Mark H. Histed
Connect with Mark
About Mark
Histed is a senior investigator and group leader at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH. His neuroscience work aims to understand how the trillions of connections in our brains control information processing, memory, and learning, using cutting-edge laser optical methods and conceptual analogies to AI. His policy work focuses on how public goods are provisioned by societies, and how public governance can resist politicization and serve democratic ends. In advocacy areas, he was a co-founder of the Media and Democracy Project and the News Dollars director for Democracy Policy Network.
Contributions
In the News
Publications
Shows that parts of the brain involved in processing senses actively filter incoming signals, helping the brain focus on meaningful patterns instead of just reacting to everything it receives.
Argues that the U.S. political system—where a president holds significant power—makes it harder to consistently support and grow scientific research, which could weaken America’s leadership in science.
Explains how certain brain circuits don’t just react to sensory input—they predict what’s coming next, helping us process information more efficiently.
Finds that activating individual brain cells can actually reduce activity in nearby cells, showing how the brain fine-tunes visual processing by dampening certain signals.
Argues that investing public money into local journalism can strengthen communities and improve democracy by ensuring people have access to reliable local news.