Ben Saunders
@bensaunders.bsky.social
Neuroscientist and gardener
Lab site- saunderslab.com
Lab site- saunderslab.com
Pinned
Ben Saunders
@bensaunders.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Ventral tegmental area GABA neurons integrate positive and negative valence - Nature Communications
The role of ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in behavior is unclear. Here, authors show that VTA GABA but not dopamine neurons integrate positive and negative valence to encode motivational conflic...
www.nature.com
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Excited to share latest study from the lab by an amazing RA, Dylan Flink.
We solved a small (important) puzzle while in the trenches of a larger (wavy 🌊) puzzle.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵...
We solved a small (important) puzzle while in the trenches of a larger (wavy 🌊) puzzle.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵...
Dual cholinergic mechanisms for sculpting striatal dopamine in vivo
Striatal dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine constitute a computationally powerful neuromodulatory dyad that orchestrates action selection, motivational vigor, and reward learning. Striatal cholinergic in...
www.biorxiv.org
December 30, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Excited to share latest study from the lab by an amazing RA, Dylan Flink.
We solved a small (important) puzzle while in the trenches of a larger (wavy 🌊) puzzle.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵...
We solved a small (important) puzzle while in the trenches of a larger (wavy 🌊) puzzle.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Statement from the American Academy of Neurology: “This decision was made without consulting key neurology stakeholders, and there was no formal announcement nor a clear succession plan for NINDS leadership. NINDS plays a vital role in funding and directing research into the brain”
Statement on Sudden Departure of NINDS Director
www.aan.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Statement from the American Academy of Neurology: “This decision was made without consulting key neurology stakeholders, and there was no formal announcement nor a clear succession plan for NINDS leadership. NINDS plays a vital role in funding and directing research into the brain”
Reposted by Ben Saunders
billionaire: i have 3 brains. in my skull
interviewer: incredible
interviewer: incredible
December 20, 2025 at 4:33 AM
billionaire: i have 3 brains. in my skull
interviewer: incredible
interviewer: incredible
Another super fun combo lab holiday party this year with @jocelynrichard.bsky.social!
December 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Another super fun combo lab holiday party this year with @jocelynrichard.bsky.social!
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Thrilled this is out, led by former PD Cameron Ogg (now with her own lab at @rhodescollege.bsky.social!). It was a driven by a desire to see, in real-time, how LC activity/NE release influences downstream targets in behaving animals. SO hard to do, but Cameron did it! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Locus coeruleus norepinephrine neurons facilitate orbitofrontal cortex remapping and behavioral flexibility
Ogg et al. use in vivo imaging techniques to record activity in the locus coeruleus
(LC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during a reversal learning task in freely
moving rodents. They show that man...
www.cell.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Thrilled this is out, led by former PD Cameron Ogg (now with her own lab at @rhodescollege.bsky.social!). It was a driven by a desire to see, in real-time, how LC activity/NE release influences downstream targets in behaving animals. SO hard to do, but Cameron did it! www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Some #FluorescenceFriday content for you - check out these anterior cingulate cortex neurons that project to the superior colliculus. Image by @izzabellagreen.bsky.social 🧠
December 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Some #FluorescenceFriday content for you - check out these anterior cingulate cortex neurons that project to the superior colliculus. Image by @izzabellagreen.bsky.social 🧠
Reposted by Ben Saunders
NMDA receptor ablation in medial prefrontal cortex disrupts value updating and reward history integration https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.06.692679v1
December 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
NMDA receptor ablation in medial prefrontal cortex disrupts value updating and reward history integration https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.06.692679v1
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Excited to share our new GLP-1 receptor agonist study! Chronic semaglutide potentiates motivation for small food rewards and associated cues, but reduces intake when food is freely available—surprising twist! #GLP-1, #behavior #neuroscience #pharmacology 1/
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Chronic semaglutide treatment enhances the incentive motivational value of a small food reward and associated cue in male and female rats
Rationale: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, are increasingly utilized in clinical practice due to their efficacy in promoting sustained weight loss following chr...
www.biorxiv.org
December 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Excited to share our new GLP-1 receptor agonist study! Chronic semaglutide potentiates motivation for small food rewards and associated cues, but reduces intake when food is freely available—surprising twist! #GLP-1, #behavior #neuroscience #pharmacology 1/
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
🔗 www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
🧠 We're hiring! 🧠 Are you passionate about neuroscience and education? Join our faculty at UNC Chapel Hill to inspire and teach the next generation of neuroscientists. Apply now: 🔗https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/308455
#Neuroscience #TeachingJobs #AcademicJobs #HigherEd
#Neuroscience #TeachingJobs #AcademicJobs #HigherEd
December 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
🧠 We're hiring! 🧠 Are you passionate about neuroscience and education? Join our faculty at UNC Chapel Hill to inspire and teach the next generation of neuroscientists. Apply now: 🔗https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/308455
#Neuroscience #TeachingJobs #AcademicJobs #HigherEd
#Neuroscience #TeachingJobs #AcademicJobs #HigherEd
Reposted by Ben Saunders
In other exciting news, @mattgeramita.bsky.social’s @natneuro.nature.com + Eric Yttri paper exploring the neural circuits underlying hesitation just dropped today! 🧠🎤
To summarize the findings, please see my musical abstract (with apologies to Peter Frampton 🎶)
www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧪
To summarize the findings, please see my musical abstract (with apologies to Peter Frampton 🎶)
www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧪
December 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In other exciting news, @mattgeramita.bsky.social’s @natneuro.nature.com + Eric Yttri paper exploring the neural circuits underlying hesitation just dropped today! 🧠🎤
To summarize the findings, please see my musical abstract (with apologies to Peter Frampton 🎶)
www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧪
To summarize the findings, please see my musical abstract (with apologies to Peter Frampton 🎶)
www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧪
Reposted by Ben Saunders
We used rabies virus 👾 to map how #psilocybin modifies long-range circuits 🧠, revealing network-specific reorganization that we didn’t expect.
The full study is now online at Cell. @cp-cell.bsky.social
Paper 👉 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Thread for a synopsis 👉
bsky.app/profile/alex...
The full study is now online at Cell. @cp-cell.bsky.social
Paper 👉 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Thread for a synopsis 👉
bsky.app/profile/alex...
December 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We used rabies virus 👾 to map how #psilocybin modifies long-range circuits 🧠, revealing network-specific reorganization that we didn’t expect.
The full study is now online at Cell. @cp-cell.bsky.social
Paper 👉 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Thread for a synopsis 👉
bsky.app/profile/alex...
The full study is now online at Cell. @cp-cell.bsky.social
Paper 👉 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Thread for a synopsis 👉
bsky.app/profile/alex...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is seeking input on Federal policy updates to accelerate the American scientific enterprise.
This is your chance to give some feedback on how the past ~10 months have gone for science.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
I plan to highlight:
This is your chance to give some feedback on how the past ~10 months have gone for science.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
I plan to highlight:
Notice of Request for Information; Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties on Federal policy updates that aim to accelerate the American scientific enterprise, enable groundbreaking...
www.federalregister.gov
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is seeking input on Federal policy updates to accelerate the American scientific enterprise.
This is your chance to give some feedback on how the past ~10 months have gone for science.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
I plan to highlight:
This is your chance to give some feedback on how the past ~10 months have gone for science.
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
I plan to highlight:
Reposted by Ben Saunders
The first one is not a test of replicability. It is a test of generalization. It is important to stop conflating these.
Just had a meeting yesterday with a team (2 labs) where team 1 tried to first replicate findings of team 2 but used different systems and couldn't do it. Then they used the same system and replicated the original finding beautifully. But now we're curious about why the other systems are different
December 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The first one is not a test of replicability. It is a test of generalization. It is important to stop conflating these.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
After slow-walking critical funding for lifesaving research, the Trump administration has sabotaged the NIH grantmaking process so that researchers get LESS money on average and LESS time to use it.
No one is asking to fund less cancer research, but that's what's happening.
No one is asking to fund less cancer research, but that's what's happening.
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:31 PM
After slow-walking critical funding for lifesaving research, the Trump administration has sabotaged the NIH grantmaking process so that researchers get LESS money on average and LESS time to use it.
No one is asking to fund less cancer research, but that's what's happening.
No one is asking to fund less cancer research, but that's what's happening.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
22% fewer NIH grants
December 2, 2025 at 3:28 PM
22% fewer NIH grants
Reposted by Ben Saunders
“It’s giving mechanistic insight into how estrogen modulates reinforcement learning—all the way down to the molecular mechanism,” says Ilana Witten.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex-hormones...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex-hormones...
Sex hormone boosts female rats’ sensitivity to unexpected rewards
During the high-estradiol stages of their estrus cycle, female rats learn faster than they do during other stages—and than male rats overall—thanks to a boost in their dopaminergic response to reward…
www.thetransmitter.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
“It’s giving mechanistic insight into how estrogen modulates reinforcement learning—all the way down to the molecular mechanism,” says Ilana Witten.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex-hormones...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/sex-hormones...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Out now: Favila, Capece Marsico et al. 2025, Nature Communications: Using longitudinal deep-brain imaging, we report that amygdala interneurons exhibit complex and heterogeneous plasticity during associative learning, at both the single-cell and population level.
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Heterogeneous plasticity of amygdala interneurons in associative learning and extinction - Nature Communications
In this study, the authors uncover how diverse inhibitory interneurons in the amygdala flexibly contribute to fear and safety learning, revealing a key role for inhibition in emotional memory and adap...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Out now: Favila, Capece Marsico et al. 2025, Nature Communications: Using longitudinal deep-brain imaging, we report that amygdala interneurons exhibit complex and heterogeneous plasticity during associative learning, at both the single-cell and population level.
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Ventral tegmental area GABA neurons integrate positive and negative valence - Nature Communications
The role of ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in behavior is unclear. Here, authors show that VTA GABA but not dopamine neurons integrate positive and negative valence to encode motivational conflic...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Here we go. Its ALL #NIHGrant applications. Dec 8 is the new deadline. And a one page prelim data update will be accepted for all May Council submissions. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-012: Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 - Lapse in Appropriations
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 - Lapse in Appropriations NOT-...
grants.nih.gov
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Here we go. Its ALL #NIHGrant applications. Dec 8 is the new deadline. And a one page prelim data update will be accepted for all May Council submissions. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Ventral tegmental area GABA neurons integrate positive and negative valence - Nature Communications
The role of ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in behavior is unclear. Here, authors show that VTA GABA but not dopamine neurons integrate positive and negative valence to encode motivational conflic...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Translation: partisan appointees overseeing ICOs can circumvent the peer review process by overriding Impact Scores when determining program grant paylines.
Result: ideological choice over merit, lobbying, and corruption.
Result: ideological choice over merit, lobbying, and corruption.
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Translation: partisan appointees overseeing ICOs can circumvent the peer review process by overriding Impact Scores when determining program grant paylines.
Result: ideological choice over merit, lobbying, and corruption.
Result: ideological choice over merit, lobbying, and corruption.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
No more paylines at the NIH
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
November 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
No more paylines at the NIH
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
we have PrEP because of these monkey studies. animal welfare in medical research is extremely strictly limited and regulated to ensure ethical use. there is no replacement for these animal models in biomedical research.
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
we have PrEP because of these monkey studies. animal welfare in medical research is extremely strictly limited and regulated to ensure ethical use. there is no replacement for these animal models in biomedical research.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
As the Neuroscience 2025 meeting comes to a close, it's time for us to think about the future. Do you want to help us shape neuroscience research and future @sfn.org meetings? Consider nominating yourself or colleagues: www.sfn.org/about/volunt...
Call for Nominations
www.sfn.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
As the Neuroscience 2025 meeting comes to a close, it's time for us to think about the future. Do you want to help us shape neuroscience research and future @sfn.org meetings? Consider nominating yourself or colleagues: www.sfn.org/about/volunt...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
We’ve thought a lot about how 💊 drugs act on dendrites of neurons, but what about when it is a 🧬 mutation that affects dendrites?
PhD student Hao Wu studied #Scn2a deficiency in mice. Just out at @pnas.org, her research led to two major findings.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
1/6
PhD student Hao Wu studied #Scn2a deficiency in mice. Just out at @pnas.org, her research led to two major findings.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
1/6
Autism-associated Scn2a haploinsufficiency disrupts in vivo dendritic signaling and impairs flexible decision-making | PNAS
SCN2A is a high-confidence risk gene for autism spectrum disorder. Loss-of-function
mutations in Scn2a reduce dendritic excitability in neocortical...
www.pnas.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We’ve thought a lot about how 💊 drugs act on dendrites of neurons, but what about when it is a 🧬 mutation that affects dendrites?
PhD student Hao Wu studied #Scn2a deficiency in mice. Just out at @pnas.org, her research led to two major findings.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
1/6
PhD student Hao Wu studied #Scn2a deficiency in mice. Just out at @pnas.org, her research led to two major findings.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
1/6