Matt Wanat
@mattjwanat.bsky.social
Nerding out to neuroscience since 2002. Studying the neurobiology of motivated behavior by day. Running, hiking, eating, and camping by night.
www.wanatlab.org
www.wanatlab.org
Pinned
Matt Wanat
@mattjwanat.bsky.social
· Jul 16
Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning
Neuropsychopharmacology - Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning
nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
Ever wonder how stress and the estrous cycle affects reward learning? Well we have answers for you in our paper led by @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social published in
@npp-journal.bsky.social
And huge thanks to the NIH and NSF who supported this research.
@npp-journal.bsky.social
And huge thanks to the NIH and NSF who supported this research.
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Very excited to post our paper led by @daburke.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... where we uncover a simple mathematical rule underlying how brains learn that a cue predicts a reward. 1/26
Duration between rewards controls the rate of behavioral and dopaminergic learning - Nature Neuroscience
Cue–reward learning rate scales proportionally with the time between rewards. Consequently, learning over a fixed duration is independent of the number of trials. This challenges trial-based dopamine ...
www.nature.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Very excited to post our paper led by @daburke.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... where we uncover a simple mathematical rule underlying how brains learn that a cue predicts a reward. 1/26
PSA on PMC compliance with accepted manuscripts at journals with a publishing embargo. Apparently you need to upload a version of the manuscript yourself and the paper will get a PMC number. This original PMC will the get overwritten by another PMC number when the embargo is lifted
a rainbow and a star with the words " i know you know "
ALT: a rainbow and a star with the words " i know you know "
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
PSA on PMC compliance with accepted manuscripts at journals with a publishing embargo. Apparently you need to upload a version of the manuscript yourself and the paper will get a PMC number. This original PMC will the get overwritten by another PMC number when the embargo is lifted
Reposted by Matt Wanat
4,049 and counting.
Attrition is real and ongoing.
Schedule career / policy, the new pmap rationing, deranging the MSPB, ...
Attrition is real and ongoing.
Schedule career / policy, the new pmap rationing, deranging the MSPB, ...
4,049 people gone from NIH compared to 2024, an 18% loss in staff.
www.medpagetoday.com/washington-w...
www.medpagetoday.com/washington-w...
Here's How Many Jobs HHS Has Lost Since RFK Jr. Took Over
See the totals from NIH, FDA, CDC, and CMS, too
www.medpagetoday.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:43 AM
4,049 and counting.
Attrition is real and ongoing.
Schedule career / policy, the new pmap rationing, deranging the MSPB, ...
Attrition is real and ongoing.
Schedule career / policy, the new pmap rationing, deranging the MSPB, ...
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Don’t get me started on the hypocrisy of this organization aligning with the current NIH/HHS “leaders”: kill all the animals you want to eat more and more animal flesh and fat but it is unethical to use animals for life saving medical research
February 10, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Don’t get me started on the hypocrisy of this organization aligning with the current NIH/HHS “leaders”: kill all the animals you want to eat more and more animal flesh and fat but it is unethical to use animals for life saving medical research
Reposted by Matt Wanat
$1.65M per day in DC alone. That’s approximately two NIH R01 Grant *years* burned per day. Ninety *five year* R01s projects burned in the last seven months with no end in sight.
Instead of lasting scientific advance we get….what?
Civil rights violations and authoritarian replacement of democracy.
Instead of lasting scientific advance we get….what?
Civil rights violations and authoritarian replacement of democracy.
A new report from Democratic members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee finds that the deployment of the National Guard in D.C. is costing $1.65 million a day, and over seven months has hit $332 million. The report is here: hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/upl…
February 9, 2026 at 5:32 PM
$1.65M per day in DC alone. That’s approximately two NIH R01 Grant *years* burned per day. Ninety *five year* R01s projects burned in the last seven months with no end in sight.
Instead of lasting scientific advance we get….what?
Civil rights violations and authoritarian replacement of democracy.
Instead of lasting scientific advance we get….what?
Civil rights violations and authoritarian replacement of democracy.
No matter who you are cheering for this Super Bowl I hope at this we all can agree that Chris Collinsworth should not be announcing this game
February 9, 2026 at 12:52 AM
No matter who you are cheering for this Super Bowl I hope at this we all can agree that Chris Collinsworth should not be announcing this game
Reposted by Matt Wanat
👇New biosketch requirement update.
“After evaluating the number and types of recent technical inquiries we received to both the SciENcv and eRA Service Desks, we recognize the difficulties these issues have had on the community’s ability to comply with the original timeline of January 25, 2026.”
👇
“After evaluating the number and types of recent technical inquiries we received to both the SciENcv and eRA Service Desks, we recognize the difficulties these issues have had on the community’s ability to comply with the original timeline of January 25, 2026.”
👇
"NIH will provide a warning when the Common Forms are not used but will not withdraw applications that don’t comply with the use of the Common Forms. We expect the leniency to be in place through May 2026"
grants.nih.gov/faqs#/common...
grants.nih.gov/faqs#/common...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
January 29, 2026 at 10:08 PM
👇New biosketch requirement update.
“After evaluating the number and types of recent technical inquiries we received to both the SciENcv and eRA Service Desks, we recognize the difficulties these issues have had on the community’s ability to comply with the original timeline of January 25, 2026.”
👇
“After evaluating the number and types of recent technical inquiries we received to both the SciENcv and eRA Service Desks, we recognize the difficulties these issues have had on the community’s ability to comply with the original timeline of January 25, 2026.”
👇
Reposted by Matt Wanat
We could all use some extra stress #resilience rn. But how does it work in the brain? On the surface, resilience looks like ignoring stress. Does the brain fail to respond? Or are active adaptations required? Or are resilience and susceptibility divergent paths? doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116867
January 24, 2026 at 1:14 PM
We could all use some extra stress #resilience rn. But how does it work in the brain? On the surface, resilience looks like ignoring stress. Does the brain fail to respond? Or are active adaptations required? Or are resilience and susceptibility divergent paths? doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116867
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Okay #WCBR2026...this time I'm not messing around, bringing my own karaoke machine to this meeting. Get ready to rock!
a man singing into a microphone in front of a sign that says karaoke time !
Alt: a man singing into a microphone in front of a sign that says karaoke time !
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Okay #WCBR2026...this time I'm not messing around, bringing my own karaoke machine to this meeting. Get ready to rock!
Reposted by Matt Wanat
The language in the bill restricts the amount of multiyear funding to the level is fiscal year 2025. The Senate bill limited it to that level in fiscal year 2024.
This is not good news...better than nothing, but thousands of lost projects.
3/5
This is not good news...better than nothing, but thousands of lost projects.
3/5
January 20, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The language in the bill restricts the amount of multiyear funding to the level is fiscal year 2025. The Senate bill limited it to that level in fiscal year 2024.
This is not good news...better than nothing, but thousands of lost projects.
3/5
This is not good news...better than nothing, but thousands of lost projects.
3/5
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Just spoke to The Hill about how the dismantling of the NIH is impacting science in America. We still face a cliff of unfathomable heights, w easily 1000+ labs poised to close in the next year due to funding ending. A generation of young scientists lost because there is nowhere for them to train.
January 20, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Just spoke to The Hill about how the dismantling of the NIH is impacting science in America. We still face a cliff of unfathomable heights, w easily 1000+ labs poised to close in the next year due to funding ending. A generation of young scientists lost because there is nowhere for them to train.
Reposted by Matt Wanat
I edited a special issue of Addiction Neuroscience on dopamine circuitry & heterogeneity in addiction - now complete!🧠🧪
Check out the full issue & my editorial (all open access) here: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Check out the full issue & my editorial (all open access) here: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Addiction Neuroscience | Dopamine circuitry and heterogeneity in addiction | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
The heterogeneity of midbrain dopamine neurons is coming into focus. Distinct subtypes of dopamine neurons can be identified across the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta ...
www.sciencedirect.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:11 PM
I edited a special issue of Addiction Neuroscience on dopamine circuitry & heterogeneity in addiction - now complete!🧠🧪
Check out the full issue & my editorial (all open access) here: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Check out the full issue & my editorial (all open access) here: www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Reposted by Matt Wanat
My (now) weekly update on 2026 NIH funding.
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
January 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
My (now) weekly update on 2026 NIH funding.
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
January 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
Reposted by Matt Wanat
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 Matt Wanat
Heads up I will be hiring a postdoc and some techs in the new year! Lots of ephys and fiber photometry. If you've got soon to graduate PhD students or undergrads, send 'em my way!
December 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Heads up I will be hiring a postdoc and some techs in the new year! Lots of ephys and fiber photometry. If you've got soon to graduate PhD students or undergrads, send 'em my way!
Reposted by Matt Wanat
My first funding curve post for Fiscal Year 2026
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
December 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My first funding curve post for Fiscal Year 2026
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
It is also real buggy right now and hopefully it gets better when/if it moves out of beta
There is apparently no point in checking out the "preview" to get ahead of the Biosketch game because it warns you that everything you fill in will be lost and you will have to start over when the real thing is rolled out.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-018: NIHs Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2026
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: NIHs Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or...
grants.nih.gov
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
It is also real buggy right now and hopefully it gets better when/if it moves out of beta
Reposted by Matt Wanat
Hey look, Notice on Implementation of Common Forms Biosketch and Other Support for Due Dates on/after Jan 25, 2026. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-018: NIHs Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2026
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: NIHs Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or...
grants.nih.gov
December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Hey look, Notice on Implementation of Common Forms Biosketch and Other Support for Due Dates on/after Jan 25, 2026. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Reposted by Matt Wanat
This is the most mind boggling data in this article
47% ⬇️ in NIAAA
43% ⬇️ MH
etc
🤯😔
47% ⬇️ in NIAAA
43% ⬇️ MH
etc
🤯😔
This is an important and information rich article. I wondered about the effects by Institute. The table below (which is snipped here but is in the article) has that info. Broken down by # of grants and $ amounts.
December 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This is the most mind boggling data in this article
47% ⬇️ in NIAAA
43% ⬇️ MH
etc
🤯😔
47% ⬇️ in NIAAA
43% ⬇️ MH
etc
🤯😔
Reposted by Matt Wanat
New York Times article on science funding with some depressing but familiar curves with interactive graphics.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article)
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
New York Times article on science funding with some depressing but familiar curves with interactive graphics.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Matt Wanat
🙏 @sfnjournals.bsky.social now out! & while celltype &ephys are alike across sexes, behavioral functions and axon terminal distribution in NAc and brainwide diverge by sex and #stress. @ladenardo.bsky.social
#JNeurosci | Taniguchi, Goodpaster et al. found structural and functional differences between sexes in a reward-related brain pathway—a pathway that previous research showed is affected by early life adversity in males but not females.
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1239-25.2025
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1239-25.2025
December 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
🙏 @sfnjournals.bsky.social now out! & while celltype &ephys are alike across sexes, behavioral functions and axon terminal distribution in NAc and brainwide diverge by sex and #stress. @ladenardo.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Wanat
GIF THREAD ALERT – With pleasure, we present our @SfNJournals #JNeurosci article www.jneurosci.org/content/45/4... by my grad student Jackson Schumacher and former post doc Mieke Van Holstein
Whats The Buzz Whats Happening GIF
ALT: Whats The Buzz Whats Happening GIF
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
GIF THREAD ALERT – With pleasure, we present our @SfNJournals #JNeurosci article www.jneurosci.org/content/45/4... by my grad student Jackson Schumacher and former post doc Mieke Van Holstein
So this week I learned that Caprock Canyon state park is pretty sweet
November 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
So this week I learned that Caprock Canyon state park is pretty sweet