Hugo Spiers
@hugospiers.bsky.social
Prof of Cognitive Neuroscience & Vice Dean at UCL, Fellow of the Royal Inst. of Navigation. I study how we remember, navigate & imagine space
Photo: Our upcoming field research in the Marshall Islands
https://spierslab.wixsite.com/wavesandwayfinding
Photo: Our upcoming field research in the Marshall Islands
https://spierslab.wixsite.com/wavesandwayfinding
Pinned
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
A huge thankyou to @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social for covering our research in the Marshall Islands for the @nytimes.com !
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
Impressive MEGA-analysis:
Vulnerability to memory decline in aging revealed by a mega-analysis of structural brain change
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Vulnerability to memory decline in aging revealed by a mega-analysis of structural brain change
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Vulnerability to memory decline in aging revealed by a mega-analysis of structural brain change - Nature Communications
Across 13 longitudinal studies (3,737 adults), the authors show that brain atrophy parallels memory loss, with a stronger coupling in later life. APOE ε4 increases decline, yet genetic risk does not m...
www.nature.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Impressive MEGA-analysis:
Vulnerability to memory decline in aging revealed by a mega-analysis of structural brain change
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Vulnerability to memory decline in aging revealed by a mega-analysis of structural brain change
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I am proud to appear as the seasick scientist on left of this picture, filling in a data log (clipboards still in use in 2025) of my guess at where the hell we were out in the pacific!
In my latest for @nytimes.com, scientists and Indigenous sailors in the Marshall Islands are studying seafaring and the human brain. I became completely fascinated by navigation while reporting this story.
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I am proud to appear as the seasick scientist on left of this picture, filling in a data log (clipboards still in use in 2025) of my guess at where the hell we were out in the pacific!
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
1/6 New preprint 🚀 How does the cortex learn to represent things and how they move without reconstructing sensory stimuli? We developed a circuit-centric recurrent predictive learning (RPL) model based on JEPAs.
🔗 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Led by @atenagm.bsky.social @mshalvagal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Led by @atenagm.bsky.social @mshalvagal.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
1/6 New preprint 🚀 How does the cortex learn to represent things and how they move without reconstructing sensory stimuli? We developed a circuit-centric recurrent predictive learning (RPL) model based on JEPAs.
🔗 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Led by @atenagm.bsky.social @mshalvagal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Led by @atenagm.bsky.social @mshalvagal.bsky.social
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
I am very excited to share our new preprint, spearheaded by the brilliant @lunahuestegge.bsky.social, w/ @peterkok.bsky.social and others: ‘An attempt to push mental imagery over the reality threshold using non-invasive brain stimulation’
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I am very excited to share our new preprint, spearheaded by the brilliant @lunahuestegge.bsky.social, w/ @peterkok.bsky.social and others: ‘An attempt to push mental imagery over the reality threshold using non-invasive brain stimulation’
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
New preprint alert!
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
OSF
osf.io
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
New preprint alert!
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
In my latest for @nytimes.com, scientists and Indigenous sailors in the Marshall Islands are studying seafaring and the human brain. I became completely fascinated by navigation while reporting this story.
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
In my latest for @nytimes.com, scientists and Indigenous sailors in the Marshall Islands are studying seafaring and the human brain. I became completely fascinated by navigation while reporting this story.
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
(gift link!)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
What a privilege and a delight to work with @coltoncasto.bsky.social @ev_fedorenko and @neuranna
on this new speculative piece on What it means to understand language, nicely summarized in this
Tweeprint from @coltoncasto.bsky.social arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
on this new speculative piece on What it means to understand language, nicely summarized in this
Tweeprint from @coltoncasto.bsky.social arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
November 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What a privilege and a delight to work with @coltoncasto.bsky.social @ev_fedorenko and @neuranna
on this new speculative piece on What it means to understand language, nicely summarized in this
Tweeprint from @coltoncasto.bsky.social arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
on this new speculative piece on What it means to understand language, nicely summarized in this
Tweeprint from @coltoncasto.bsky.social arxiv.org/abs/2511.19757
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
I am really proud that eLife have published this paper. It is a very nice paper, but you need to also read the reviews to understand why! 1/n
"The inevitability and superfluousness of cell types in spatial cognition". Intuitive cell types are found in random artificial networks using the same selection criteria neuroscientists use with actual data. elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre... 1/2
elifesciences.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am really proud that eLife have published this paper. It is a very nice paper, but you need to also read the reviews to understand why! 1/n
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)
A must read:
New preprint alert!
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations
#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪
OSF
osf.io
November 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
A must read:
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Evolution is parsimonious in circuit usage.CA2 contributes to spatial and social cognition. TLTW IMO: Oxtr + V1br may bias CA2 recruitment to social cues to support social memory. See this study w/ Amigo2 Cre mice.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-025-01535-9
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Evolution is parsimonious in circuit usage.CA2 contributes to spatial and social cognition. TLTW IMO: Oxtr + V1br may bias CA2 recruitment to social cues to support social memory. See this study w/ Amigo2 Cre mice.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-025-01535-9
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Brenda Milner showed the world that memory isn’t one thing — the hippocampus supports our life stories, while other circuits let us keep learning skills.
Her research on patient H.M. built the foundation of cognitive neuroscience.
#WomenInScience #MemoryResearch #NeuroHistory
Her research on patient H.M. built the foundation of cognitive neuroscience.
#WomenInScience #MemoryResearch #NeuroHistory
November 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Brenda Milner showed the world that memory isn’t one thing — the hippocampus supports our life stories, while other circuits let us keep learning skills.
Her research on patient H.M. built the foundation of cognitive neuroscience.
#WomenInScience #MemoryResearch #NeuroHistory
Her research on patient H.M. built the foundation of cognitive neuroscience.
#WomenInScience #MemoryResearch #NeuroHistory
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
🌊 How do humans navigate an ocean with no landmarks? In the Marshall Islands, UCL researchers join wave pilots to unlock the brain’s secrets of wayfinding & preserve an ancient art.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
@hugospiers.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
@hugospiers.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
Scientists and Indigenous sailors in the Marshall Islands are studying seafaring and the human brain.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
🌊 How do humans navigate an ocean with no landmarks? In the Marshall Islands, UCL researchers join wave pilots to unlock the brain’s secrets of wayfinding & preserve an ancient art.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
@hugospiers.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
@hugospiers.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Aligning eye tracking and free recall time series, we found that increased saccades predict episodic (vs. non-episodic) by 0.5 s.
Just out in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social, led by Ryan Barker with the inimitable @drjenryan.bsky.social.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Just out in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social, led by Ryan Barker with the inimitable @drjenryan.bsky.social.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Aligning eye tracking and free recall time series, we found that increased saccades predict episodic (vs. non-episodic) by 0.5 s.
Just out in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social, led by Ryan Barker with the inimitable @drjenryan.bsky.social.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Just out in @cognitionjournal.bsky.social, led by Ryan Barker with the inimitable @drjenryan.bsky.social.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
The Secrets of the Wave Pilots - "A decade ago, researchers on a similar voyage documented Mr. Kelen’s understanding of the ocean as he sailed from one atoll, Majuro, to another, Aur, on a traditional Marshallese sailing canoe."
November 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The Secrets of the Wave Pilots - "A decade ago, researchers on a similar voyage documented Mr. Kelen’s understanding of the ocean as he sailed from one atoll, Majuro, to another, Aur, on a traditional Marshallese sailing canoe."
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
In August, UCL neuroscientists joined Marshallese sailors on a Pacific voyage to study how these expert navigators use traditional techniques to find their way by sensing the swells of the ocean, in a project led by Prof @hugospiers.bsky.social and PhD student Maria Ahmad @uclpals.bsky.social
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In August, UCL neuroscientists joined Marshallese sailors on a Pacific voyage to study how these expert navigators use traditional techniques to find their way by sensing the swells of the ocean, in a project led by Prof @hugospiers.bsky.social and PhD student Maria Ahmad @uclpals.bsky.social
A huge thankyou to @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social for covering our research in the Marshall Islands for the @nytimes.com !
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One’s Way at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A huge thankyou to @alexaroblesgil.bsky.social for covering our research in the Marshall Islands for the @nytimes.com !
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
In the photo Ken Daniels (an expert indigenous sailor) is looking towards the horizon whilst wearing an fNIRS system.
Analysis underway!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/s...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Towards an informational account of interpersonal coordination — a Perspective by Edoardo Chidichimo, Andrea I. Luppi, Pedro A. M. Mediano, Victoria Leong, Guillaume Dumas, Andrés Canales-Johnson & Richard A. I. Bethlehem
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Towards an informational account of interpersonal coordination - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Methodological shortcomings have constrained studies describing the complex dynamics of interpersonal coordination, which is essential to human sociality. In this Perspective, Chidichimo et al. advanc...
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Towards an informational account of interpersonal coordination — a Perspective by Edoardo Chidichimo, Andrea I. Luppi, Pedro A. M. Mediano, Victoria Leong, Guillaume Dumas, Andrés Canales-Johnson & Richard A. I. Bethlehem
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
This perfectly encapsulates why we need the BBC
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This perfectly encapsulates why we need the BBC
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Foraging as an ethological framework for neuroscience
From the amazing @lauragrima.bsky.social and colleagues - definitely looking forward to reading this!
#neuroskyence #psychscisky #cognition
From the amazing @lauragrima.bsky.social and colleagues - definitely looking forward to reading this!
#neuroskyence #psychscisky #cognition
Foraging as an ethological framework for neuroscience
The study of foraging is central to a renewed interest in naturalistic behavior in neuroscience. Applying a foraging framework grounded in behavioral …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Foraging as an ethological framework for neuroscience
From the amazing @lauragrima.bsky.social and colleagues - definitely looking forward to reading this!
#neuroskyence #psychscisky #cognition
From the amazing @lauragrima.bsky.social and colleagues - definitely looking forward to reading this!
#neuroskyence #psychscisky #cognition
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Congrats to Ella for her new paper! She asked a really interesting question about how the brain represents uncertainty during hidden state inference, and in a lovely crossover with theoretical work, she shows that in mice, acetylcholine dynamics play a crucial role. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Acetylcholine reflects uncertainty during hidden state inference
To act adaptively, animals must infer features of the environment that cannot be observed directly, such as which option is currently rewarding, or which context they are in. These internal estimates,...
www.biorxiv.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Congrats to Ella for her new paper! She asked a really interesting question about how the brain represents uncertainty during hidden state inference, and in a lovely crossover with theoretical work, she shows that in mice, acetylcholine dynamics play a crucial role. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Hugo Spiers
Jonny Smallwood @themindwanders.bsky.social was a beloved friend and mentor. He was taken from us too soon. His was a beautiful mind who understood the beauty of minds. As ever before, his kind voice guides me and his work will continue. We miss you Jonny. www.cbs.mpg.de/news/obituar...
Obituary – Jonathan Smallwood
www.cbs.mpg.de
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Jonny Smallwood @themindwanders.bsky.social was a beloved friend and mentor. He was taken from us too soon. His was a beautiful mind who understood the beauty of minds. As ever before, his kind voice guides me and his work will continue. We miss you Jonny. www.cbs.mpg.de/news/obituar...