Kurt Fraser
@kurtfraser.bsky.social
Brain scientist, tall human, dog owner in the twin cities
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Thrilled to share our new paper, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, uncovering how estradiol, the most potent estrogen, modulates reinforcement learning and reward prediction errors across biological levels. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#blueprint 1/7
#blueprint 1/7
Estrogen modulates reward prediction errors and reinforcement learning - Nature Neuroscience
Dopamine encoding of reward prediction errors naturally fluctuates over females’ reproductive cycles with estrogenic signaling due to reduced expression of dopamine reuptake proteins.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Thrilled to share our new paper, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, uncovering how estradiol, the most potent estrogen, modulates reinforcement learning and reward prediction errors across biological levels. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#blueprint 1/7
#blueprint 1/7
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
A Distinct Subpopulation of Extended Amygdala Neurons Drives Food Intake https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.07.685941v1
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A Distinct Subpopulation of Extended Amygdala Neurons Drives Food Intake https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.07.685941v1
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
How do VTA DA neurons sculpt downstream representations to reinforce actions? VERY excited about our new preprint (by Alex Pan Vazquez & @czimmerman.bsky.social )
VTA dopamine neuron activity produces spatially organized value representations https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.685995v1
November 7, 2025 at 8:46 PM
How do VTA DA neurons sculpt downstream representations to reinforce actions? VERY excited about our new preprint (by Alex Pan Vazquez & @czimmerman.bsky.social )
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Here's a crazy tool to help you identify gaps in your manuscript: Send it to 2 trusted colleagues to read, meet for one hour with snacks and drinks to discuss. Doing this vs using an LLM is a choice.
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Here's a crazy tool to help you identify gaps in your manuscript: Send it to 2 trusted colleagues to read, meet for one hour with snacks and drinks to discuss. Doing this vs using an LLM is a choice.
Sad that even biorxiv is falling victim to AI slop
Excited to launch an openRxiv partnership with the scientist-run AI review service qed (@qedscience.bsky.social), the brainchild of @odedrechavi.bsky.social 1/n
openrxiv.org/enabling-rev...
openrxiv.org/enabling-rev...
Enabling options for review: from training and transparency to author-centered AI tools - openRxiv
Peer review is widely viewed as a critical aspect of biomedical communication. Ideally, it provides authors with feedback so they can improve manuscripts and gives readers, particularly nonspecialists...
openrxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Sad that even biorxiv is falling victim to AI slop
can someone in canada explain to me this release of all information from tri-agency review? is this happening? concerned as a new to the system reviewer
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
can someone in canada explain to me this release of all information from tri-agency review? is this happening? concerned as a new to the system reviewer
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Excited to share new research from my lab in final published form! By deleting hypocretin (orexin) receptors from CRF neurons, we uncovered neuropeptide mechanisms linking alcohol drinking and negative emotional hyperarousal through BNST neuronal excitability.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Excited to share new research from my lab in final published form! By deleting hypocretin (orexin) receptors from CRF neurons, we uncovered neuropeptide mechanisms linking alcohol drinking and negative emotional hyperarousal through BNST neuronal excitability.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
We’re hiring a technician!!
We’re an inclusive team of behavioral neuroscientists trying to discover the brain circuits of learning, decision making, and habit. More info👇
wassumlab.psych.ucla.edu/join-the-lab/
Job posting:
jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/8968
We’re an inclusive team of behavioral neuroscientists trying to discover the brain circuits of learning, decision making, and habit. More info👇
wassumlab.psych.ucla.edu/join-the-lab/
Job posting:
jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/8968
November 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
We’re hiring a technician!!
We’re an inclusive team of behavioral neuroscientists trying to discover the brain circuits of learning, decision making, and habit. More info👇
wassumlab.psych.ucla.edu/join-the-lab/
Job posting:
jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/8968
We’re an inclusive team of behavioral neuroscientists trying to discover the brain circuits of learning, decision making, and habit. More info👇
wassumlab.psych.ucla.edu/join-the-lab/
Job posting:
jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/8968
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Eleven stained glass action potentials available now! (One rainbow brain still in the shop too). www.brainedglass.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Eleven stained glass action potentials available now! (One rainbow brain still in the shop too). www.brainedglass.com
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Sex differences in task engagement and lapse rate during reward learning plateaus https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.29.685451v1
October 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sex differences in task engagement and lapse rate during reward learning plateaus https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.29.685451v1
Babe wake up CoStar is doing new wave learning theory
October 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Babe wake up CoStar is doing new wave learning theory
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Zara Weinberg was a brilliant light both in and out of science. She changed the lives of everyone she interacted and loved for the better. Her legacy will live on through all of us and we will fight for a better world on behalf of her memory.
October 30, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Zara Weinberg was a brilliant light both in and out of science. She changed the lives of everyone she interacted and loved for the better. Her legacy will live on through all of us and we will fight for a better world on behalf of her memory.
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Zara Weinberg was a brilliant, loving, and beautiful woman. She inspired everyone who she interacted with, and always strived to make the world a better place for everyone. Tho the world is a little less bright today without her, her memory will always be a blessing.
She was truly one of the best.
She was truly one of the best.
October 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Zara Weinberg was a brilliant, loving, and beautiful woman. She inspired everyone who she interacted with, and always strived to make the world a better place for everyone. Tho the world is a little less bright today without her, her memory will always be a blessing.
She was truly one of the best.
She was truly one of the best.
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
ATTN: Two faculty positions are available in my department (neuroscience) at the University of Minnesota. This is a general search with no topic focus. November 20th application deadline.
Apply here: hr.umn.edu/jobs/Find-Job
Assistant Prof job code: 364920
Associate/Full Prof job code: 364921
Apply here: hr.umn.edu/jobs/Find-Job
Assistant Prof job code: 364920
Associate/Full Prof job code: 364921
October 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM
ATTN: Two faculty positions are available in my department (neuroscience) at the University of Minnesota. This is a general search with no topic focus. November 20th application deadline.
Apply here: hr.umn.edu/jobs/Find-Job
Assistant Prof job code: 364920
Associate/Full Prof job code: 364921
Apply here: hr.umn.edu/jobs/Find-Job
Assistant Prof job code: 364920
Associate/Full Prof job code: 364921
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
We are hiring for a PhD-level Staff Scientist to join our teams in the Translational Neuroscience Division @lieberinstitute.bsky.social. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of human 🧠 neuroanatomy and molecular neuroscience
recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/j...
recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/j...
Lieber Institute For Brain Development - Staff Scientist I, Translational Neuroscience
A little about us:The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 to plot a new course in biomedical research that would change the lives of individuals affected with develop...
recruiting.paylocity.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We are hiring for a PhD-level Staff Scientist to join our teams in the Translational Neuroscience Division @lieberinstitute.bsky.social. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of human 🧠 neuroanatomy and molecular neuroscience
recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/j...
recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/j...
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Sharing this post-doc opportunity to work with one of my favorite humans, Nick Gilpin at LSU! Besides getting to do amazing neuroscience research, you get to live in New Orleans!!!
October 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Sharing this post-doc opportunity to work with one of my favorite humans, Nick Gilpin at LSU! Besides getting to do amazing neuroscience research, you get to live in New Orleans!!!
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
ATTN neuroscience PhD prospectives! University of Minnesota Graduate Program in Neuroscience www.neuroscience.umn.edu is hosting a virtual open house event on Oct 30th, register here: forms.gle/wz7e3UVdsyNi...
Also say hi at upcoming grad fairs. Learn about the program & meet students & faculty!
Also say hi at upcoming grad fairs. Learn about the program & meet students & faculty!
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
ATTN neuroscience PhD prospectives! University of Minnesota Graduate Program in Neuroscience www.neuroscience.umn.edu is hosting a virtual open house event on Oct 30th, register here: forms.gle/wz7e3UVdsyNi...
Also say hi at upcoming grad fairs. Learn about the program & meet students & faculty!
Also say hi at upcoming grad fairs. Learn about the program & meet students & faculty!
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Our last virtual open house for the season for our University of Michigan #neuroscience #graduateprogram is Wednesday October 29th, from 7-8:30 PM EST. If you would like to join us, please register by 9 AM Wednesday by scanning the QR code below. 👇
Interested in #graduateprograms in #neuroscience? Come learn about our Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Michigan. We are offering virtual and in person opportunities to do so in October and November. #SfN2025 #SACNAS #ABRCMS
See flyer below and #GoBlue! 👇
See flyer below and #GoBlue! 👇
October 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Our last virtual open house for the season for our University of Michigan #neuroscience #graduateprogram is Wednesday October 29th, from 7-8:30 PM EST. If you would like to join us, please register by 9 AM Wednesday by scanning the QR code below. 👇
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
Visual Salience Controls the Speed of Evidence Accumulation in Value-Based Decisions by Rats https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.24.684442v1
October 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Visual Salience Controls the Speed of Evidence Accumulation in Value-Based Decisions by Rats https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.24.684442v1
New/majorly overhauled Fraser Lab website is live: fraserlab.psych.umn.edu
Working on RSS feed for pubs so ignore that page for now :)
Working on RSS feed for pubs so ignore that page for now :)
October 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New/majorly overhauled Fraser Lab website is live: fraserlab.psych.umn.edu
Working on RSS feed for pubs so ignore that page for now :)
Working on RSS feed for pubs so ignore that page for now :)
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
October 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
New from star grad student @m-meyer.bsky.social we wanted to study why delusions (and other beliefs) are so fixed. We turned to a generalization paradigm and the peak shift effect. Martin finds people with delusions over generalize causal relationships during learning: osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
October 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New from star grad student @m-meyer.bsky.social we wanted to study why delusions (and other beliefs) are so fixed. We turned to a generalization paradigm and the peak shift effect. Martin finds people with delusions over generalize causal relationships during learning: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Kurt Fraser
New paper from the lab 🚨
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New paper from the lab 🚨
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...