| Lab website | https://www.pintolab.org |
| Google scholar | https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yKPoN3sAAAAJ&hl=en |
Excited to share work from postdoc @thomaszluo and grad student Tim Kim! Just posted on bioRxiv. https://t.co/vvaAAIXK6m
New unsupervised method for learning latent dynamics (Kim et al., in prep) reveals that decision-making activity in frontal regions of rats is composed of two phases.
A simplified model of these two phases accounts for a variety of phenomena (including stepping vs ramping neural profiles), and precisely predicts internal decision commitment times.
We are advertising a 4 year fully funded PhD position with the BBSRC Eastbio Programme.
Topic: Neural Circuits of Kinship Behaviour
Deadline: 27th November 2023.
Photo: view from the lab
Get in touch if you are interested.
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/eastbio-neural-circuits-of-kinship-behaviour/?p161149
Desert ant navigation is SO AMAZING! I've long thought that if I were to study a little brain, this would be the one.
experienced Cataglyphis foragers use the position of the sun, particularly the associated polarized-skylight cues, as a compass. The ants integrate this compass input with distance information from a step-integrator to estimate a home vector pointing to the nest along the shortest way possible (path integration)
So excited to hear what @neuroamyo has been up to and see her shine (she’s one of the best speakers in the biz) at the nexus of foundational and translational brain research.
https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/amy-orsborn/
I’m especially in awe of her group’s progress across the pandemic. Those of us who were more established PIs had the privilege of data on our hard drives. Not true for those who were just starting up. Double awe is in order here.
oh hello world, it's me, just posting from my BRAND NEW SHINY neuromatch mastodon account!
already loving the local feed much more than at my old server. now everybody in my "local" feed seems very highly relevant and interesting. tres cool to see the contrast so cleanly, and happy to be over here with all of you!
#introduction
Hello #neuro peeps!
A bit late to the party but finally here and hoping to reconnect.
I'm currently a postdoctoral #neuroscientist at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) at #UCL and will soon open my lab at the Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience (PDN) at #Cambridge University. My primary research interest is the #neurobiology of #selfmotion and #navigation. I use cellular and systems approaches including #neurophysiology, #circuit dissection and #behaviour to understand how the mammalian #brain (mouse model) constructs the sense of self-motion and orientation from various incoming information, particularly #vision and the #vestibular sense.
Looking for feedback on some new thoughts about Big Ideas in brain/mind research.
I've spent quite a long time researching and thinking about the history of brain/mind research in terms of the Big Ideas that have emerged. Pre-1960, it's pretty easy to list the big ideas that researchers had reached consensus around. Since 1960, that's harder to do. There's plenty of consensus around new facts (like umami is supported by receptor X on the tongue), but it's difficult to regard the things that brain researchers agree on as new, big ideas. At first, I (mis)interpreted this as a paucity of new ideas, but I no longer think that's correct - I've found a ton. Instead, I now believe that they are there but we haven't arrived at consensus around them.
I'm wondering: Why might have researchers arrived at more consensus around Big ideas introduced 1900-1960 vs 1960-2020? Obviously there's the filter of history and the fact that it takes time to work things out. But is there more to it than that? For example, have the biggest principles already been discovered? And so we are left with more of a patchwork quilt?
A sample of big ideas pre-1960ish with general consensus
*) Nerve cells exist (it's not a reticulum)
*) Neurons propagate info electrically and then chemically between them
*) DNA > RNA > Protein is a universal genetic code or all living things
*) Explaining behavior needs intermediaries between stimuli and responses (cognitive maps/minds)
A sample of big ideas with no general consensus introduced post-1960ish:
*) Cortical function emerges from repetitions of a canonical element
*) The brain is optimized for goal-directed interactions with the environment in a feedback loop (prediction/embodiment/free energy)
*) The brain is a complex system with emergent properties that cannot be understood via reductionist approaches
*) Fine structural detail in the brain (the connectome) matters for brain function
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
We have an open position for a Research Associate at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics. Come join our exciting research environment. Please share!
https://alleninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=2337381
Research Associate I Neurophysiology of decision making The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health Using an open science multi scale team oriented approach the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research developing standards and models and cultivating new ideas to make a broad transformational impact on science The mission of the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics is focused on fundamental discoveries in systems neuroscience We are interested in how the brain builds our understanding of the complex world to guide the flexible behaviors that address our biological needs The answers will be in terms of defined neuron types and circuits interacting across the whole brain and body We will develop next generation methods and theories and employ a team based approach for discovery neuroscience Knowledge data models and tools will be widely shared in part to support the development of therapies for brain disorders We are seeking a Research Associate to contribute to a project to uncover the functions of neuromodulators eg serotonin norepinephrine dopamine and networks in the frontal cortex basal ganglia and thalamus during dynamic decision making in mice The ideal candidate will be team oriented have knowledge in neuroscience and behavior and a strong interest in studying brain wide circuits during behavior This position will leverage state of the art behavioral computational electrophysiological and imaging methods as well as molecular and transgenic resources The goal is to make fundamental discoveries about identified cell types within brain circuits during flexible decision making The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices experiences and backgrounds Progress in science benefits from multiple perspectives We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role Essential Functions Perform experiments involving in vivo cell type specific electrophysiology neural manipulations and carefully controlled mouse behaviorCollaborate with scientists and engineers to develop and evaluate methods for data collection quantification and analysisTrain team members to perform proceduresCollaborate internally and externally to analyze physiology and behavior dataNote Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions This description reflects managements assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned Required Education and Experience Bachelors degree in Neuroscience Biology or related disciplinePreferred Education and Experience 2 years of experience in a laboratory settingPractical experience in in vivo electrophysiology and behaviorAbility to write reusable code in Python or Matlab Work Environment Will work in laboratory environment including potential exposure to lasers biohazardsAnimal Care Services Exposure to and handling of laboratory animals required dailyPre and post operative care for miceAdministration of compounds to mice iv ip sc po im ro icvPerform health assessments of micePerform euthanasia and tissue collectionsPerform daily vivarium maintenance andor closing proceduresPhysical Demands Fine motor movements in fingershands to operate computers and other office equipment; repetitive motion with lab equipmentStooping bending crouching Reaching or climbing laddersPosition TypeExpected Hours of Work Occasional evening and weekend hours requiredThis role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N with flexibility to work remotely on a limited basisAdditional Eligibility Qualifications In keeping with our focus on employee safety all employees must be up to date with vaccinations against COVID 19 as a condition of employment unless a medical or religious accommodation is approved All employees will be required to keep their vaccination status up to date according to CDC guidanceAnnualized Salary Range 46708 65392 Final salary depends on required education for the role experience and level of skills relevant to the role along with work location where applicable Benefits Employees and their families are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outline in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide These benefits include medical dental vision and basic life insurance Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institutes 401k plan Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide Details on the Allen Institutes benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide httpsalleninstituteorgcareersbenefitsIt is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity EEO to all persons regardless of age color national origin citizenship status physical or mental disability race religion creed gender sex sexual orientation gender identity andor expression genetic information marital status status with regard to public assistance veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law In addition the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities
Proud to share this work connecting population-level factors to spiking activity, in @cellpress!
https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(22)01080-7
Latent factors are a powerful framework for understanding computation but what are factors? Just an analysis trick? Where are they in a neural circuit? (1/9) #neuroscience #tootprint #neuralnetworks
Carlos Brody
Ann Clemens
Nicole Rust
megan peters 🧠
Sepiedeh Keshavarzi
Jeremiah Cohen
Brian DePasquale