Systems neuroscience is the study of nerve cell networks: how they are organized and how they influence behavior. A gift from James McDonnell III ’58, John McDonnell ’60 *62, and the JSM Charitable Trust created the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience within the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. The center is home to research in neural coding and dynamics, which is revealing how thoughts are formed and how they are recalled as memories. This work may provide insights vital in the battle against neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.