Alex Major

Alex Major is a Research Scientist at the Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying cognition, particularly in primate models, with an emphasis on neuromodulation, cortical function, and behavioral neuroscience.

Major’s work integrates advanced electrophysiological techniques, including local field potential recordings and neuromodulation approaches, to explore how neural circuits support working memory, decision-making, and rule-based behaviors. His studies often involve combined methodologies such as antidromic stimulation, resting-state imaging, and pharmacological interventions targeting cholinergic and dopaminergic systems.

Notable research themes include the role of muscarinic and dopaminergic receptors in prefrontal cortex function, the impact of anesthesia on neural synchrony, and the anatomical basis of cortico-cortical interactions. His findings contribute to translational efforts in neural interface design and understanding cortical organization across layers.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Major currently advises no graduate students, though his research involves collaborations with postdoctoral researchers and technical teams at the Picower Institute.

His laboratory is situated within MIT’s Picower Institute, leveraging state-of-the-art facilities for neurophysiological and computational neuroscience investigations.