Simon Kern

@skjerns.de

Sleep & Memory researcher @ CIMH Mannheim with @gordonfeld.bsky.social . Interested in replay and applied machine learning in the context of episodic and declarative memory. MEG and Python enthusiast.

Closed-loop stimulation may improve memory through more than just boosting slow waves. Grimaldi et al. found that better retention tracked the balance of slow-oscillation vs delta coupling to spindles, along with ⬆️ parasympathetic activity—not simply stronger SO–spindle coupling. buff.ly/JyhmjGn

Acoustic enhancement of slow wave sleep improves memory retention by coordinating brain oscillatory rhythms and autonomic activity

Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation. While the interaction between sleep oscillations and autonomic activity likely influences this process,

buff.ly

Are brains and artificial neural networks converging onto universal representations? There is a seductive idea making the rounds in NeuroAI / machine learning: train systems well enough, and they all converge on the same representation of reality (i.e. a unique world model). We have thoughts™ 1/n

The Umwelt Representation Hypothesis: rethinking Universality

Recent studies reveal striking representational alignment between artificial neural networks (ANNs) and biological brains, leading to proposals that all sufficiently capable systems converge on univer...

cell.com

I care about reproducibility, but I find it deeply problematic that the British ecological society is trying to extract free labour from academics (oh no, you get free membership for a year!) to work for them for 3 years on computational reproducibility checks. apply.workable.com/britishecolo...

Associate Editor (Code Integrity and Accessibility) - British Ecological Society

Volunteer role: Associate Editor (Code Integrity and Accessibility) Organisation: British Ecological Society – Methods in Ecology and Evolution Term: 3 years Closing date: 25th Sept 17.00 BST…

apply.workable.com

New preprint! We show low arousal states promote hippocampal ripple genesis in sleep and wake. This bridges rodent work, where ripples predominate during sleep, with human studies reporting ripples during active behavior, identifying low arousal as a common mechanism www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Arousal state modulates human hippocampal ripples

Hippocampal ripples are transient, high-frequency oscillations linked to memory replay and consolidation. Ripples are well-characterized in rodents to occur during periods of behavioral inactivity (i....

biorxiv.org

Are the traveling dynamics of sleep slow waves functionally involved in memory consolidation? A new paper from the lab led by @norarouast.bsky.social shows that auditory stimulation during sleep disturbs SWS and affects the traveling dynamics of SWs - which mediated impaired memory consolidation!

Nora Roüast@norarouast.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Ever wondered what having auditory stimulation does to the sleep itself? Random stimulation disturbs SWS, memory, and travelling dynamics of slow waves. New paper in iScience with @mschoenauer.bsky.social, @denizkumral.bsky.social, and Steffen Gais! doi.org/10.1016/j.is... #sleep #neuroskyence

The extent of the IF obsession is evident from any and every Google search for a journal - even venues that don't warrant one. This literally makes or breaks journals - non-profits are hit particularly hard - and it stifles innovation and distorts science. 2/2

BildBild

🧠 New preprint! How well can current algorithms *actually* detect neural "replay" in the human brain under absolutely optimal conditions? We built FASTIMAGES: A combined MEG + fMRI benchmark with KNOWN neural sequences, so replay-detection methods can finally be validated against a ground truth.

FASTIMAGES: Validating replay detection methods in human neuroimaging

A combined MEG + fMRI benchmark dataset with known neural sequences to validate replay detection methods (TDLM and SODA).

cimh-clinical-psychology.github.io

Interested in human replay and solid methods? Jointly with @skjerns.de we're releasing a benchmark dataset with known ground-truth neural sequences in MEG & fMRI, for developing & validating replay methods. First test: existing methods show similar effect sizes, but room to improve shorturl.at/6TgIr

FASTIMAGES: Validating replay detection methods in human neuroimaging using a combined MEG and fMRI dataset

Studies in rodents and humans using invasive electrophysiology have established that neural replay is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the brain that is associated with a wide range of cognitive functions, ...

shorturl.at

Honored to be giving a keynote at Psychology and the Brain (PuG) this week in Heidelberg. Since starting the lab in 2019, we’ve had many wonderful collaborations across Germany, and I’m excited to share our work on the computational neuroscience of interoception. See you there! pug2026.org

PuG2026

pug2026.org