Jonathan A. Michaels
@jonathanamichaels.bsky.social
How do we move? I study brains and machines at York University (Assistant Professor). Full-time human.
Neural Control & Computation Lab
www.ncclab.ca
Neural Control & Computation Lab
www.ncclab.ca
Pinned
Sensory expectations shape neural population dynamics in motor circuits
Nature - Experiments with human volunteers and macaques show that expectations produced by probabilistic cueing of future sensory inputs shape motor circuit dynamics in order to increase the...
www.nature.com
Thrilled that our paper is out today in Nature!
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
www.nature.com/articles/s4...
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
1. Headlines everywhere today read "Grok apologizes."
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
January 3, 2026 at 12:12 AM
1. Headlines everywhere today read "Grok apologizes."
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
This is bullshit. A chatbot is not something that can apologize.
Pretending otherwise is simple laundering these companies' bullshit about what AI is, while diffusing blame away from the human beings that developed and released this system.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
As of today, I am a FULL professor. I do not care much for occupational status markers. Still, it is not lost on me that only 2% of full professors are Black women. This goes beyond personal accomplishment. It is a responsibility to do as much as I can for others. That is exactly what I aim to do.
January 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
As of today, I am a FULL professor. I do not care much for occupational status markers. Still, it is not lost on me that only 2% of full professors are Black women. This goes beyond personal accomplishment. It is a responsibility to do as much as I can for others. That is exactly what I aim to do.
To share some good vibes going into the new year. I performed some more piano solo music with my orchestra! The music was challenging but rewarding.
December 31, 2025 at 8:34 PM
To share some good vibes going into the new year. I performed some more piano solo music with my orchestra! The music was challenging but rewarding.
Best email you can get from a student –
"I have been re-excited about the brain."
"I have been re-excited about the brain."
December 31, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Best email you can get from a student –
"I have been re-excited about the brain."
"I have been re-excited about the brain."
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
I saw an academic unironically suggest that instead of assessing students’ understanding and competence through their writing of essays, arguments etc., we can assess the “quality” of their prompts, and I feel us slipping further and further into dystopia.
December 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I saw an academic unironically suggest that instead of assessing students’ understanding and competence through their writing of essays, arguments etc., we can assess the “quality” of their prompts, and I feel us slipping further and further into dystopia.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
For several of my friends, this will be the 1st Christmas after losing a loved one. I'm sure there are some of you in the same boat.
I've been there myself, too many times. It's hard in so many ways to deal with a loss like that, especially when ppl all around you are celebrating. This is for you:
I've been there myself, too many times. It's hard in so many ways to deal with a loss like that, especially when ppl all around you are celebrating. This is for you:
December 25, 2025 at 1:06 AM
For several of my friends, this will be the 1st Christmas after losing a loved one. I'm sure there are some of you in the same boat.
I've been there myself, too many times. It's hard in so many ways to deal with a loss like that, especially when ppl all around you are celebrating. This is for you:
I've been there myself, too many times. It's hard in so many ways to deal with a loss like that, especially when ppl all around you are celebrating. This is for you:
Muppet Treasure Island is a fantastic christmas movie. I will not be taking comments.
December 25, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Muppet Treasure Island is a fantastic christmas movie. I will not be taking comments.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
Context-dependent low-dimensional neural dynamics unfold in distinct subspaces, dimensionality, and dynamical strength for natural walking and reaching https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.19.695640v1
December 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Context-dependent low-dimensional neural dynamics unfold in distinct subspaces, dimensionality, and dynamical strength for natural walking and reaching https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.19.695640v1
No underground oceans on Titan 😔, but probably some mushy pockets!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Titan’s strong tidal dissipation precludes a subsurface ocean - Nature
Reanalysis of radiometric data from Cassini indicates that Titan does not contain a subsurface ocean, as strong tidal dissipation observed in its gravity field is not consistent with the presence of a...
www.nature.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
No underground oceans on Titan 😔, but probably some mushy pockets!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 12:50 AM
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
Interested in applying to come to Canada for a fully funded PhD or Postdoc?
Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards: nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/canada-i...
Reach out if you’re interested in opportunities for using large-scale electrophysiology to understand neural computation and movement.
Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards: nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/canada-i...
Reach out if you’re interested in opportunities for using large-scale electrophysiology to understand neural computation and movement.
December 20, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Interested in applying to come to Canada for a fully funded PhD or Postdoc?
Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards: nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/canada-i...
Reach out if you’re interested in opportunities for using large-scale electrophysiology to understand neural computation and movement.
Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards: nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/canada-i...
Reach out if you’re interested in opportunities for using large-scale electrophysiology to understand neural computation and movement.
I tested ChatGPT and Gemini on explaining this meme. ChatGPT failed pretty hard and started gaslighting me. Gemini’s response was spot on.
December 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I tested ChatGPT and Gemini on explaining this meme. ChatGPT failed pretty hard and started gaslighting me. Gemini’s response was spot on.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
Great to see this paper on sensory expectations in motor control from @jonathanamichaels.bsky.social and @andpru.bsky.social out in Nature today!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience 🧪
Sensory expectations shape neural population dynamics in motor circuits - Nature
Experiments with human volunteers and macaques show that expectations produced by probabilistic cueing of future sensory inputs shape motor circuit dynamics in order to increase the efficiency of move...
www.nature.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Great to see this paper on sensory expectations in motor control from @jonathanamichaels.bsky.social and @andpru.bsky.social out in Nature today!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroscience 🧪
Evenings are the time when PIs rattle off dozens of philosophical emails to their collaborators and trainees and then fall asleep.
December 17, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Evenings are the time when PIs rattle off dozens of philosophical emails to their collaborators and trainees and then fall asleep.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
The rest of the media was totally irresponsible for not running with this headline: novaramedia.com/2025/12/15/n...
Nazi’s Son Wins Chilean Presidency | Novara Media
Ultra-conservative candidate José Antonio Kast, whose father was a member of the Nazi party, has achieved a massive victory in Chile, prompting celebration from the international far right. Phineas Ru...
novaramedia.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The rest of the media was totally irresponsible for not running with this headline: novaramedia.com/2025/12/15/n...
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
LLMs.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
Murder-suicide case shows OpenAI selectively hides data after users die
OpenAI accused of hiding full ChatGPT logs in murder-suicide case.
arstechnica.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:36 AM
LLMs.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
They promote suicide and murder, undermine a century of educational practice, drive deskilling, harm the environment, and benefit foreign adversaries spreading disinformation.
But the federal government wants to prohibit states from regulating them.
You'd think they were guns.
Read the whole article for yourself. But, what I see here is the story of someone longing to accept himself – and deeply wanting others to see their own human dignity. Empathy requires projection.
Incredible piece on Oliver Sacks. If you were ever awed at his supposedly true stories (I remember being stunned by the account of the autistic twins who rattled off large prime numbers), read this. He told wonderful stories, but they were in large part fiction.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Oliver Sacks Put Himself Into His Case Studies. What Was the Cost?
The scientist was famous for linking healing with storytelling. Sometimes that meant reshaping patients’ reality.
www.newyorker.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Read the whole article for yourself. But, what I see here is the story of someone longing to accept himself – and deeply wanting others to see their own human dignity. Empathy requires projection.
Now published in the Journal of Neurophysiology:
journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
Get in touch if you think this tool could help in your science! We will be developing improvements and extensions over the next year.
journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
Get in touch if you think this tool could help in your science! We will be developing improvements and extensions over the next year.
December 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Now published in the Journal of Neurophysiology:
journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
Get in touch if you think this tool could help in your science! We will be developing improvements and extensions over the next year.
journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
Get in touch if you think this tool could help in your science! We will be developing improvements and extensions over the next year.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
We at COMPERE (www.compere.ca) have launched our 2026 funding round for Canadian-led motor neuroscience projects. Details here, contact me if you have questions. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Funding Call 2026
Funding Opportunity: Collaboration on Motor Planning, Execution, and Resilience With support from the Azrieli Foundation, the Collaboration on Motor Planning, Execution, and Resilience (COMPERE) is e...
docs.google.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We at COMPERE (www.compere.ca) have launched our 2026 funding round for Canadian-led motor neuroscience projects. Details here, contact me if you have questions. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
What’s the best way to get funding in Canada?
Easy, just don’t be in Canada but then come to Canada.
Easy, just don’t be in Canada but then come to Canada.
It's happening! Canada launched two programs to recruit international researchers.
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (1 million/yr for 8 yrs +)
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders.
I will do my best to facilitate the process for those interested. Hit me up.
www.canada.ca/en/impact-pl...
The Government of Canada introduces new programs for international researchers - Canada.ca
www.canada.ca
December 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
What’s the best way to get funding in Canada?
Easy, just don’t be in Canada but then come to Canada.
Easy, just don’t be in Canada but then come to Canada.
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
📣We have 2 open faculty positions for senior researchers in Neuroscience at Queen's University!
healthsci.queensu.ca/administrati...
1. a new Director for our Centre for Neuroscience Studies
2. a non-human primate NeuroAI researcher
Please share widely and reach out for questions!
healthsci.queensu.ca/administrati...
1. a new Director for our Centre for Neuroscience Studies
2. a non-human primate NeuroAI researcher
Please share widely and reach out for questions!
Administrative Opportunities
healthsci.queensu.ca
December 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
📣We have 2 open faculty positions for senior researchers in Neuroscience at Queen's University!
healthsci.queensu.ca/administrati...
1. a new Director for our Centre for Neuroscience Studies
2. a non-human primate NeuroAI researcher
Please share widely and reach out for questions!
healthsci.queensu.ca/administrati...
1. a new Director for our Centre for Neuroscience Studies
2. a non-human primate NeuroAI researcher
Please share widely and reach out for questions!
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
Watching both sides of the issue
December 8, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Watching both sides of the issue
Reposted by Jonathan A. Michaels
1/ More than 35 years ago, 14 women lost their lives in École Polytechnique in Montreal as a result of anti-feminist violence. Today, across the country, we honour their memories, say their names, and re-commit to the collective work of changing the conditions that enabled their deaths.
December 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
1/ More than 35 years ago, 14 women lost their lives in École Polytechnique in Montreal as a result of anti-feminist violence. Today, across the country, we honour their memories, say their names, and re-commit to the collective work of changing the conditions that enabled their deaths.