Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Coordinated Gene Expression Program Powering Real-Time Neurotransmission in Living Humans

Mount Sinai researchers link specific gene programs to real-time neurotransmission in living patients, offering new insights for psychiatric disorder treatments.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Mount Sinai Health System

A Paradigm Shift From Postmortem to Living Brain Analysis

The scientific understanding of the human brain has long been constrained by a reliance on postmortem tissue, which offers only a static glimpse of a once-active organ. However, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have moved beyond these limitations by identifying a distinct gene expression program within the living prefrontal cortex. According to the study published in Molecular Psychiatry, this program represents the molecular machinery required for real-time neurotransmission, the essential electrical and chemical signaling between neurons. By capturing these genetic signals as they occur, the team has provided a new lens through which to view the biological basis of human cognition and behavior.

Integrating Intracranial Recordings with Molecular Science

The study’s methodology involved an unprecedented integration of two traditionally separate fields: electrophysiology and genomics. Investigators collected direct intracranial measures of brain activity from more than 100 individuals while they underwent various neurosurgical procedures. This real-time physiological data was then paired with gene expression profiling to identify which specific genes remained active during moments of neuronal communication. According to Dr. Alexander Charney, a Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Mount Sinai, this approach allows the field to move closer to directly linking the genetic code to the immediate, functional operations of the human mind.

Validation of the Synaptic Transcriptional Program

One of the most significant findings of the research is that this transcriptional program is highly reproducible across independent groups of patients. The identified genes consistently align with established biological pathways that govern excitatory neuronal signaling and the maintenance of synaptic function. By confirming that these genetic patterns are not random but part of a coordinated set, the researchers have established a foundational molecular framework. This framework explains how the brain maintains the high-energy demands of active communication, providing a biological map for future studies into the cellular mechanics of thinking and feeling.