Gene Expression Linked to Brain Neurotransmission Identified

Researchers integrate gene expression and real-time brain activity to reveal molecular mechanisms behind cognition and behavior.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers have identified a distinct and reproducible gene expression program associated with neurotransmission in the living human brain, offering unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms that support human cognition, emotion, and behavior. By combining molecular data with real-time physiological recordings, the team identified a coordinated set of genes whose activity tracks with neuronal signaling.

Why it matters

Disrupted neurotransmission is central to many psychiatric and neurological disorders, so identifying the genes linked to active signaling could help refine future diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. This approach integrates electrophysiology and molecular science, bridging two worlds that have traditionally been studied separately.

The details

The study demonstrated that this transcriptional program is reproducible across independent cohorts and aligns with established pathways involved in excitatory neuronal signaling and synaptic function. The findings provide a molecular framework for understanding how gene activity supports active brain communication.

  • The findings were published on February 19, 2026 in Molecular Psychiatry.

The players

Alexander Charney

Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Brian Kopell

Director of the Center for Neuromodulation and Co-Director of The Mount Sinai Hospital's Movement Disorders Program.

Ignacio Saez

Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, and Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai Health System

One of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For decades, our understanding of gene expression in the human brain has been limited to postmortem studies. This work allows us to examine the molecular architecture of neurotransmission as it is happening in living individuals, bringing us closer to directly linking genes to real-time brain function.”

— Alexander Charney, Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences

“By pairing intracranial recordings with molecular profiling, we're bridging two worlds that have traditionally been studied separately. This approach gives us a clearer picture of how neural circuits operate at both the electrical and genetic levels, which has profound implications for neuromodulation and precision treatments.”

— Brian Kopell, Director of the Center for Neuromodulation and Co-Director of The Mount Sinai Hospital's Movement Disorders Program

“The power of this study lies in its integration of large-scale transcriptomic data with direct measures of brain activity. Identifying a coordinated transcriptional program associated with neurotransmission provides a new framework for understanding how genetic variation may influence brain function and vulnerability to disease.”

— Ignacio Saez, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, and Neurology

The takeaway

This study represents a major advancement in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying brain function and cognition. By integrating gene expression and real-time neurophysiological data, researchers have identified a coordinated transcriptional program associated with neurotransmission, paving the way for new diagnostic tools and targeted treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.