Austin Benn
@neurabenn.bsky.social
Postdoc at FMRIB in Oxford. Member of the cognitive neuroanatomy lab. When not at the lab I’ll see you on the ice
Way to go Rocco!!! Happy to see this out in the world now!
Rocco Chiou@rocco-chiou.bsky.social · 2d agoAt long last, I’m excited to share our latest preprint on the cortical topography of mental imagery! Building on the tethering hypothesis of brain evolution, we examined the spatial layout of imagery-driven neural activities to know how visual, auditory, tactile & multisensory imagery is organised.
@neurabenn.bsky.social Very interesting study. The stable topographic organization of imagery is compelling. However, I wonder whether these findings also point to a more fundamental mechanistic question: how are such internally generated sensory experiences physically
Rocco Chiou@rocco-chiou.bsky.social · 2d agoAt long last, I’m excited to share our latest preprint on the cortical topography of mental imagery! Building on the tethering hypothesis of brain evolution, we examined the spatial layout of imagery-driven neural activities to know how visual, auditory, tactile & multisensory imagery is organised.
This November, like every November, I am teaching basic research proposal writing to the new phd cohort at my institute. Here is the 2 page template we start with and adapt. Link to LaTeX github.com/rmcelreath/P...
![\title[PhD Plan for CANDIDATE]{Department of \mbox{Full Luxury Galactic Metascience}\\PhD Plan for CANDIDATE}
% list committee members
\author[]{Committee:\\
Prof.~MEMBER1\\
Dr.~MEMBER2\\
Dr.~MEMBER3}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle% this prints the handout title, author, and date
\begin{marginfigure}[-5.2cm]
\includegraphics[width=3.5cm]{Minerva.pdf}
\end{marginfigure}
\section{Phenomenon}
The subject matter to be addressed. What is the question? Citation for background are useful, but don't do a full lit review (yet).\cite{HenrichMcElreath:2003} Additional references can be included at the end bibliography by using \verb|\nocite|. \nocite{NBGA2005}
\section{Theoretical Perspective}
The framework for explaining the phenomenon. What are the implications of theory? If more than one theory is relevant, how do the implications differ? What are the current holes in the theory or theories?
\section{Approach}
Modeling and empirical research approach to address the theory/ies nominated above. Important thing is to \emph{justify} the approach in terms of theory.
\section{Specifics of Approach}
Outline any special skills, equipment, or techniques that will be required. This includes, in the case of field research, a paragraph on the background of the field location. Data analysis approach needs a sketch. Can use citation\cite{Merowetal2014} for further detail.
\section{Expected Products}
A list of the (usually 3) articles expected for completion of the PhD. Think of each as a fantasy abstract.
\begin{enumerate}
\item \emph{The Evolution of Human Uniqueness.} There is wide agreement that humans are unique. But it is rarely asked: Have they always been unique? In this paper, we derive a general uniqueness theorem that states that any unique species must have been less unique at some point in the past. This theorem has implications for the achievement of world peace.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ta2whs6wjtpljvpqgs5leu36/bafkreihnoflhyf2lajrvcsovawt3xr47qlm76jfhzet5lqumkabtzufvoe)
Sports betting is sadly everywhere these days, but have you tried betting on your running permutation tests ? More of a thrill, less yet more at stake
This delights me for some reason - a comparative anatomical framework for the brains of 26 carnivore species!
Marc L Seal @parkvillegeek.bsky.social · 12mo agoComparative neuroimaging of the carnivoran brain: Neocortical sulcal anatomy | bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1 To predict the behaviour of a primate, would you rather base your guess on a closely related species or one with a similar brain shape? We looked at brains & behaviours of 70 species, you’ll be surprised! 🧵Thread on our new preprint with @r3rt0.bsky.social , doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Fitting title for tonight 🥵
Jonny Smallwood@themindwanders.bsky.social · last yr.Hot Summer Nights the new album by the Natural Philosophers is out now. If you would like to help: Stream it a few times Post reply mentioning a track you like by name. Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/0Tju52... Apple Music music.apple.com/us/album/hot... Soundcloud soundcloud.com/npwa/sets/ho...
ping @r3rt0.bsky.social Cross-species neuroanatomy in primates using tractography | Brain Structure and Function link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Cross-species neuroanatomy in primates using tractography - Brain Structure and Function
Due to their integrative role in brain function, long-range white matter connections exhibit high individual variability, giving rise to personalised brain circuits. This neurovariability is more evid...
link.springer.com
A US judge has ordered hundreds of terminated research projects at the US National Institutes of Health to be reinstated, calling the processes that led to their cancellation “bereft of reasoning”. https://go.nature.com/4kOmXDy
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
go.nature.com
Explore our Mentorship Directory to discover mentorship opportunities from prominent organizations, and build your neuroscience network: www.thetransmitter.org/mentorship-d... #neuroskyence
Neuroscience Mentorship Program Directory
Discover neuroscience mentorship opportunities through this living directory, connecting mentors and mentees at all stages of their careers.
thetransmitter.org
Now out in Nature Human Behaviour @nathumbehav.nature.com : “End-to-end topographic networks as models of cortical map formation and human visual behaviour”. Please check our NHB link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Precon_all is finally citeable! I’m relieved, pleased, thrilled and all other superlatives to present to you our preprint describing the inner workings of the precon_all pipeline for semi-automated non-human cortical surface reconstruction! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/10
Reread the preprint yesterday and can’t help but think I prefer the original title! Congrats to the team though this is a really fantastic approach
Nature Methods@natmethods.nature.com · last yr.Introducing the Krakencoder: a tool to translate between structural and functional connectivity in the brain, as applied to data from the Human Connectome Project. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The OxCIN Global Scholars programme offers a year of remote MRI training and collaboration for early-career researchers from the Global South. Apply by June 30th to join the 2025/26 cohort. Please repost! www.oxcin.ox.ac.uk/about/traini...
When a Decision on Manuscript email arrives a minute before you go out to celebrate your birthday
Choose Science. Choose Europe. A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open. With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond. Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
I'm really loving lm notebook! You can now output podcasts about an article in multiple languages! It means I can share my work with my in-laws in spanish!
I think I want a Canadian team to win the cup this year. Rantanen may single handedly make that impossible. What a streak
🎨🧑🎨 Looking for a tool to visualize subcortical/thalamic data in 2D? Check out this python-based package I put together (subcortex-visualization on PyPI), plus a guide for creating your own custom atlas meshes and vector graphics! All feedback/tips welcome 😊 anniegbryant.github.io/subcortex_vi...
Science is under threat in the US. @elife.bsky.social have commissioned a series of articles discussing the implications and what we can do. The first three articles are now live. More to follow: elifesciences.org/articles/106... elifesciences.org/articles/106... elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Science Under Threat in the United States: How scientists and institutions should respond
Individual researchers and university leaders need to make the case for science to their elected representatives and to the public at large.
elifesciences.org
Placebo-controlled trials can be dangerous when safer alternatives already exist. That’s why scientists now use active comparator trials to ensure safety and protect lives. Forcing placebo use across the board isn’t science—it’s recklessness disguised as “gold standard science.”
The Spencer Foundation is offering rapid response bridge funding for those who lost NSF research grants. www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
spencer.org
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!! Has a take action toolkit with: 1. Press outreach templates 2. Social media toolkit 3. Elected official outreach 4. Talking points Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come. www.savensf.com
📚😅🎉 Yay!! I just submitted the complete manuscript of my upcoming book to the publisher! Learn to easily and clearly interpret (almost) any stats model w/ R or Python. Simple ideas, consistent workflow, powerful tools, detailed case studies. Read it for free @ marginaleffects.com #RStats #PyData
Had a quick pit stop back in Paris. Was great to have lunch with @k4tj4.bsky.social and @r3rt0.bsky.social and talk about 🧠
We are hiring! @aurinaarn.bsky.social and I are jointly looking for a talented Postdoc in Systems and Comp Neuro at Monash (AUS). If you like neuroimaging 🧠, comp models 💻, genetics 🧬, brain disorders 🤕, and/or evolution 🐵🐭, this could be the job for you!! careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/jo...
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Lugging my hockey gear through Oxford to get a plane to Paris… I feel like Frodo
