LA JOLLA — In a landmark recognition of visionary scientific inquiry, Terrence Sejnowski, PhD, a prominent neuroscientist at the Salk Institute, has been selected to receive the 2025 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award. This prestigious accolade, bestowed by the National Institutes of Health, honors researchers who propose highly innovative, high-risk, high-reward investigations that have the potential to transform biomedical or behavioral science. Sejnowski’s groundbreaking work sits at the nexus of computational neuroscience and memory function, positioning him as a leader in understanding the neural underpinnings of cognition.
As the head of the Computational Neurobiology Laboratory at Salk, Sejnowski’s latest project is poised to delve deeply into the intricate workings of neural circuits involved in working memory. With the NIH award funding $3.5 million over the next five years, his team intends to revolutionize our understanding by leveraging advanced computational models to dissect the dynamical activity of neuronal networks. These models aim to uncover principles that govern how information is temporarily encoded and maintained in the brain, a cornerstone process critical for decision-making and reasoning.
Working memory, a fundamental cognitive system, enables the transient storage and manipulation of information necessary for complex tasks. Despite its significance, the precise neural mechanisms underlying its robustness and capacity limitations remain enigmatic. Sejnowski’s approach utilizes state-of-the-art techniques in computational neuroscience, combining biophysically realistic neural network models with machine learning algorithms to simulate and predict the behavior of large-scale brain circuits. Such technological sophistication promises to elucidate how synaptic plasticity and circuit dynamics coalesce to sustain memory traces in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
This research direction extends beyond theoretical exploration by aiming to address practical concerns related to neuropsychiatric conditions. Memory impairments are pervasive across multiple disorders, including schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By decoding the neural code of working memory with unprecedented granularity, Sejnowski’s team aspires to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets that could alleviate cognitive deficits associated with these afflictions. The translational impact of this project cannot be overstated as it offers hope for interventions that restore normal cognitive function.
Throughout his distinguished career, Sejnowski has consistently pioneered transformative technologies and ideas in neuroscience. His earlier contributions profoundly shaped the study of neuroeconomics, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. A landmark achievement was his 1985 invention of the Boltzmann machine alongside Geoffrey Hinton, PhD, a quantum leap for neural network learning algorithms. The Boltzmann machine represents the first algorithm capable of learning internal representations in multilayer networks, providing a biologically plausible framework that continues to influence the development of AI to this day.
Beyond algorithmic advances, Sejnowski developed NETtalk, an early neural network system that mimicked human speech synthesis by learning to convert written text into phonetic output. This pioneering work laid a critical foundation for the field of deep learning and current technologies like ChatGPT, which simulate language and cognition through complex neural architectures. His dual focus on biological inspiration and computational implementation epitomizes the fusion of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
Sejnowski’s influence extends deeply into neuroimaging advancements and the exploration of behaviorally relevant neural systems. His recent innovation involves a novel method for precisely measuring synaptic strength and plasticity, vital parameters underpinning learning and memory formation. By quantifying how synapses encode information and undergo activity-dependent changes, this technique sheds light on the synaptic basis of cognitive decline observed in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Such insights are critical for developing strategies to preserve cognitive function across the lifespan.
Recognition of Sejnowski’s scientific excellence is reflected in the numerous prestigious awards he has garnered over the years. Most notably, he was honored with the 2024 Brain Prize and the 2022 Gruber Prize in Neuroscience, reflecting his outstanding contributions to understanding brain function. These accolades underscore his role as a luminary whose work bridges multiple disciplines and drives progress in the neurosciences.
A testament to his standing in the scientific community, Sejnowski holds positions in several elite academies, including the United States National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Philosophical Society, highlighting his global influence as a thought leader and innovator.
The Salk Institute, where Sejnowski conducts his research, is renowned for its relentless pursuit of groundbreaking knowledge in biological sciences. Founded by Jonas Salk, the developer of the first effective polio vaccine, the institute embodies a culture of bold scientific exploration. Within its walls, scientists continually push the boundaries of understanding in neuroscience, cancer biology, aging, immunobiology, and computational biology, among other fields. Sejnowski’s work fits seamlessly into this mission, combining innovation with impact.
Sejnowski’s ongoing commitment to deciphering the biological basis of cognition, learning, and memory signifies a new chapter in brain science. As computational tools grow increasingly sophisticated, melding detailed biophysical models with AI-driven analytics, his laboratory stands at the forefront of unraveling the complexities of neural information processing. This work holds profound implications not only for fundamental neuroscience but also for the development of targeted treatments for cognitive impairments.
With the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award supporting this ambitious endeavor, Terrence Sejnowski’s visionary research will continue to illuminate the neural architecture of working memory. His innovative approach exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary science to tackle some of the most challenging questions in brain function and dysfunction. The coming years promise remarkable advances from his lab that could redefine therapeutic strategies for mental health disorders and enhance our comprehension of the human mind.
Subject of Research: Neural circuit dynamics of working memory and computational modeling of cognitive processes in health and disease.
Article Title: NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Enables Terrence Sejnowski’s Cutting-Edge Computational Exploration of Working Memory Circuitry
News Publication Date: October 13, 2025
Web References:
– https://www.salk.edu/scientist/terrence-sejnowski/
– https://commonfund.nih.gov/pioneer
– https://www.salk.edu/news-release/upgrading-brain-storage-quantifying-how-much-information-our-synapses-can-hold/
– https://www.salk.edu/news-release/salk-professor-terrence-sejnowski-wins-brain-prize/
– https://www.salk.edu/news-release/salk-institutes-terrence-sejnowski-awarded-gruber-prize/
– https://www.salk.edu/news-release/terrence-sejnowski-elected-to-the-royal-society-and-the-american-philosophical-society/
Image Credits: Salk Institute
Keywords: Life sciences, Neuroscience, Cognitive neuroscience, Computational neuroscience, Memory, Cognition, Cognitive psychology, Psychological science, Social sciences
