice to determine how the brain controls the flow of its own activity and how neuronal circuits are reconfigured to dynamically route information for different tasks.

Explore project

OpenScope

OpenScope provides access to cutting-edge neurophysiological methods to scientists across the world. Similar to astronomical observatories, scientists propose experiments that are then executed at the Allen Institute.

Explore project

Single-Cell Computation

Our goal is to investigate the computations performed by individual neurons, based on measuring synaptic input and firing output. We are developing technologies with single synapse resolution in the living brain. New microscopes allow tracking synaptic activity across  the entire dendritic arbor.

Explore project

Get Involved

Upcoming events

Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain 2025

The 2025 Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain is an intensive, project-based residential course with a focus on the neurobiology of sensory processing, coding, and neural population dynamics. This program is intended for researchers at the graduate and postdoctoral level with an interest in developing the intersection of their scientific knowledge and their computational skills.

Applications for 2025 will open by December 1, 2024.

Event details