Michael Fox
@foxmdphd.bsky.social
Raymond D. Adams Endowed Chair and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School / Mass General Brigham; Director of the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics @braincircuits.bsky.social
Pinned
Michael Fox
@foxmdphd.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Reposted by Michael Fox
Can a brain injury make someone lose their imagination?
We describe rare cases of acquired aphantasia, people who lost the ability to visually imagine after a stroke or other brain injury. Now published in Cortex 🧠 @braincircuits.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We describe rare cases of acquired aphantasia, people who lost the ability to visually imagine after a stroke or other brain injury. Now published in Cortex 🧠 @braincircuits.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Lesions Causing Aphantasia are Connected to the Fusiform Imagery Node
The absence of visual mental imagery, called aphantasia, occurs congenitally in up to 3% of the general population, but the brain regions responsible …
www.sciencedirect.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Can a brain injury make someone lose their imagination?
We describe rare cases of acquired aphantasia, people who lost the ability to visually imagine after a stroke or other brain injury. Now published in Cortex 🧠 @braincircuits.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We describe rare cases of acquired aphantasia, people who lost the ability to visually imagine after a stroke or other brain injury. Now published in Cortex 🧠 @braincircuits.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Michael Fox
One week away from launching our 2nd annual @harvardmed.bsky.social course Brain Medicine: Integrating the Clinical Neurosciences. On demand viewing for 30 days. Nearly 150 people registered. Join us! @jrbneuropsiq.bsky.social @foxmdphd.bsky.social
learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/bra...
learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/bra...
Brain Medicine: Integrating the Clinical Neurosciences | Harvard Medical School Professional, Corporate, and Continuing Education
Explore cutting-edge advances in brain medicine with this interdisciplinary course designed to equip clinicians with integrated tools for assessing and managing complex brain disorders, featuring expe...
learn.hms.harvard.edu
January 29, 2026 at 2:15 PM
One week away from launching our 2nd annual @harvardmed.bsky.social course Brain Medicine: Integrating the Clinical Neurosciences. On demand viewing for 30 days. Nearly 150 people registered. Join us! @jrbneuropsiq.bsky.social @foxmdphd.bsky.social
learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/bra...
learn.hms.harvard.edu/programs/bra...
Reposted by Michael Fox
The Shingles vaccine and reduction of dementia: a new natural experiment from Canada replicated 3 others and adds to this week's link to slowing of biological aging.
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
Spotlight on the Shingles Vaccine—Again!
Two new studies add to a remarkable body of evidence for benefit
erictopol.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:24 AM
The Shingles vaccine and reduction of dementia: a new natural experiment from Canada replicated 3 others and adds to this week's link to slowing of biological aging.
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
Reposted by Michael Fox
The Shingles vaccine has outperformed all expectations. Why?
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
January 22, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The Shingles vaccine has outperformed all expectations. Why?
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...
My understanding is that DIANA was a single paper, by a single group, that multiple groups then failed to replicate. In contrast, lesion network mapping is >200 papers by multiple groups, that a single group has reportedly failed to replicate.
January 19, 2026 at 9:40 PM
My understanding is that DIANA was a single paper, by a single group, that multiple groups then failed to replicate. In contrast, lesion network mapping is >200 papers by multiple groups, that a single group has reportedly failed to replicate.
Thanks Ravi. By “shades of Diana” does that mean you agree with the Van de Huevel critique that the lesion network mapping method is fundamentally flawed?
January 19, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Thanks Ravi. By “shades of Diana” does that mean you agree with the Van de Huevel critique that the lesion network mapping method is fundamentally flawed?
Thanks to The Transmitter for reaching out to me for comments on this methodological challenge to lesion network mapping. Scientific debate is critical to methodological advancement - so let the debate begin!
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
Methodological flaw may upend network mapping tool
The lesion network mapping method, used to identify disease-specific brain networks for clinical stimulation, produces a nearly identical network map for any given condition, according to a new study.
www.thetransmitter.org
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Thanks to The Transmitter for reaching out to me for comments on this methodological challenge to lesion network mapping. Scientific debate is critical to methodological advancement - so let the debate begin!
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
www.thetransmitter.org/brain-imagin...
Are connectome-based network mapping methods and the >200 papers that have used it invalid?
New paper out in
@NatureNeuro
says YES. nature.com/articles/s41...
I have concerns about this new paper's methods and conclusions, but am biased. What do others think?
New paper out in
@NatureNeuro
says YES. nature.com/articles/s41...
I have concerns about this new paper's methods and conclusions, but am biased. What do others think?
Investigating the methodological foundation of lesion network mapping - Nature Neuroscience
The lesion network mapping method links diverse brain lesions to similar functional brain networks, reflecting general brain organization rather than disorder-specific circuits.
nature.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Are connectome-based network mapping methods and the >200 papers that have used it invalid?
New paper out in
@NatureNeuro
says YES. nature.com/articles/s41...
I have concerns about this new paper's methods and conclusions, but am biased. What do others think?
New paper out in
@NatureNeuro
says YES. nature.com/articles/s41...
I have concerns about this new paper's methods and conclusions, but am biased. What do others think?
Reposted by Michael Fox
New pre-print out now from Dr Daniel Corp, @jjoutsa.bsky.social and @foxmdphd.bsky.social ‘Mapping the neuroanatomy of dystonia using causal brain lesions’ !! www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
We map networks for the different dystonias, showing significant differences, somatotopy...and much more!!
We map networks for the different dystonias, showing significant differences, somatotopy...and much more!!
Mapping the Neuroanatomy of Dystonia Using Causal Brain Lesions
Dystonia is one of the most prevalent movement disorders, but its neural substrates have remained enigmatic despite decades of research. Brain lesions leading to dystonia offer unique causal inference...
www.medrxiv.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
New pre-print out now from Dr Daniel Corp, @jjoutsa.bsky.social and @foxmdphd.bsky.social ‘Mapping the neuroanatomy of dystonia using causal brain lesions’ !! www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
We map networks for the different dystonias, showing significant differences, somatotopy...and much more!!
We map networks for the different dystonias, showing significant differences, somatotopy...and much more!!
Reposted by Michael Fox
Very interesting findings! Gliomas selectively locate within in the Action-mode Network, using glioma network mapping derived from lesion network mapping @foxmdphd.bsky.social
Check out our new work on the relationship between glioma and system-level functional networks! We identify that nearly all gliomas localize within a common brain functional network, Action-Mode Network (AMN) .
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
January 6, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Very interesting findings! Gliomas selectively locate within in the Action-mode Network, using glioma network mapping derived from lesion network mapping @foxmdphd.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Fox
Check out our new work on the relationship between glioma and system-level functional networks! We identify that nearly all gliomas localize within a common brain functional network, Action-Mode Network (AMN) .
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
January 6, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Check out our new work on the relationship between glioma and system-level functional networks! We identify that nearly all gliomas localize within a common brain functional network, Action-Mode Network (AMN) .
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697608v1
Reposted by Michael Fox
Excited to share that our new review, "Depression as a disease of white matter network disruption: Learning from Multiple Sclerosis," is out now in Biological Psychiatry! We propose MS as a powerful model for studying how white matter network changes contribute to depression.
Depression as a disease of white matter network disruption: Learning from Multiple Sclerosis
Depression is a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder that is associated with
substantial morbidity and mortality. For nearly 40 years, scientists have attempted
to localize depression in the b...
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Excited to share that our new review, "Depression as a disease of white matter network disruption: Learning from Multiple Sclerosis," is out now in Biological Psychiatry! We propose MS as a powerful model for studying how white matter network changes contribute to depression.
Reposted by Michael Fox
What is the burden in the US of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other diseases? Spoiler alert: there are surges beyond the pure numbers and we need to raise awareness for the increases in both disability and burden. Parkinson disease has shown the largest growth in burden on society.
cutt.ly/xtyUtS0D
cutt.ly/xtyUtS0D
November 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
What is the burden in the US of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other diseases? Spoiler alert: there are surges beyond the pure numbers and we need to raise awareness for the increases in both disability and burden. Parkinson disease has shown the largest growth in burden on society.
cutt.ly/xtyUtS0D
cutt.ly/xtyUtS0D
Reposted by Michael Fox
Mongay-Ochoa et al. review advanced methods for mapping brain connections and identify common topographical patterns of pathology spread across different neurological disorders, including MS, AD and PD. tinyurl.com/3sz8ayup
September 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Mongay-Ochoa et al. review advanced methods for mapping brain connections and identify common topographical patterns of pathology spread across different neurological disorders, including MS, AD and PD. tinyurl.com/3sz8ayup
Reposted by Michael Fox
Pruckner et al. show that the structural effects of neurosurgery extend beyond the resected tissue into connected networks through transneuronal degeneration. They were able to reliably predict these changes from preoperative MRI. tinyurl.com/a6rxvbey
October 7, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Pruckner et al. show that the structural effects of neurosurgery extend beyond the resected tissue into connected networks through transneuronal degeneration. They were able to reliably predict these changes from preoperative MRI. tinyurl.com/a6rxvbey
Reposted by Michael Fox
🧪 Research Spotlight: Ziad Nahas, MD, MSCR, is studying how brain networks regulate mood in #BipolarDisorder & how instability drives shifts between depression & mania with PACE
👉 Goal: Test if targeting networks can improve mood & reveal mechanisms behind switches.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
👉 Goal: Test if targeting networks can improve mood & reveal mechanisms behind switches.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
November 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🧪 Research Spotlight: Ziad Nahas, MD, MSCR, is studying how brain networks regulate mood in #BipolarDisorder & how instability drives shifts between depression & mania with PACE
👉 Goal: Test if targeting networks can improve mood & reveal mechanisms behind switches.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
👉 Goal: Test if targeting networks can improve mood & reveal mechanisms behind switches.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
Reposted by Michael Fox
🧪 Research Spotlight: Michael Fox, MD, PhD (@foxmdphd.bsky.social) of Mass General Brigham (@mgbresearch.bsky.social) will map brain circuits driving symptoms in #BipolarDisorder
👉 Goal: Go beyond imaging correlations to identify the circuits causing symptoms.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
👉 Goal: Go beyond imaging correlations to identify the circuits causing symptoms.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🧪 Research Spotlight: Michael Fox, MD, PhD (@foxmdphd.bsky.social) of Mass General Brigham (@mgbresearch.bsky.social) will map brain circuits driving symptoms in #BipolarDisorder
👉 Goal: Go beyond imaging correlations to identify the circuits causing symptoms.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
👉 Goal: Go beyond imaging correlations to identify the circuits causing symptoms.
🔗 bit.ly/4gTbBwU
Reposted by Michael Fox
This is 🤯
All publicly available. Looks like an amazing new histology-based human probabilistic atlas and parcellation tool.
#neuroskyence #mri #brainmapping
A probabilistic histological atlas of the human brain for MRI segmentation | Nature share.google/5AD0iW7pxgb4...
All publicly available. Looks like an amazing new histology-based human probabilistic atlas and parcellation tool.
#neuroskyence #mri #brainmapping
A probabilistic histological atlas of the human brain for MRI segmentation | Nature share.google/5AD0iW7pxgb4...
A probabilistic histological atlas of the human brain for MRI segmentation - Nature
NextBrain is an open source, probabilistic atlas of the entire human brain, assembled using artificial-intelligence-enabled registration and segmentation methods to reconstruct the multimodal serial h...
share.google
November 6, 2025 at 5:35 AM
This is 🤯
All publicly available. Looks like an amazing new histology-based human probabilistic atlas and parcellation tool.
#neuroskyence #mri #brainmapping
A probabilistic histological atlas of the human brain for MRI segmentation | Nature share.google/5AD0iW7pxgb4...
All publicly available. Looks like an amazing new histology-based human probabilistic atlas and parcellation tool.
#neuroskyence #mri #brainmapping
A probabilistic histological atlas of the human brain for MRI segmentation | Nature share.google/5AD0iW7pxgb4...
Reposted by Michael Fox
Nice case report led by Ben Shofty's team adding prospective evidence for tract based reprogramming in deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder out in @biologicalpsych.bsky.social:
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S000...
🧵
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S000...
🧵
October 30, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Nice case report led by Ben Shofty's team adding prospective evidence for tract based reprogramming in deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder out in @biologicalpsych.bsky.social:
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S000...
🧵
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S000...
🧵
Can we identify brain circuit targets to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder? Thanks to funding from @bipolardiscoveries.org our team @braincircuits.bsky.social will be working hard to find out! Honored to be one of these excellent teams.
www.news-medical.net/news/2025102...
www.news-medical.net/news/2025102...
BD² expands global effort to examine the key mechanisms of bipolar disorder
Today, BD², or Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder, announced its third round of Discovery Research grants, totaling nearly $18 million – expanding a comprehensive global effor...
www.news-medical.net
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Can we identify brain circuit targets to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder? Thanks to funding from @bipolardiscoveries.org our team @braincircuits.bsky.social will be working hard to find out! Honored to be one of these excellent teams.
www.news-medical.net/news/2025102...
www.news-medical.net/news/2025102...
Reposted by Michael Fox
From a new @thelancet.com article today entitled "Health care in the USA: money has become the mission" www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
October 21, 2025 at 10:49 PM
From a new @thelancet.com article today entitled "Health care in the USA: money has become the mission" www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Michael Fox
Suzanne Haber was just elected to the National Academy of Medicine! Her work on the organization of the cortex and basal ganglia has had a huge impact. Please take the opportunity to congratulate her the next time you see her. www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/u...
University of Rochester Neurobiologist Suzanne Haber Elected to National Academy of Medicine
An internationally recognized scientist, her work has transformed our understanding of the brain networks that play a central role in many mental health disorders, including obsessive compulsive disor...
www.urmc.rochester.edu
October 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Suzanne Haber was just elected to the National Academy of Medicine! Her work on the organization of the cortex and basal ganglia has had a huge impact. Please take the opportunity to congratulate her the next time you see her. www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/u...
Reposted by Michael Fox
Fantastic talk by Joe Taylor on the „philosophers scan“ and how imaging can help neuromodulation at the Brainclinics TMS Masterclass in Nijmegen!
October 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Fantastic talk by Joe Taylor on the „philosophers scan“ and how imaging can help neuromodulation at the Brainclinics TMS Masterclass in Nijmegen!
Reposted by Michael Fox
Could the Parkinson’s drug levodopa prime the brain to respond better to intensive rehabilitation following a stroke or injury? Enter the idea: Let’s give dopamine pills after a stroke? Spoiler alert: This new large, randomized trial published in JAMA revealed no added benefit in recovery.
September 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Could the Parkinson’s drug levodopa prime the brain to respond better to intensive rehabilitation following a stroke or injury? Enter the idea: Let’s give dopamine pills after a stroke? Spoiler alert: This new large, randomized trial published in JAMA revealed no added benefit in recovery.
Honored to moderate a panel on noninvasive mapping of human brain circuits at MGB Neuroscience Day.
Great insights from @anastasiayendiki.bsky.social
@mghmartinos.bsky.social, @fredschaper.bsky.social
@braincircuits.bsky.social, Alex Golby and Pravan Nanda @mgbneurosurgres.bsky.social.
Great insights from @anastasiayendiki.bsky.social
@mghmartinos.bsky.social, @fredschaper.bsky.social
@braincircuits.bsky.social, Alex Golby and Pravan Nanda @mgbneurosurgres.bsky.social.
September 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Honored to moderate a panel on noninvasive mapping of human brain circuits at MGB Neuroscience Day.
Great insights from @anastasiayendiki.bsky.social
@mghmartinos.bsky.social, @fredschaper.bsky.social
@braincircuits.bsky.social, Alex Golby and Pravan Nanda @mgbneurosurgres.bsky.social.
Great insights from @anastasiayendiki.bsky.social
@mghmartinos.bsky.social, @fredschaper.bsky.social
@braincircuits.bsky.social, Alex Golby and Pravan Nanda @mgbneurosurgres.bsky.social.