About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the future of humanity.
May 20, 2015... Prof. Alon Chen studies the biology of conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In this video, he explains the mechanism of action behind these conditions and what happens when the system goes awry.
Nov 05, 2019... Recognizing faces is as natural and habitual as can be for human beings. Even with their undeveloped vision, babies can recognize their mother’s face within days, while adults typically know some 5,000 faces. But what actually happens inside our brains during the process of recognizing a face? How are different facial features encoded in our brains? And can artificial intelligence learn to recognize faces the way humans do?
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/video-gallery/2015-midwest-region-gala-dinner/
Jan 31, 2016... The 2015 Midwest Region Gala Dinner was an inspiring evening honoring Richard S. Price, Chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial. Notable speakers included Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Weizmann Institute President Prof. Daniel Zajfman. After a moving tribute by his son, Dinner Co-Chair Brian Price, Richard Price spoke about his passion for brain research. Watch the full program, which featured a panel with Weizmann neurobiologists Prof. Alon Chen, Prof. Nachum Ulanovsky, and Dr. Ofer Yizhar.
Jan 01, 2017...
Prof. Noam Sobel. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Talking to: Prof. Noam Sobel of the neurobiology department and the Azrieli Center for Human Brain Imaging, Weizmann Institute of Science, in Rehovot, who studies brain mechanisms related to the sense of smell. Where: His laboratory. When: Sunday, 10 A.M.
How does the sense of smell affect human behavior?
Our primary field of research dealing with that question concerns chemical communication between animals, and in our case, human beings. All animals communicate by means of chemical signals, and we, too, land mammals with an amazing nose, are no different.
Nov 30, 2019...
If there is one thing that all human beings seem to have in common, it is the fear of losing their memories. After all, memory shapes our personality, determines how we see ourselves, and contributes to shared experiences on multiple levels. Losing one’s memory is akin to losing an entire life history.
The 21st century offers various technologies that keep us from forgetting the little things, such as phone numbers, which are now a touch away on our smartphones. But could mobile phones actually contribute to one’s forgetfulness? Is age to blame for memory loss? Genetics? Or maybe a combination of all of the above?
Oct 29, 2014... Prof. Eytan Domany takes the stage to discusses the nature of memory, how we form memories, and how they change over time. He ties this into the dance about to performed by Israel's Vertigo Dance Company at Lincoln Center, describing how the movements made by the dancers – seemingly repetitive, but slightly different each time – represent memory.
Sep 23, 2014...
Creating a "monster" at the Garden of Science. Photo by Haim Ziv
If you look at an upside-down photograph of the fashion model Bar Refaeli, she looks just fine. When the same picture is turned right-side-up, she suddenly seems monstrous, and you realize that within her upright face, it is the eyes and mouth that have been turned upside down. Because our brain tends to recognize people by their eyes and mouth, we know immediately that this is the same person as long as the eyes and mouth are portrayed right-side-up. Even though they werepositioned in the upside-down face, our brains registered an “all-ok.” There’s a life lesson.
Feb 22, 2012...
Scientists now have a better understanding of the way that stress impacts the brain. New research, published by Cell Press in the January 26 issue of the journal Neuron, reveals pioneering evidence for a new mechanism of stress adaptation and may eventually lead to a better understanding of why prolonged and repeated exposure to stress can lead to anxiety disorders and depression.
Most stressful stimuli cause the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from neurons in the brain. This is typically followed by rapid changes in CRH gene expression. In more practical terms, as soon as the CRH-containing neurons run out of CRH, they are already receiving directions to make more. CRH controls various reactions to stress, including immediate "fight-or-flight" responses as well as more delayed adaptive responses in the brain. Regulation of CRH activity is critical for adaptation to stress, and abnormal regulation of CRH is linked with multiple human psychiatric disorders.
Oct 10, 2005... NEW YORK, NY—October 10, 2005—The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and New York University have joined forces to present a special forum on neural science. Four leaders in this dynamic field will explain some of the latest developments in brain research to a select group of invited guests. Titled "Unveiling the Secrets of the Brain," the event will take place at the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for University Life in New York City on Monday, October 31, from 9:30am to 1:30pm.
Oct 28, 2014...
Targeting cognition through the body. Cognition by Shutterstock
When we age our whole body gradually deteriorates. This includes our brains, where our personality, memories and personal values reside. It is therefore understandable that dementia and memory loss are some of the most devastating hallmarks of aging, for the elderly, their families, and the healthcare system.
This is why researchers want to find ways to rejuvenate the brain and therefore maintain the young mind and cognition in old age.
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