Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
@markgbaxter.bsky.social
Neuroscientist (PhD) interested in brain mechanisms of learning and memory. NHP anesthesiologist. Associate stats gay. 🏳️⚧️ Trans rights are human rights. No LGB without the T. He/him. 🏳️🌈
okay I mocked this relentlessly based on the ad but it's really cute 😆
December 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
okay I mocked this relentlessly based on the ad but it's really cute 😆
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
okay we are all tired of the debate over whether "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. But have you considered "The Bourne Identity"? Jason Bourne is a Christlike figure who is resurrected and must atone for his sinful past. Also: There is a Christmas tree.
December 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
okay we are all tired of the debate over whether "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. But have you considered "The Bourne Identity"? Jason Bourne is a Christlike figure who is resurrected and must atone for his sinful past. Also: There is a Christmas tree.
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
made a trip to Cerebral Brewing which has perhaps the best named beer for a neuroscientist #neuroskyence
December 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
made a trip to Cerebral Brewing which has perhaps the best named beer for a neuroscientist #neuroskyence
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
Apropos of nothing I was reminded of this quote today by Bernard Shaw:
“Do not wrestle a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
“Do not wrestle a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
a man in a black hat is pointing at a man in a white hat
ALT: a man in a black hat is pointing at a man in a white hat
media.tenor.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Apropos of nothing I was reminded of this quote today by Bernard Shaw:
“Do not wrestle a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
“Do not wrestle a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
"what is a nutcracker if not teeth? ... very 'A Marvel Christmas'" - @danpsimpson.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 4:41 AM
"what is a nutcracker if not teeth? ... very 'A Marvel Christmas'" - @danpsimpson.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
This is exactly why people claiming "it came up with a new set of experiments/ideas/concepts" are carrying water for the weasels trying to put genAI on everything. This is how we get science defunded. This is how your colleagues lose their jobs 🧪
Suppose you ask #AI for improvements to your writing.
The #LLM was trained on, but doesn’t mention, Smith’s work.
You adopt the suggestions containing Smith’s ideas.
You don’t even realize YOU’VE PLAGIARIZED because you’ve never read or heard of Smith.
The #LLM was trained on, but doesn’t mention, Smith’s work.
You adopt the suggestions containing Smith’s ideas.
You don’t even realize YOU’VE PLAGIARIZED because you’ve never read or heard of Smith.
LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem
Nature Machine Intelligence - LLM use in scholarly writing poses a provenance problem
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is exactly why people claiming "it came up with a new set of experiments/ideas/concepts" are carrying water for the weasels trying to put genAI on everything. This is how we get science defunded. This is how your colleagues lose their jobs 🧪
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
New paper out from the lab. Tahi Khan, David McFall, and team (1) found increased senescent cells in hippocampus from individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and in mice after status epilepticus, (2) cleared senescent cells using two strategies & reduced seizures and cognitive impairment in mice.
Senescent Cell Clearance Ameliorates Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Associated Spatial Memory Deficits in Mice
Objective The pharmacological treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures and cognitive dysfunction, is limited to symptomatic control. Identifying nove...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
New paper out from the lab. Tahi Khan, David McFall, and team (1) found increased senescent cells in hippocampus from individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and in mice after status epilepticus, (2) cleared senescent cells using two strategies & reduced seizures and cognitive impairment in mice.
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
I really liked this paper - data supporting super interesting idea that Alzheimer's disease pathology may have evolved as part of an innate immune defense response to microbial infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Phosphorylated tau exhibits antimicrobial activity capable of neutralizing herpes simplex virus 1 infectivity in human neurons - Nature Neuroscience
The authors found that the Alzheimer’s disease-associated protein tau, widely considered pathogenic when hyperphosphorylated, has a natural function as part of the innate immune system in the brain an...
www.nature.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I really liked this paper - data supporting super interesting idea that Alzheimer's disease pathology may have evolved as part of an innate immune defense response to microbial infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
In case you need a last minute gift for a sciency colleague or yourself, the pink and purple action potentials / HRFs are somehow still in the shop! On sale too! These colors are usually first to be snagged! www.brainedglass.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
In case you need a last minute gift for a sciency colleague or yourself, the pink and purple action potentials / HRFs are somehow still in the shop! On sale too! These colors are usually first to be snagged! www.brainedglass.com
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
Here is some gold-standard science to pay attention to. “The bottom line: Trans children who change their mind and ‘detransition’ are a stark minority.” www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Here is some gold-standard science to pay attention to. “The bottom line: Trans children who change their mind and ‘detransition’ are a stark minority.” www.popsci.com/science/tran...
Jesus Christ.
Large-Scale Brain Networks Track Gasoline Price Shifts https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.16.694768v1
December 20, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Jesus Christ.
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
How are people dealing with AI use in their grad programs, specifically for thesis proposal, qualifying exam, dissertation? Banned completely? Allowed, but have to recognize its use? No guardrails at all? We have to develop a policy and I’m totally at a loss.
December 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
How are people dealing with AI use in their grad programs, specifically for thesis proposal, qualifying exam, dissertation? Banned completely? Allowed, but have to recognize its use? No guardrails at all? We have to develop a policy and I’m totally at a loss.
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
If there is any non-nefarious justification for refusing to admit something is AI generated, I haven't heard it.
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
December 17, 2025 at 9:34 PM
If there is any non-nefarious justification for refusing to admit something is AI generated, I haven't heard it.
pro tip: a little consideration goes a long way, especially when you're interacting with the only person that can produce the data analyses and graphics you need
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
pro tip: a little consideration goes a long way, especially when you're interacting with the only person that can produce the data analyses and graphics you need
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
This
December 17, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This
I guess this third round of revisions is going into 2026.
December 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I guess this third round of revisions is going into 2026.
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
Thanks Alex for writing this (& acknowledging AI help) but if I may be a contrarian for a change😂 rumors that many think basic science has not advanced treatment are highly exaggerated and are advanced to increase podcast listeners or sell books
And to this list I'd add Xanomeline-Trospium for SZ
And to this list I'd add Xanomeline-Trospium for SZ
“Basic neuroscience hasn’t produced new drugs.” 💊
Not true - zuranolone (PPD), suzetrigine (pain), gepants (migraine), and more... were born out of a long arc of studies in the lab.
I wrote a Perspective on why this matters. @thetransmitter.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/drug-develop...
Not true - zuranolone (PPD), suzetrigine (pain), gepants (migraine), and more... were born out of a long arc of studies in the lab.
I wrote a Perspective on why this matters. @thetransmitter.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/drug-develop...
How basic neuroscience has paved the path to new drugs
A growing list of medications—such as zuranolone for postpartum depression, suzetrigine for pain, and the gepants class of migraine medicines—exist because of insights from basic research.
www.thetransmitter.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Thanks Alex for writing this (& acknowledging AI help) but if I may be a contrarian for a change😂 rumors that many think basic science has not advanced treatment are highly exaggerated and are advanced to increase podcast listeners or sell books
And to this list I'd add Xanomeline-Trospium for SZ
And to this list I'd add Xanomeline-Trospium for SZ
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
We are looking for a talented neuroscience research technician to join our lab at Columbia University! This is an ideal position for a recent college graduate interested in pursuing hands-on research for 2 years before applying to PhD programs.
opportunities.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
opportunities.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
Research Staff Assistant - Manhattanville, New York, United States
Job Type: Support Staff - Non-Union
Bargaining Unit:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule:
Building: Jerome L. Greene Science Center
Salary Range...
opportunities.columbia.edu
December 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
We are looking for a talented neuroscience research technician to join our lab at Columbia University! This is an ideal position for a recent college graduate interested in pursuing hands-on research for 2 years before applying to PhD programs.
opportunities.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
opportunities.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job...
the day today
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
the day today
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
absolutely losing it at my 14yo's biology homework
December 15, 2025 at 2:02 AM
absolutely losing it at my 14yo's biology homework
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
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 Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
Delighted to share our latest article on brain mechanisms of pain, appetitive & aversive learning, led by @yilizhao.bsky.social & In-seon Lee, out now in @sfnjournals.bsky.social! We show that brain mechanisms of expectancy are domain general, not unique to pain! www.jneurosci.org/content/earl...
December 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Delighted to share our latest article on brain mechanisms of pain, appetitive & aversive learning, led by @yilizhao.bsky.social & In-seon Lee, out now in @sfnjournals.bsky.social! We show that brain mechanisms of expectancy are domain general, not unique to pain! www.jneurosci.org/content/earl...
Reposted by Mark Baxter 🏳️🌈🧂
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