Martin J. Dahl
@mjdahl.bsky.social
research scientist interested in how our brain's neuromodulatory systems are linked to cognition
Lifespan Neuromodulation group (https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/line)
Max Planck Institute for Human Development & University of Southern California
Lifespan Neuromodulation group (https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/line)
Max Planck Institute for Human Development & University of Southern California
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Our paper and research on a #taVNS #MRI setup has now been published: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@nbkroemer.bsky.social @glassybrain.bsky.social
@nbkroemer.bsky.social @glassybrain.bsky.social
#TaVNS inside the MR scanner IS POSSIBLE! ⚡🧠
I hope that this paper and its guidance on the taVNS MRI set-up will help those planning concurrent #fMRI and #vagusnervstimulation
Checkout our new preprint
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Endless gratitude to @nbkroemer.bsky.social & @glassybrain.bsky.social
I hope that this paper and its guidance on the taVNS MRI set-up will help those planning concurrent #fMRI and #vagusnervstimulation
Checkout our new preprint
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Endless gratitude to @nbkroemer.bsky.social & @glassybrain.bsky.social
In our new preprint, we share insights on improvements to the conventional hardware used for concurrent fMRI + vagus nerve stimulation. It attenuates temperature increases and artifacts. #neuroskyence
Led by @glassybrain.bsky.social & @cogneuroludwig.bsky.social.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Led by @glassybrain.bsky.social & @cogneuroludwig.bsky.social.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 7, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Our paper and research on a #taVNS #MRI setup has now been published: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@nbkroemer.bsky.social @glassybrain.bsky.social
@nbkroemer.bsky.social @glassybrain.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Got with the times + made a BSky to share our new, large-scale spatial RNAseq study of adult human #locuscoeruleus! Co-1st auth and cryostat wizard @heenadivecha.bsky.social squeezed 85 tissue sections into 43 Visium arrays. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Impact of Alzheimer's disease risk factors and local neuromelanin content on the transcriptomic landscape of the human locus coeruleus
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small noradrenergic nucleus in the dorsal pons that sends projections across the brain regulating sleep, arousal, attention, stress responses, and some forms of cognition...
www.biorxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Got with the times + made a BSky to share our new, large-scale spatial RNAseq study of adult human #locuscoeruleus! Co-1st auth and cryostat wizard @heenadivecha.bsky.social squeezed 85 tissue sections into 43 Visium arrays. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Our paper on CSF, BOLD, pupil, and physiological measures in sleep deprivation and recovery sleep is finally out! 🎉 Congrats Zinong! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Attentional failures after sleep deprivation are locked to joint neurovascular, pupil and cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics - Nature Neuroscience
Yang et al. show that moments of failed attention we experience after sleep deprivation reflect brief ‘sleep-like’ episodes in the brain, corresponding to a brain- and body-wide event with altered bra...
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Our paper on CSF, BOLD, pupil, and physiological measures in sleep deprivation and recovery sleep is finally out! 🎉 Congrats Zinong! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
At #ICON? – Join us tomorrow to hear about novel measurement & manipulation approaches for neuromodulatory systems!
🗓️Sept 19,
🕚11:45 am
🏫Room Sé
#ICON2025 #CogNeuro #AcademicSky #LocusCoeruleus #neuroskyence
🗓️Sept 19,
🕚11:45 am
🏫Room Sé
#ICON2025 #CogNeuro #AcademicSky #LocusCoeruleus #neuroskyence
September 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
At #ICON? – Join us tomorrow to hear about novel measurement & manipulation approaches for neuromodulatory systems!
🗓️Sept 19,
🕚11:45 am
🏫Room Sé
#ICON2025 #CogNeuro #AcademicSky #LocusCoeruleus #neuroskyence
🗓️Sept 19,
🕚11:45 am
🏫Room Sé
#ICON2025 #CogNeuro #AcademicSky #LocusCoeruleus #neuroskyence
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
We showed previously that chemogenetic activation of the LC rescues spatial reversal learning in the TgF344-AD rat. New paper follows up and reports that optogenetic stimulation of LC terminals in CA1 also rescues cognitive deficits in 3xTg mouse model of AD. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Photostimulation of locus coeruleus CA1 catecholaminergic terminals reversed Spatial memory impairment in an alzheimer’s disease mouse model - Psychopharmacology
Rationale One of the earliest changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the loss of catecholaminergic terminals in the cortex and hippocampus originating from the Locus Coeruleus (LC). This ...
link.springer.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
We showed previously that chemogenetic activation of the LC rescues spatial reversal learning in the TgF344-AD rat. New paper follows up and reports that optogenetic stimulation of LC terminals in CA1 also rescues cognitive deficits in 3xTg mouse model of AD. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Adaptive learning is coordinated across behaviour, time and neurobiology (from synapses and dendrites, to astrocytes and the systems level).
If you’ve ever wondered how noradrenaline helps shape these multiscale learning processes, you might like this: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
If you’ve ever wondered how noradrenaline helps shape these multiscale learning processes, you might like this: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
August 29, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Adaptive learning is coordinated across behaviour, time and neurobiology (from synapses and dendrites, to astrocytes and the systems level).
If you’ve ever wondered how noradrenaline helps shape these multiscale learning processes, you might like this: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
If you’ve ever wondered how noradrenaline helps shape these multiscale learning processes, you might like this: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
New study out in Nature Medicine: Education does not protect against age-related decline of memory. Read more here: Reevaluating the role of education on cognitive decline and brain aging in longitudinal cohorts across 33 Western countries www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reevaluating the role of education on cognitive decline and brain aging in longitudinal cohorts across 33 Western countries - Nature Medicine
In a large cross-national study, education was linked to better memory and larger brain volumes but not to slower cognitive or brain decline with age, suggesting that the association reflects early-li...
www.nature.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
New study out in Nature Medicine: Education does not protect against age-related decline of memory. Read more here: Reevaluating the role of education on cognitive decline and brain aging in longitudinal cohorts across 33 Western countries www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Great (and lots of) work from Mike David and many colleagues using #pupillometry #EEG #MRI to understand arousal and #locuscoeruleus changes in #AlzheimersDisease. Out now in @braincomms.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/braincomms/a...
academic.oup.com/braincomms/a...
Pupil-linked arousal, cortical activity, and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease
Combining pupillometry, EEG and MRI, David et al. report abnormalities in tonic and phasic arousal in Alzheimer’s disease. Locus coeruleus integrity, peak
academic.oup.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great (and lots of) work from Mike David and many colleagues using #pupillometry #EEG #MRI to understand arousal and #locuscoeruleus changes in #AlzheimersDisease. Out now in @braincomms.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/braincomms/a...
academic.oup.com/braincomms/a...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Beyond happy & proud to have our paper on peptidergic neuromodulation of the #LC out!
This is a project that started with naive intentions & silly curiosity, withstood 1 pandemic & 2 lab moves & made us fall in ❤️ with the most beautiful brain regions of all!! 🔵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
This is a project that started with naive intentions & silly curiosity, withstood 1 pandemic & 2 lab moves & made us fall in ❤️ with the most beautiful brain regions of all!! 🔵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Neuropeptide Y neurons surrounding the locus coeruleus inhibit noradrenergic system activity to reduce anxiety
Endogenous neuropeptide Y signaling modulates locus coeruleus activity, promoting adaptive responses to stress.
www.science.org
July 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Beyond happy & proud to have our paper on peptidergic neuromodulation of the #LC out!
This is a project that started with naive intentions & silly curiosity, withstood 1 pandemic & 2 lab moves & made us fall in ❤️ with the most beautiful brain regions of all!! 🔵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
This is a project that started with naive intentions & silly curiosity, withstood 1 pandemic & 2 lab moves & made us fall in ❤️ with the most beautiful brain regions of all!! 🔵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Our oscillations consensus paper is finally out as a preprint 🤩 thanks to everyone involved
arxiv.org/abs/2507.15639
arxiv.org/abs/2507.15639
July 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Our oscillations consensus paper is finally out as a preprint 🤩 thanks to everyone involved
arxiv.org/abs/2507.15639
arxiv.org/abs/2507.15639
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Call For Papers! Alzheimer's & Dementia Special Issue: Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems in Alzheimer's Disease
Research on the intersection of the Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems and AD are welcome! #AlzResearch
⏰Deadline: Aug. 30, 2025
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/...
Research on the intersection of the Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems and AD are welcome! #AlzResearch
⏰Deadline: Aug. 30, 2025
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/...
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Deadline for submissions: Saturday, August 30 2025
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Call For Papers! Alzheimer's & Dementia Special Issue: Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems in Alzheimer's Disease
Research on the intersection of the Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems and AD are welcome! #AlzResearch
⏰Deadline: Aug. 30, 2025
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/...
Research on the intersection of the Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems and AD are welcome! #AlzResearch
⏰Deadline: Aug. 30, 2025
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Super happy to see our latest work out in @plosbiology.org : N2 sleep during short naps increased the likelihood of insight in a decision task. The steepness of the spectral slope best predicted insight, beyond sleep stages alone. With dream team @maritpetzka.bsky.social @nicoschuck.bsky.social
That "Aha!" moment... Can sleep facilitate memory reorganization? @nicoschuck.bsky.social @anikaloewe.bsky.social @maritpetzka.bsky.social &co reveal that N2 #sleep (but not N1) increases likelihood of having an 'aha' moment about a previous #DecisionMaking task @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4k8F2v3
June 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Super happy to see our latest work out in @plosbiology.org : N2 sleep during short naps increased the likelihood of insight in a decision task. The steepness of the spectral slope best predicted insight, beyond sleep stages alone. With dream team @maritpetzka.bsky.social @nicoschuck.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Pulsed taVNS elicits pupil dilation. However, if sham feels as intense, there is not much left. Based on our comparatively large sample (94 participants, single-blind crossover), we show that a highly variable sham response explains this.
#neuroskyence 🩺
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroskyence 🩺
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
June 16, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Pulsed taVNS elicits pupil dilation. However, if sham feels as intense, there is not much left. Based on our comparatively large sample (94 participants, single-blind crossover), we show that a highly variable sham response explains this.
#neuroskyence 🩺
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroskyence 🩺
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
After years of hard work, @hashimsat.bsky.social's big one is out!
Huge thanks to co-authors Katharina Wille, Matt Nassar, Radek Cichy, @nicoschuck.bsky.social & Peter Dayan - and to @haukeren.bsky.social for his invaluable support!
Huge thanks to co-authors Katharina Wille, Matt Nassar, Radek Cichy, @nicoschuck.bsky.social & Peter Dayan - and to @haukeren.bsky.social for his invaluable support!
May 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
After years of hard work, @hashimsat.bsky.social's big one is out!
Huge thanks to co-authors Katharina Wille, Matt Nassar, Radek Cichy, @nicoschuck.bsky.social & Peter Dayan - and to @haukeren.bsky.social for his invaluable support!
Huge thanks to co-authors Katharina Wille, Matt Nassar, Radek Cichy, @nicoschuck.bsky.social & Peter Dayan - and to @haukeren.bsky.social for his invaluable support!
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Excited to share that the astrocyte-centered half of my thesis work is now out @science.org ! With @mishaahrens.bsky.social and @marcduque.bsky.social
science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/8
science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/8
Norepinephrine changes behavioral state through astroglial purinergic signaling
Both neurons and glia communicate through diffusible neuromodulators; however, how neuron-glial interactions in such neuromodulatory networks influence circuit computation and behavior is unclear. Dur...
science.org
May 16, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Excited to share that the astrocyte-centered half of my thesis work is now out @science.org ! With @mishaahrens.bsky.social and @marcduque.bsky.social
science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/8
science.org/doi/10.1126/... 1/8
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Excited to see this out in @natcomms.nature.com today!
This paper builds on the lab's work on self-regulation of arousal through pupil-based biofeedback. We assessed several markers of cortical and cardiac arousal in a pure self-regulation and dual task setting.
Excited to see this out in @natcomms.nature.com today!
This paper builds on the lab's work on self-regulation of arousal through pupil-based biofeedback. We assessed several markers of cortical and cardiac arousal in a pure self-regulation and dual task setting.
Modulating cortical excitability and cortical arousal by pupil self-regulation - Nature Communications
Weijs, Missura, Potok et al. showed in this study with brain stimulation and electrophysiological methods that self-regulation of pupil size via pupil-based biofeedback modulates cortical excitability...
www.nature.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:50 PM
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Excited to see this out in @natcomms.nature.com today!
This paper builds on the lab's work on self-regulation of arousal through pupil-based biofeedback. We assessed several markers of cortical and cardiac arousal in a pure self-regulation and dual task setting.
Excited to see this out in @natcomms.nature.com today!
This paper builds on the lab's work on self-regulation of arousal through pupil-based biofeedback. We assessed several markers of cortical and cardiac arousal in a pure self-regulation and dual task setting.
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
A wonderful day for science, to see the (peri) #LC in all its glory. A ginormous effort from all involved, and a fantastic resource for the field. Chapeau 🎩
🧠 🔵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧠 🔵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Heterogeneous pericoerulear neurons tune arousal and exploratory behaviours - Nature
A set of neurons in the peri-locus coeruleus region controls arousal and avoidance states, providing an understanding of the neurobiological basis of arousal and exploratory behaviours.
www.nature.com
May 7, 2025 at 8:37 PM
A wonderful day for science, to see the (peri) #LC in all its glory. A ginormous effort from all involved, and a fantastic resource for the field. Chapeau 🎩
🧠 🔵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧠 🔵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
A time window for memory consolidation during NREM sleep revealed by cAMP oscillation: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
A time window for memory consolidation during NREM sleep revealed by cAMP oscillation
Sleep is crucial for memory formation. Deng et al. find that cAMP levels in mice oscillate
with a 1-min cycle during slow-wave sleep, and hippocampal activity at the peak of
these oscillations is nece...
www.cell.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
A time window for memory consolidation during NREM sleep revealed by cAMP oscillation: Neuron www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
My paper reviewing how different neurodegenerative diseases affect autonomic function was just published.
Autonomic dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease — a Review by Mara Mather
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@maramather.bsky.social
#neuroscience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@maramather.bsky.social
#neuroscience
Autonomic dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Neurodegenerative disorders are commonly associated with autonomic dysfunction as well as the more well-known cognitive and motor effects. In this Review, Mather describes how properties of neurons in...
www.nature.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:54 AM
My paper reviewing how different neurodegenerative diseases affect autonomic function was just published.
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and fMRI: a great combination to test the mechanism of action driving stimulation effects 🧠
But how to use the stimulation safely within the magnetic field? We looked into this! #neuroskyence
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
But how to use the stimulation safely within the magnetic field? We looked into this! #neuroskyence
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
April 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and fMRI: a great combination to test the mechanism of action driving stimulation effects 🧠
But how to use the stimulation safely within the magnetic field? We looked into this! #neuroskyence
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
But how to use the stimulation safely within the magnetic field? We looked into this! #neuroskyence
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
👉👉new paper alert from @labluthi.bsky.social - so proud for talented and determined Dr.Najma Cherrad who opened the lab‘s access to brain-body communication! #sleep #locuscoeruleus #parasympathetic @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Vagal afferent activation induces a NREM-sleep-like state with brain-body cooling, but locus coeruleus activation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.14.643122v1
March 18, 2025 at 6:33 AM
👉👉new paper alert from @labluthi.bsky.social - so proud for talented and determined Dr.Najma Cherrad who opened the lab‘s access to brain-body communication! #sleep #locuscoeruleus #parasympathetic @fbm-unil.bsky.social
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
Check out a new lab paper from Mayumi Watanabe's thesis work showing how different subregions of medial prefrontal cortex differentially regulate extinction of aversive memories through projections to the locus-coeruleus-noradrenaline system:
doi.org/10.1038/s413...
doi.org/10.1038/s413...
Bidirectional emotional regulation through prefrontal innervation of the locus coeruleus - Molecular Psychiatry
Molecular Psychiatry - Bidirectional emotional regulation through prefrontal innervation of the locus coeruleus
doi.org
March 8, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Check out a new lab paper from Mayumi Watanabe's thesis work showing how different subregions of medial prefrontal cortex differentially regulate extinction of aversive memories through projections to the locus-coeruleus-noradrenaline system:
doi.org/10.1038/s413...
doi.org/10.1038/s413...
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
With support from @istaart.bsky.social, we are organizing the first Integrative Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems meeting in collab with Sleep and Circadian Rhythms PIA!
WHEN/WHERE: Boston, MGH/Martinos Center on July 17-18; info, register & submit your abstract: education.martinos.org/inss2025/
WHEN/WHERE: Boston, MGH/Martinos Center on July 17-18; info, register & submit your abstract: education.martinos.org/inss2025/
The Integrative Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems (INSS) 2025 Meeting: intersection with sleep, July 17-18, 2025. (Hybrid: Online/In-person in Boston, MA) – Education @ The Martinos Center
education.martinos.org
February 17, 2025 at 10:03 PM
With support from @istaart.bsky.social, we are organizing the first Integrative Neuromodulatory Subcortical Systems meeting in collab with Sleep and Circadian Rhythms PIA!
WHEN/WHERE: Boston, MGH/Martinos Center on July 17-18; info, register & submit your abstract: education.martinos.org/inss2025/
WHEN/WHERE: Boston, MGH/Martinos Center on July 17-18; info, register & submit your abstract: education.martinos.org/inss2025/
Reposted by Martin J. Dahl
In our new @commspsychol.bsky.social review, we explore how humans adjust learning to different types of uncertainty, why biases arise, and what this reveals about learning and psychiatric conditions.
📖 Read more: nature.com/articles/s44...
With Matt Nassar & @haukeren.bsky.social
📖 Read more: nature.com/articles/s44...
With Matt Nassar & @haukeren.bsky.social
Understanding learning through uncertainty and bias - Communications Psychology
Flexible learning requires humans to adjust their behaviour to uncertainty. While normative learning models explain many adaptive behaviours, systematic biases-arising from inaccurate assumptions or c...
nature.com
February 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In our new @commspsychol.bsky.social review, we explore how humans adjust learning to different types of uncertainty, why biases arise, and what this reveals about learning and psychiatric conditions.
📖 Read more: nature.com/articles/s44...
With Matt Nassar & @haukeren.bsky.social
📖 Read more: nature.com/articles/s44...
With Matt Nassar & @haukeren.bsky.social