I'm very excited to present a poster (C-18, Wednesday 9:30) at #CCN2026, describing neural signatures of internal decision-making in the monkey vlPFC. If you want to learn more about how sensory value influences percept selection, come check it out!
CMC lab
@cmc-lab.bsky.social
Computational Machinery of Cognition (CMC) lab focuses on understanding the computational and neural machinery of goal-driven behavior | PI: @neuroprinciplist.bsky.social | https://shervinsafavi.github.io/cmclab/
Don't miss @clairesturgill.bsky.social's poster (C-18, Wednesday 9:30) - our only representative at @cogcompneuro.bsky.social!
Claire Sturgill@clairesturgill.bsky.social · 3d agoI'm very excited to present a poster (C-18, Wednesday 9:30) at #CCN2026, describing neural signatures of internal decision-making in the monkey vlPFC. If you want to learn more about how sensory value influences percept selection, come check it out!
Our paper "Neural timescales from a computational perspective" is finally out in @natneuro.nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/s41... We discuss how computational models and methods can distill empirical observations on neural timescales into quantitative, testable theories of brain computation.
Neural timescales from a computational perspective - Nature Neuroscience
This review integrates computational approaches to provide a unified view on how data analysis methods, biophysical mechanistic models and machine learning approaches can help to uncover the origins a...
nature.com
We (@neuroprinciplist.bsky.social & I) will soon open joint PhD & postdoc positions on cross-species mechanisms of different adaptive behaviors. If you’re interested and would like to chat during #FENS2026, drop me a message :)
Wanna compare dynamics across neural data, RNNs, or dynamical systems? We got a fast and furious method🏎️ The 1st preprint of my PhD 🥳 fast dynamical similarity analysis (fastDSA): 📜: arxiv.org/abs/2511.22828 💻: github.com/CMC-lab/fast... I’ll be @cosynemeeting.bsky.social - happy to chat 😉
I’ll be leading a hands-on workshop on fastDSA, where we’ll explore scalable dynamical similarity analysis for neural and artificial systems. Curious about fastDSA, Check the short introduction here: bsky.app/profile/arma... #IMPRSCoNI #SummerSchool #Neuroscience #ComputationalNeuroscience
IMPRS CoNI@imprsconi.bsky.social · last mo.Welcome to the 2nd #IMPRSCoNI #SummerSchool in #Leipzig! The event kicked off yesterday with welcoming words by @gesahartwigsen.bsky.social, Deputy Spokesperson of IMPRS CoNI & Professor of Cognitive and Biological Psychology at @unileipzig.bsky.social. We wish everyone an inspiring Summer School!😁😍
1/11 Happy to share our TICS paper on using the flexibility of one of the most basic cognitive functions, perception, to understand one of the most complex cognitive dysfunctions, psychiatric conditions (also my first formal work in computational psychiatry 🎉) 📄: www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🧵 : 👇
Perceptual multistability: a multifaceted window into brain dysfunctions
Perceptual multistability, observed across species and sensory modalities, offers valuable insights into numerous cognitive functions and dysfunctions. For instance, differences in temporal dynamics a...
cell.com
Trends in Cognitive Sciences@cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social · 4mo agoOnline Now: Perceptual multistability: a multifaceted window into brain dysfunctions
5/11 Perceptual multistability is a phenomenon conserved across evolution (observed from Drosophila to humans) and sensory modalities. It seems AI systems also elicit some form of it -- see the great work of @taherehtoosi.bsky.social).
My favorite approach is based on internal RL. What the hell is that!? Our brain not only chooses (external) actions to maximize its return, it also optimizes the 'mental' processes (= internal actions): what to relay to working memory, replay, attend, and perceive! See www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Thrilled to see the first @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social paper of the lab out 🤩 Wanna understand one of the most complex cognitive dysfunctions using one of the most basic adaptive functions, perception? Paper: linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S136466132600032X Thread: bsky.app/profile/neur...
joss.theoj.org
Shervin Safavi@neuroprinciplist.bsky.social · 2mo ago1/11 Happy to share our TICS paper on using the flexibility of one of the most basic cognitive functions, perception, to understand one of the most complex cognitive dysfunctions, psychiatric conditions (also my first formal work in computational psychiatry 🎉) 📄: www.cell.com/trends/cogni... 🧵 : 👇
If these research directions resonate with you and you're interested in joining our team, we now have 2 open PhD positions! More information about the positions: nextcloud.tuebingen.mpg.de/index.php/s/... More information about our research: www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/906930/natur... #NeuroJobs
Only one week left until our PhD application deadline @mpicybernetics.bsky.social. If you’re interested in the intersection of RL, RNNs, and analyses of neural & behavioral data from novel, cross-species foraging experiments, make sure to submit your application by June 15! #NeuroJobs More info👇
Roxana Zeraati@roxana-zeraati.bsky.social · 3mo agoIf these research directions resonate with you and you're interested in joining our team, we now have 2 open PhD positions! More information about the positions: nextcloud.tuebingen.mpg.de/index.php/s/... More information about our research: www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/906930/natur... #NeuroJobs
We have 2 open PhD positions @mpicybernetics.bsky.social, if you’re interested in reinforcement learning, recurrent neural networks and analyses of neural & behavioral data from novel, cross-species foraging experiments, there’s still time to apply: nextcloud.tuebingen.mpg.de/index.php/s/...
Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience@bernsteinneuro.bsky.social · 2mo ago💼 Have you taken a look at our #CompNeuro job pool lately? There are many exciting positions with upcoming deadlines! 👉 bit.ly/2XoVAKB #ScienceJobs #BernsteinNetwork #AcademicSky
We will also soon have an opening for a postdoc position. For informal inquiries, you can sign up here: forms.gle/GTWuReh4A7vu... #NeuroJobs
Of course, tackling these interdisciplinary questions requires a village! And we are incredibly lucky to have a fantastic network of collaborators to make this vision a reality, including Peter Dayan, @neuroprinciplist.bsky.social, @xindipoo.bsky.social, @lndriscoll.bsky.social, RoLi Lab & more!
To do this, we develop data-driven, species-specific models by integrating: 💻 🤖 computational methods (RL, dynamical systems, AI) & 🪱🐟🐀🐒👤 behavioral & neural data (from nematodes to primates) to uncover shared or species-specific mechanisms of natural adaptive decision-making.
Our main goal is to understand how animals learn the dynamics of their environment across different timescales and adapt their decisions accordingly. We study this in the context of foraging behavior, which allows us to link neural, behavioral, and environmental dynamics in naturalistic settings.
I also owe a very special thanks to @neuroprinciplist.bsky.social, who has helped me navigate every single step, discussing science, mapping out the hidden rules of academia, and teaching me when and how to pivot!
Before talking science, there's no doubt that none of this would be possible without the immense support and trust of my mentors Anna Levina, @engeltatiana.bsky.social & Peter Dayan, and all my labmates! I'm incredibly grateful for their endless support and for inspiring me every day!
Some incredibly exciting news that still feels a bit surreal: I am starting my research group @mpicybernetics.bsky.social! The best part? We are hiring at all levels! Curious about the science we plan to tackle, read along :) #NeuroSky
In our Learning Club @cmc-lab.bsky.social tomorrow (April 30, Thursday, 2pm CET), @tafazolisina.bsky.social will tell us about his recent @nature.com paper (👇). Want to attend? Send an empty email to virtual talk-link-request@cmclab.org to get the link!
@tafazolisina.bsky.social · 6mo agoThrilled that my paper is out in the @nature.com. We explored how the brain builds complex tasks by compositionally combining simpler sub-task representations. The brain flexibly performs multiple tasks by dynamically reusing neural subspaces for sensory inputs and motor actions rdcu.be/eRVUk
If you need a method to infer causality from neural data, even when the signal is short, check our recent paper: Paper: joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21... Code: github.com/CMC-lab/Tran...
TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox
Nouri et al., (2025). TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox. Journal of Open Source Software, 10(116), 9302, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.09302
joss.theoj.org
Salar Nouri@sanouri.bsky.social · 4mo agoWanna infer causal interactions during brief, transient neural events? 🧠⚡ Many methods struggle with such non-stationarities, but we got a robust solution for you! 📦 My recent publication with @cmc-lab.bsky.social 🥳: TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox 📜 JOSS: bsky.app/profile/joss...
Thrilled to see the second paper of the lab out 🤩 Check it out if you need a method to infer causality from neural data, even when the signal is short! Paper: joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21... Code: github.com/CMC-lab/Tran...
TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox
Nouri et al., (2025). TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox. Journal of Open Source Software, 10(116), 9302, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.09302
joss.theoj.org
Salar Nouri@sanouri.bsky.social · 4mo agoWanna infer causal interactions during brief, transient neural events? 🧠⚡ Many methods struggle with such non-stationarities, but we got a robust solution for you! 📦 My recent publication with @cmc-lab.bsky.social 🥳: TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox 📜 JOSS: bsky.app/profile/joss...
Wanna infer causal interactions during brief, transient neural events? 🧠⚡ Many methods struggle with such non-stationarities, but we got a robust solution for you! 📦 My recent publication with @cmc-lab.bsky.social 🥳: TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox 📜 JOSS: bsky.app/profile/joss...
Journal of Open Source Software@joss-openjournals.bsky.social · 7mo agoJust published in JOSS: 'TranCIT: Transient Causal Interaction Toolbox' https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.09302
Many thanks to @klaus-tschira-stiftung.de and @gso-forresearchers.bsky.social for this wonderful opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying naturalistic decision processes in the context of foraging behavior! We’ll also soon have openings for PhD students, stay tuned!
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics@mpicybernetics.bsky.social · 4mo ago🎉 @roxana-zeraati.bsky.social has been awarded the @klaus-tschira-stiftung.de Boost Fund! Moving beyond short-term trials to naturalistic scenarios: Roxana will explore how we decide in changing environments. 🔗 www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/zeraati-tsch... #DecisionMaking #ComputationalNeuroscience
🎉 @roxana-zeraati.bsky.social has been awarded the @klaus-tschira-stiftung.de Boost Fund! Moving beyond short-term trials to naturalistic scenarios: Roxana will explore how we decide in changing environments. 🔗 www.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/zeraati-tsch... #DecisionMaking #ComputationalNeuroscience
Enthusiastic to present our latest results for you and get your feedback.
Shervin Safavi@neuroprinciplist.bsky.social · 5mo agoAre you #Coayne2026? Wanna know how we can have a common notion of state in mind and machines and find them in an unsupervised fashion with temporal embeddings based on dynamic similarity check @armanbehrad.bsky.social and @maxschwabe.bsky.social’s poster today, 3-001!
Are you #Coayne2026? Wanna know how we can have a common notion of state in mind and machines and find them in an unsupervised fashion with temporal embeddings based on dynamic similarity check @armanbehrad.bsky.social and @maxschwabe.bsky.social’s poster today, 3-001!
CMC lab@cmc-lab.bsky.social · 5mo ago3-001, poster session 3 (Sat, Mar. 14, 13:15): @armanbehrad.bsky.social on unsupervised method to find behaviorally relevant internal states from data. We tested it w/ RNN & monkey data doing cognitive tasks & RNN trained with deep RL on a naturalistic plum tracking task.
