Jeffrey C. Erlich @jerlich@qoto.org
I think it depends what we mean by distributed. One definition is that if multiple elements/regions are necessary for a function then the function is distributed across those regions. Another (almost opposite definition) is that a function is distributed only if there are no single area lesions than can disrupt the behaviour.
For the first definition, the example that @NicoleCRust from the Svoboda++ group fits.
For the latter definition.... there are behaviors (like reversal learning of a smell-taste association) that are distributed across the hemispheres, so you need to do crossed lesions to disrupt the behaviour (see work from Gallagher and Holland)
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Closing soon!
We’re seeking a postdoc to develop computational accounts of how humans and other animals make foraging decisions, in collaboration with the groups of @Brain_apps (Birmingham) and Nathan Lepora (Bristol).
Post is until 14th Feb 2025. Closing March 30th 2023.
Email me for queries
Pls Boost!
More details and application: https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=SCI092323
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
We just covered this paper at Journal Club and it is impressive:
"Tracking neural activity from the same cells during the entire adult life of mice". Nature #Neuroscience 2023
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01267-x
Flexible implants such as this (and Neuralink's) are ideal because they move with the brain. An issue with this one is that it cuts lots of axons during implantation. But its longevity is amazing. And this study counts the gray hairs on mice!
@mattreynolds I think your article on about cruelty to insects is a bit misguided considering how important (for the future of humanity) it is to reduce our dependence on cows, pigs, etc.
Jonathan Birch's views on animal sentience are influential, but they are not necessarily mainstream.
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Great paper by @anneurai & C. Kelly in @eLife : academia must change to respond to the climate crisis, by shifting from a business producing papers and graduated students to a system that works towards well being, community building and fairness ! 🌈 🤝
https://elifesciences.org/articles/84991?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
I wrote this post about my experience striking for the first time as an early career researcher
https://thompsonj.github.io/strikes
Despite the stress and unpleasantness, I've found immense inspiration in the strikes.
@OxfordUCU #ucuRISING #ucustrikes #ecrchat
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Heard about MyST, a nice new way of writing papers using Markdown, but overwhelmed by how to get started? You could try this GitHub template I just created. Each time you edit and commit files in the repo, GitHub automatically builds a docx and pdf.
This is a pretty simple implementation for the moment, but I'll hopefully be adding some more features to it as I experiment with MyST. Thanks to Rowan Cockett and team for building the tech and advice.
@burakyildirim it's both. lesion V1 and you get blindness, not deafness. But to "see" something you need more than V1.
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Catastrophic (and to be frank - hugely depressing)
This new research in @PNASNews suggests earth will cross the 1.5 degrees C temperature increase threshold in the next decade (within just 10 to 15 years) and is likely to exceed 2 degrees C by around 2060.
This should be THE lead story on the news today (and onwards) and the lead action point for our governments. It should trigger a massive call for real global action to combat the #climateemergency - sadly though I fear this news will barely register.
We have to stop believing the siren calls of future technology solutions and #carbonoffsets - the immediate need is a rapid end to the use of #fossilfuels and a massive rollout of #renewableenergy
@gdbassett there is an enormous amount of work on arousal, vigilance and attention. I think "suspicion" is more than just sensitivity to cues. It is goal-directed.
vigilance review: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-07668-010
cognition is neural computation that is not implement through one-hot encoding.
agree or disagree?
@NicoleCRust @markdhumphries @albertcardona
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Just sent this email to a student who is in that final stage of paper-writing where you tweak shit endlessly and just can't let it go. It's advice I wish I'd realised a lot sooner, and I think many of us in #academia could do with internalising...
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
RT @AlecStapp@twitter.com
begging people to stop romanticizing the pre-industrial era
🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/AlecStapp/status/1617559217497309186
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
RT @pedrobeltrao
Life science researchers are submitting the fewest number of ERC grants. The funding rate is balanced by discipline so more submissions means more grants given to that area. A reminder for life science scientists to submit more ERC proposals. https://twitter.com/ERC_Research/status/1620376382428819461
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
It's a simple experiment. Take some of the ChatGPT generated content, then cut and paste into a browser in quotes.
BAM.
Word for word lifting from some sources.
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Zotero just informed me that a paper in my database has been retracted. What an excellent feature for a reference management system to have! As if I needed additional reasons to love Zotero even more than I already did 🤩
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
this looks good!
"Trial-history biases in evidence accumulation can give rise to apparent lapses"
from @dikshagupta
Diksha Gupta, Brian DePasquale, Charles D. Kopec, Carlos D. Brody
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.18.524599v2
#neuroscience #cognition
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
And I recommend this update made by Gopen last month: "Getting the point across". It focuses on the "stress position". https://www.americanscientist.org/article/getting-the-point-across
Jeffrey C. Erlich
boosted
Scientists! Have you read Gopen and Swan's 1990 classic "The science of scientific writing"? If not, you are in for a treat.
It's here, albeit weirdly formatted: https://www.americanscientist.org/blog/the-long-view/the-science-of-scientific-writing.
And if you prefer good pagination, check out this scan of the pre-web version: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R9urPA7NWC5qdBqkCTim10tzwRYaLZC3/view?usp=share_link
@jonny I was in the same camp for a long time.For a while I used a bluetooth dongle so I could keep using wired headphones... but I I finally gave in and got the Jabra Elite (wire cutter recommended) ones. It is pretty stressful when they are misplaced! I try to keep them in the same place all the time.
