Reza Shadmehr
@rezashadmehr.bsky.social
Father, husband, scientist
We tend to think of neurons as either excitatory or inhibitory, but some neurons chemically inhibit their downstream targets while electrically exciting their neighbors. What is gained by having an inhibitory neuron excite its neighbor?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 8, 2025 at 6:49 PM
We tend to think of neurons as either excitatory or inhibitory, but some neurons chemically inhibit their downstream targets while electrically exciting their neighbors. What is gained by having an inhibitory neuron excite its neighbor?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Some forms of episodic ataxia are caused by mutations in the gene that encodes a calcium channel. Currently, no medications exist to treat it. Heather Snell presents new results on a potential therapeutic target for episodic ataxia.
The seminars are open to all (contact me for zoom link).
The seminars are open to all (contact me for zoom link).
December 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some forms of episodic ataxia are caused by mutations in the gene that encodes a calcium channel. Currently, no medications exist to treat it. Heather Snell presents new results on a potential therapeutic target for episodic ataxia.
The seminars are open to all (contact me for zoom link).
The seminars are open to all (contact me for zoom link).
A study finds that cats meow harder to greet their male caregivers than female. Females are more verbally interactive, more skilled at interpreting cat meows. Apparently males require more meows to notice and respond to the needs of their cats.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A study finds that cats meow harder to greet their male caregivers than female. Females are more verbally interactive, more skilled at interpreting cat meows. Apparently males require more meows to notice and respond to the needs of their cats.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Tenure track position in motor control at Northeastern University
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
Open Rank (Professor, Associate or Assistant) AI, Sensors, and Human Movement
About the Opportunity About Northeastern Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Tenure track position in motor control at Northeastern University
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...
Shadows of our lab mates as the sun sets over San Diego and SFN comes to an end.
November 21, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Shadows of our lab mates as the sun sets over San Diego and SFN comes to an end.
At SFN in San Diego.
November 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
At SFN in San Diego.
Our intelligence and cognitive abilities are perhaps due to an expansion of our cerebral cortex. But surprisingly, compared to highly intelligent birds, primates have many more neurons in their cerebellum as compared to the cerebral cortex.
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
November 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Our intelligence and cognitive abilities are perhaps due to an expansion of our cerebral cortex. But surprisingly, compared to highly intelligent birds, primates have many more neurons in their cerebellum as compared to the cerebral cortex.
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
The bird branch of evolution separated from mammals hundreds of millions of years ago. Yet, their cerebellum has the same structure as ours, including the zebrin bands. Here is the cerebellum of the zebra finch and the most amazing flyer of them all, the hummingbird. doi.org/10.1159/0005...
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The bird branch of evolution separated from mammals hundreds of millions of years ago. Yet, their cerebellum has the same structure as ours, including the zebrin bands. Here is the cerebellum of the zebra finch and the most amazing flyer of them all, the hummingbird. doi.org/10.1159/0005...
Birds are both intelligent and incredibly agile, yet they are quite small. How do they achieve this with their little brains?
They have twice as many neurons per brain mass than mammals, including primates.
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
They have twice as many neurons per brain mass than mammals, including primates.
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Birds are both intelligent and incredibly agile, yet they are quite small. How do they achieve this with their little brains?
They have twice as many neurons per brain mass than mammals, including primates.
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
They have twice as many neurons per brain mass than mammals, including primates.
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
George Washington wrote to a Jewish congregation in Rhode Island that the United States was founded not on “toleration … as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people,” but on a government that “gives to bigotry no sanction.”
November 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM
George Washington wrote to a Jewish congregation in Rhode Island that the United States was founded not on “toleration … as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people,” but on a government that “gives to bigotry no sanction.”
Tenure-track faculty position in motor neuroscience at Penn State.
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
Open-Rank Faculty Position in Sensorimotor Control and Rehabilitation Neuroscience
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Tenure-track faculty position in motor neuroscience at Penn State.
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...
I don't have much of a view from my office window, but this morning, the wind was brushing the vapor trails left by the rushing jets, leaving behind the froth of a cresting wave. If this was a superhero movie, there would be a surfer riding the waves in the sky.
September 29, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I don't have much of a view from my office window, but this morning, the wind was brushing the vapor trails left by the rushing jets, leaving behind the froth of a cresting wave. If this was a superhero movie, there would be a surfer riding the waves in the sky.
Since start of 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024, Johns Hopkins has received 40% fewer federal awards, a decline of ~50% in research funding, a reduction of $500 million.
University wide, international graduate student enrollment is down by 8% since last year.
University wide, international graduate student enrollment is down by 8% since last year.
September 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Since start of 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024, Johns Hopkins has received 40% fewer federal awards, a decline of ~50% in research funding, a reduction of $500 million.
University wide, international graduate student enrollment is down by 8% since last year.
University wide, international graduate student enrollment is down by 8% since last year.
The cerebellum receives a surprisingly rich amount of information regarding stimulus value via its climbing fibers. What role does this pathway play in learning to make better decisions? Haining Zhong will explain.
September 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The cerebellum receives a surprisingly rich amount of information regarding stimulus value via its climbing fibers. What role does this pathway play in learning to make better decisions? Haining Zhong will explain.
Haining Zhong imaged climbing fibers during auditory discrimination, finding that they encode cue identities and perceptual choices. The responses were reshaped by reversal learning. The predictive nature of these signals suggests a role for climbing fibers in decision-making.
Zoom link: email me.
Zoom link: email me.
September 19, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Haining Zhong imaged climbing fibers during auditory discrimination, finding that they encode cue identities and perceptual choices. The responses were reshaped by reversal learning. The predictive nature of these signals suggests a role for climbing fibers in decision-making.
Zoom link: email me.
Zoom link: email me.
To understand cortico-cerebellar connectivity in humans, the usual approach is to exploit the correlations of functional brain imaging signals during rest.
In this talk, Jorn Diedrichsen will present results suggesting that a better approach is to measure co-activation during specific tasks.
In this talk, Jorn Diedrichsen will present results suggesting that a better approach is to measure co-activation during specific tasks.
September 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
To understand cortico-cerebellar connectivity in humans, the usual approach is to exploit the correlations of functional brain imaging signals during rest.
In this talk, Jorn Diedrichsen will present results suggesting that a better approach is to measure co-activation during specific tasks.
In this talk, Jorn Diedrichsen will present results suggesting that a better approach is to measure co-activation during specific tasks.
At the Society for Neuroscience Conference this year, a scientific meeting to bring closer the neuroscientists who have cultural ties to the middle east. Please join us.
www.middleeastneuro.com
www.middleeastneuro.com
Middle Eastern Systems Neuroscience Symposium
Join the Middle Eastern Systems Neuroscience Symposium on November 14, 2025, at UCSD Faculty Club, San Diego, in conjunction with the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting. This event fosters scienti...
www.middleeastneuro.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:56 AM
At the Society for Neuroscience Conference this year, a scientific meeting to bring closer the neuroscientists who have cultural ties to the middle east. Please join us.
www.middleeastneuro.com
www.middleeastneuro.com
In my drive this morning I thought how lucky I am to have a road and a working car in a city that is not being bombed.
During lunch with my students I looked at their beautiful young faces and wished for them a better world.
During lunch with my students I looked at their beautiful young faces and wished for them a better world.
June 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
In my drive this morning I thought how lucky I am to have a road and a working car in a city that is not being bombed.
During lunch with my students I looked at their beautiful young faces and wished for them a better world.
During lunch with my students I looked at their beautiful young faces and wished for them a better world.
Shlomi Haar will present longitudinal studies of Parkinson's disease, focusing on anatomical and connectivity changes in the brain. Before diagnosis, there is a surprising increase in cerebellar white matter volume, followed by degeneration post-diagnosis.
June 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Shlomi Haar will present longitudinal studies of Parkinson's disease, focusing on anatomical and connectivity changes in the brain. Before diagnosis, there is a surprising increase in cerebellar white matter volume, followed by degeneration post-diagnosis.
Reposted by Reza Shadmehr
For black-capped chickadees, looking out at a location activates the same place cells as actually being there, a study from Columbia University shows.
By @martajhill.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/hippocampus/...
By @martajhill.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/hippocampus/...
Gazing from afar activates place cells in chickadees
The results help explain how the hippocampus can recall information about a place without an animal physically revisiting it.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
For black-capped chickadees, looking out at a location activates the same place cells as actually being there, a study from Columbia University shows.
By @martajhill.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/hippocampus/...
By @martajhill.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/hippocampus/...
Rui Costa introduces a computational framework in which cerebellar networks learn to guide cerebral cortex dynamics with task-outcome predictions.
June 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Rui Costa introduces a computational framework in which cerebellar networks learn to guide cerebral cortex dynamics with task-outcome predictions.
The cerebellum builds internal models of self motion, making it possible for us to read both the signs on the road, and our phones, while we walk. Jean Laurens will describe this computation.
Seminars are open to all.
Seminars are open to all.
June 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The cerebellum builds internal models of self motion, making it possible for us to read both the signs on the road, and our phones, while we walk. Jean Laurens will describe this computation.
Seminars are open to all.
Seminars are open to all.
Neuronal computation in the cerebellum via a vector calculus.
Work of Mohammad Amin Fakharian, Alden Shoup, Paul Hage, and Hisham Elseweifi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Work of Mohammad Amin Fakharian, Alden Shoup, Paul Hage, and Hisham Elseweifi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A vector calculus for neural computation in the cerebellum
Null space theory predicts that neurons generate spikes not only to produce behavior but also to prevent the undesirable effect of other neurons on behavior. In this work, we show that this competitiv...
www.science.org
May 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Neuronal computation in the cerebellum via a vector calculus.
Work of Mohammad Amin Fakharian, Alden Shoup, Paul Hage, and Hisham Elseweifi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Work of Mohammad Amin Fakharian, Alden Shoup, Paul Hage, and Hisham Elseweifi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
In people who suffer from essential tremor, excessive cerebellar oscillations give rise to involuntary, rhythmic movements. Ming-Kai Pan will present evidence from both mice and humans demonstrating that the cerebellum contributes to real-time motor control by encoding motor frequencies.
May 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
In people who suffer from essential tremor, excessive cerebellar oscillations give rise to involuntary, rhythmic movements. Ming-Kai Pan will present evidence from both mice and humans demonstrating that the cerebellum contributes to real-time motor control by encoding motor frequencies.
To unlearn is hard, but necessary for recovery, because without it, some memories can bring us depression and anxiety. This process is called extinction learning.
Enzo Nio and Dagmar Timmann explain the role of the cerebellum in learning to forget.
Seminars are open to all (contact me).
Enzo Nio and Dagmar Timmann explain the role of the cerebellum in learning to forget.
Seminars are open to all (contact me).
May 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
To unlearn is hard, but necessary for recovery, because without it, some memories can bring us depression and anxiety. This process is called extinction learning.
Enzo Nio and Dagmar Timmann explain the role of the cerebellum in learning to forget.
Seminars are open to all (contact me).
Enzo Nio and Dagmar Timmann explain the role of the cerebellum in learning to forget.
Seminars are open to all (contact me).