Happy to share a new preprint - the culmination of the past three years of postdoc with @tyrell_turing and @adrien, and my first real foray into #NeuroAI as a tool to study the sleeping brain:
https://biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.28.591528v1
(1/đ§”) câest parti!
New paper from the lab!
We observed beautiful sequences of spiking activity during sleep in the « head-direction cortex » (aka post-subiculum), traveling along its dorsoventral axis. Using in vivo data analysis, computation models, and slice physiology, we show that the hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) supports this sequential neuronal activation. Analyzing data from other cortical regions, we believe that this is a general mechanism of spiking sequences during sleep.
See our preprint:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.12.557442v1
This manuscript contains obviously more than the short summary above. Comments are more than welcome!
Huge kudos to @dlevenstein and @dhruvmehrotra5 for their hard work, Adrian Duszkiewicz, Brendon Watson, and Sofia Skromne Carrasco for the data. Also, great collaboration on the slice physiology with Sam Booker and Angelika Kwiatkowska at the University or Edinburgh. Big thanks to all the funding agencies (I mean, the tax payers) and other organizations for the financial support!
đŹđ§ đ The Neuro-Cooper Open Science Prizes
I am thrilled to announce that the 2023 Neuro-Cooper Open Science Prizes are officially open for applications! For those unfamiliar with the prize, it stands as a beacon in the scientific community, recognizing and rewarding both junior and senior researchers who are pushing the boundaries of open neuroscience.
Check out the full details of the application process here
đ https://at.theneuro.ca/cooperprizes
Three years ago, we launched this prize with a simple yet ambitious goal - to elevate those who embody the spirit of open science, fostering collaboration, data sharing, and transparency within neuroscience. Today, the Neuro-Cooper Open Science Prizes have become a respected staple in our community, and I am humbled by the impact it has made.
On a personal note, after serving as the chair of the selection committee for the last three years, I have decided to step down from my role. The journey has been enlightening, full of inspiring people and innovative ideas. I'm so happy that Thomas Duncan has accepted to take over the committee, perpetuating our shared commitment to open science.
As we open the floor for the 2023 applications, I want to extend my gratitude to all the researchers, collaborators, and institutions who have made the Neuro-Cooper Open Science Prizes what it is today. Your relentless pursuit of open and collaborative science is the driving force behind this initiative.
To the future applicants - I can't wait to see how you're transforming the world of neuroscience. Keep breaking those boundaries!
#OpenScience #Neuroscience #Collaboration #Innovation#NeuroCooperPrize
An initiative from The Tanenbaum Open Science Institute About the Awards The prizes recognize Projects, services, tools, and platforms that unlock the power of Open Science in neuroscience to advance research, innovation, and collaboration for the benefit of health and society. Watch the recording of the Prizes info session Check out the informative webinar presented by the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) team on June 18, 2025. Here you'll find all the details you need to submit your application. Video of IHCF OS Prizes 2025 - Info Session Recording International Prize Awarded to an individual or a group of five individuals working in research organizations or Open Science non-profits around the world who have maintained, valorized, and/or delivered Open Science practices, policies, or tools that have had a demonstrable impact on neuroscience research. The International Prize can be awarded in recognition of a single project, or a series of contributions to Open Science in neuroscience. International Prize A group application may be submitted by up to five people. Applicants may be from the same organization or different organizations, and the application may address one or more projects. A single senior leader of the project (or projects) should be designated as the corresponding applicant. The corresponding applicant must submit all documentation and receive all communications regarding the prize. It is highly recommended that official institutional emails are used for applicants and suggested supporters. CAN$80, 000 $55,000 in unrestricted research funds and $25,000 in salary support * * In cases where there are multiple applicants, the salary support funds will be split evenly between applicants. For the unrestricted research funds, applicants will be asked to identify one institution to receive and disburse the funds. The salary support funds will be distributed through the applicantâs employing institutions in compliance with McGillâs payment policies.âIt is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to account for any taxation implications of receiving salary support funds. Trainee Prizes The Trainee Prizes will go to graduate or post-doctoral trainees working in academic organizations around the world who have demonstrated, maintained, enhanced, valorized, and/or delivered Open Science practices, policies, and/or tools that have had a demonstrable impact on neuroscience research. The prize can be awarded in recognition of a single project or of a series of contributions to Open Science in neuroscience. International Trainee Prize This prize will be awarded to the highest ranked application. CAN$10,000 $5,000 in salary support and $5,000 in fellowship funds Canadian Trainee Prize This prize will be awarded to the highest ranked application from a trainee working at a Canadian institution. * CAN$5,000 In salary support Runner-Up Trainee Prize These prizes will be awarded to the top five runners-up.** CAN$1,000 In salary support * If the International Trainee Prize is awarded to an applicant working at a Canadian Institution, the Canadian Trainee Prize will go to the next highest ranked applicant working at a Canadian institution. ** Does not include the recipient of the Canadian Trainee Prize. Submission Process Applications are made through the web portal by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page 2025 Key Dates June 2 Application web portal opens August 15 Application deadline: Applications and letters of support due by noon EDT September 25 Earliest notification of decisions November 10 Prize ceremony and prize talks Obligations to Receive the Prizes The recipients of the International Trainee, Canadian Trainee, and at least one recipient of the International Prize must be willing to travel to Montreal to present their Open Science work at the NeuroâIrv and Helga Cooper Foundation Prize Ceremony on November 10, 2025. TOSI will cover travel and lodging expenses. Application Guideline Deadline Please note that any documents must be uploaded by noon EDT, August 15, 2025 INTERNATIONAL PRIZE TRAINEE PRIZES Name and affiliation An application title, the name(s) and affiliation(s) of applicant(s), a short description of the role of each applicant (max. 100 words), the current position or job title of each applicant, and a field where the applicant(s) may choose to identify themselves as a member of an underrepresented group. The name and affiliation of the applicant, and a field where the applicant may choose to identify themselves as a member of an underrepresented group. Document(s) to provide A description of the project(s) to be considered, which may contain relevant images, figures, and links (PDF, max. 1000 words). It is recommended that the Project(s) Description consist of the following sections: Lay Summary, Rationale, Significance, Approach, Evidence of Impact (external links, including hyperlinks, are permitted) and EDI statement. A Biosketch of the applicant (PDF, max. 500 words) A description of the project(s) to be considered (PDF, max. 1000 words). It is recommended that the Project(s) Description consist of the following sections: Lay summary, Rationale, Significance, Approach, Evidence of Impact (external links, including hyperlinks, are permitted) and EDI statement. Letter of support * The names, affiliations, and email addresses of up to three referees who have agreed to provide letters of support (PDF, max. 500 words). The names, affiliations, and email addresses of up to three referees (one of whom must be the applicantâs academic supervisor) who have agreed to provide letters of support (PDF, max. 500 words). * Upon initiating the application process on the webform, an email will be sent to Applicants including links to upload their Project Description and Biosketch, and an email will be sent to Referees including links to upload their letter of support. To ensure your referees have enough time to upload their letters of support, please start the application process well in advance of the deadline. Evaluation Criteria Evidence of impact is mandatory, including but not limited to: Indicators of access to and use of software tools, data, or code repositories number of downloads Evidence of work to increase the usability of open tools Evidence of patient/participant outreach or co-development Knowledge translation and education activities Evidence of work promoting open data standards Authoring or co-authoring Open Science guidelines and policies Early Career Researcher (ECR) criteria will also play a role in the selection process for International Prize applicants. Special notes for McGill applicants International main prize funds will only be distributed to McGill-affiliated individuals once out of every five years. The last year when McGill-affiliated individuals received prize funds was 2021. McGill-affiliated individuals may still be listed as applicants, but the unrestricted research funds must be sent outside of McGill and the salary-award will be split between non-McGill-affiliated individuals until 2026. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Applicants will be asked to submit an EDI statement that should consider whether sex, gender, race, ethnicity, dis/ability, socioeconomic status, and other socio-cultural factors play a role in the project/initiative. The statement should consider whether these factors impact the team, the environment, the project or initiative itself, or its intended output. And, if relevant, should outline how these factors will be managed and accounted for. Review Process The application dossiers will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of three members of The Neuro community and four external members. Committee Composition Confidentiality Clause All information, both written and verbal, related to the identification and selection process is held in the strictest confidence. Records of the deliberations and other confidential activities of the prize committees, both paper and electronic, are archived by The Neuro. Terms of Reference For further information regarding the Prizes, the Prize Selection Committee, eligibility, and the review and award process, please see the Neuro-Irv and Helga Cooper Foundation Open Science Prizes Terms of Reference. Contact For questions or more information please contact: the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at [email protected]
Itâs summer time. Time for a new lab pic.
I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such a group of smart, dynamic, and nice people, including @dlevenstein and many others not on Matodon (yet).
Itâs also for me the start of my sabbatical, stepping down from my teaching and admin duties for a year. Iâll use this time to fully plunge in the world of Neuro-AI, more info soon.
The new edition of the Thalamus book is available online.
A good starting point for everything you need to know about this underrated region of the brainđ
Kudos to Mike Halassa for putting it together, I was honored to be invited to write the chapter on the anterior thalamus and spatial navigation. Hard not to feel a small impostor syndrome when I see my name among all the giants who have contributed to the book.
Writing this took me quite some time but it was totally worth it. I thought of many new experiments to try while digging in the literature, sometimes quite old papers... as always.
Here is the electronic version of the book:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/thalamus/6A4474EF8D38F0150D4C3EF51B72AAE8
For my first post here, I want to share this amazing course on the foundation of maths, from logic to differential geometry - which I posted on Twitter long ago. A good intro to manifolds btw.
Happy holidays everyone! All my thoughts with the foreign trainees and others who won't be able to spend time with their family this year.
Dan Levenstein