PessoaBrain
@pessoabrain.bsky.social
Luiz Pessoa, University of Maryland, College Park
Neuroscientist interested in cognitive-emotional brain
Author of The Entangled Brain, MIT Press, 2022
Author of The Cogitive-Emotional Brain, MIT Press, 2013
Neuroscience & Philosophy Salon (YouTube)
Neuroscientist interested in cognitive-emotional brain
Author of The Entangled Brain, MIT Press, 2022
Author of The Cogitive-Emotional Brain, MIT Press, 2013
Neuroscience & Philosophy Salon (YouTube)
Pinned
PessoaBrain
@pessoabrain.bsky.social
· Nov 10
The Entangled Brain
A new vision of the brain as a fully integrated, networked organ.Popular neuroscience accounts often focus on specific mind-brain aspects like addiction, cog...
mitpress.mit.edu
Reintroduction...
I'm a neuroscientist interested in emotion-motivation-cognition interactions.
Interested in conceptual/foundational issues.
I also wrote a book for general audience readers called The Entangled Brain that is open access at MIT Press.
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254460...
#neuroscience
I'm a neuroscientist interested in emotion-motivation-cognition interactions.
Interested in conceptual/foundational issues.
I also wrote a book for general audience readers called The Entangled Brain that is open access at MIT Press.
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254460...
#neuroscience
𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀
Short paper discussing some connections.
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.21510
Short paper discussing some connections.
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.21510
February 1, 2026 at 5:24 PM
𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀
Short paper discussing some connections.
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.21510
Short paper discussing some connections.
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.21510
Reposted by PessoaBrain
I am happy to share this article, entitled "The importance of Biological Theory". It is my inaugural editorial as the new Editor-in-Chief of @biologicaltheory.bsky.social . In these complex and challenging times, theory is more important now than ever. Enjoy!
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
The Importance of Biological Theory - Biological Theory
Biological Theory -
doi.org
January 30, 2026 at 1:40 PM
I am happy to share this article, entitled "The importance of Biological Theory". It is my inaugural editorial as the new Editor-in-Chief of @biologicaltheory.bsky.social . In these complex and challenging times, theory is more important now than ever. Enjoy!
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
doi.org/10.1007/s137...
Fantastic thread about Alpha genome, strengths and limitations. Worth the read especially if you're interested in complex systems.
I had intended to post something about this new Google DeepMind paper that appeared yesterday in Nature, but the press coverage has added to what there is to say. So this is a long 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Advancing regulatory variant effect prediction with AlphaGenome - Nature
AlphaGenome, a deep learning model that inputs 1-Mb DNA sequence to predict functional genomic tracks at single-base resolution across diverse modalities, outperforms existing models in variant effect...
www.nature.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Fantastic thread about Alpha genome, strengths and limitations. Worth the read especially if you're interested in complex systems.
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀
More hidden markov models for cool behaviors and brain data
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
More hidden markov models for cool behaviors and brain data
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
January 29, 2026 at 5:48 PM
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀
More hidden markov models for cool behaviors and brain data
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
More hidden markov models for cool behaviors and brain data
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
Reposted by PessoaBrain
Postdoc position in Paris: come help develop new generation human brain computer interfaces ⚡🧠💻
Interested? Contact me if you have experience with machine learning (e.g. simulation-based inference, RL, generative/diffusion models) or dynamical systems.
See below for + details and retweet 🙏
Interested? Contact me if you have experience with machine learning (e.g. simulation-based inference, RL, generative/diffusion models) or dynamical systems.
See below for + details and retweet 🙏
January 27, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Postdoc position in Paris: come help develop new generation human brain computer interfaces ⚡🧠💻
Interested? Contact me if you have experience with machine learning (e.g. simulation-based inference, RL, generative/diffusion models) or dynamical systems.
See below for + details and retweet 🙏
Interested? Contact me if you have experience with machine learning (e.g. simulation-based inference, RL, generative/diffusion models) or dynamical systems.
See below for + details and retweet 🙏
Reposted by PessoaBrain
We can't wait to learn about traveling waves during seizures from Dr. Mark Kramer next week in our monthly online seminar series on neural traveling waves.
Join us next week on February 3rd at 1pm ET!
Join us next week on February 3rd at 1pm ET!
January 27, 2026 at 6:24 PM
We can't wait to learn about traveling waves during seizures from Dr. Mark Kramer next week in our monthly online seminar series on neural traveling waves.
Join us next week on February 3rd at 1pm ET!
Join us next week on February 3rd at 1pm ET!
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻
A test of spatial computing in the prefrontal cortex: oscillations shape representational content.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
A test of spatial computing in the prefrontal cortex: oscillations shape representational content.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
January 27, 2026 at 6:12 PM
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻
A test of spatial computing in the prefrontal cortex: oscillations shape representational content.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
A test of spatial computing in the prefrontal cortex: oscillations shape representational content.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Reposted by PessoaBrain
Join us for the PLM Workshop: Traces and Engrams – Philosophical and Neuroscientific Perspectives on Memory
Ruhr University Bochum (and Online) 18–20 Feb 2026
🔗 Register here: forms.gle/e4mW9MT3o2q8...
#philsky #philsci #cogsky #neuroskyence
Ruhr University Bochum (and Online) 18–20 Feb 2026
🔗 Register here: forms.gle/e4mW9MT3o2q8...
#philsky #philsci #cogsky #neuroskyence
January 27, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Join us for the PLM Workshop: Traces and Engrams – Philosophical and Neuroscientific Perspectives on Memory
Ruhr University Bochum (and Online) 18–20 Feb 2026
🔗 Register here: forms.gle/e4mW9MT3o2q8...
#philsky #philsci #cogsky #neuroskyence
Ruhr University Bochum (and Online) 18–20 Feb 2026
🔗 Register here: forms.gle/e4mW9MT3o2q8...
#philsky #philsci #cogsky #neuroskyence
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Excellent paper discussing how to understand complex systems (eg biology) where levels not only interact but intersect.
Strong critique of Simon's notion of near-decomposable systems.
griesemer.net/wp-content/u...
Excellent paper discussing how to understand complex systems (eg biology) where levels not only interact but intersect.
Strong critique of Simon's notion of near-decomposable systems.
griesemer.net/wp-content/u...
January 26, 2026 at 5:45 PM
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Excellent paper discussing how to understand complex systems (eg biology) where levels not only interact but intersect.
Strong critique of Simon's notion of near-decomposable systems.
griesemer.net/wp-content/u...
Excellent paper discussing how to understand complex systems (eg biology) where levels not only interact but intersect.
Strong critique of Simon's notion of near-decomposable systems.
griesemer.net/wp-content/u...
This book by Wimsatt is exceptional if you're interested in understanding the world, knowledge, science, etc.
It can be challenging especially in some parts.
But now Johannes Jaeger has written a stand alone accessible paper. I highly recommend it!
zenodo.org/records/1829...
It can be challenging especially in some parts.
But now Johannes Jaeger has written a stand alone accessible paper. I highly recommend it!
zenodo.org/records/1829...
January 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM
This book by Wimsatt is exceptional if you're interested in understanding the world, knowledge, science, etc.
It can be challenging especially in some parts.
But now Johannes Jaeger has written a stand alone accessible paper. I highly recommend it!
zenodo.org/records/1829...
It can be challenging especially in some parts.
But now Johannes Jaeger has written a stand alone accessible paper. I highly recommend it!
zenodo.org/records/1829...
*Multi-region computations in the brain*
When two regions are better than one...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroskyence
When two regions are better than one...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroskyence
January 23, 2026 at 6:15 PM
*Multi-region computations in the brain*
When two regions are better than one...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroskyence
When two regions are better than one...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
#neuroskyence
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
"High-resolution activity maps of PFC did NOT align with cytoarchitecturally defined subregions."
Key tenet in neuroscience is that cytoarchitectonic boundaries correspond to functional ones.
NB: study in the mouse
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
"High-resolution activity maps of PFC did NOT align with cytoarchitecturally defined subregions."
Key tenet in neuroscience is that cytoarchitectonic boundaries correspond to functional ones.
NB: study in the mouse
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
January 22, 2026 at 5:35 PM
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
"High-resolution activity maps of PFC did NOT align with cytoarchitecturally defined subregions."
Key tenet in neuroscience is that cytoarchitectonic boundaries correspond to functional ones.
NB: study in the mouse
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
"High-resolution activity maps of PFC did NOT align with cytoarchitecturally defined subregions."
Key tenet in neuroscience is that cytoarchitectonic boundaries correspond to functional ones.
NB: study in the mouse
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻?
Almost always we average responses thus equating response variability with noise.
Well, we shouldn't because variability is also signal, not noise to be entirely discarded.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
Almost always we average responses thus equating response variability with noise.
Well, we shouldn't because variability is also signal, not noise to be entirely discarded.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
January 21, 2026 at 5:53 PM
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻?
Almost always we average responses thus equating response variability with noise.
Well, we shouldn't because variability is also signal, not noise to be entirely discarded.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
Almost always we average responses thus equating response variability with noise.
Well, we shouldn't because variability is also signal, not noise to be entirely discarded.
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
If you have tenure consider publishing less... doi.org/10.1038/d415...
I’m going to halve my publication output. You should consider slow science, too
If we don’t slow down, the research enterprise is going to crash, argues Adrian Barnett.
doi.org
January 19, 2026 at 9:59 PM
If you have tenure consider publishing less... doi.org/10.1038/d415...
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆?
Much has been written but an excellent starting point is given by Shallice and Cooper (2011).
This is not entirely exhaustive and further formalization would be beneficial to tighten the definitions.
#neuroskyence
Much has been written but an excellent starting point is given by Shallice and Cooper (2011).
This is not entirely exhaustive and further formalization would be beneficial to tighten the definitions.
#neuroskyence
January 19, 2026 at 2:36 PM
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆?
Much has been written but an excellent starting point is given by Shallice and Cooper (2011).
This is not entirely exhaustive and further formalization would be beneficial to tighten the definitions.
#neuroskyence
Much has been written but an excellent starting point is given by Shallice and Cooper (2011).
This is not entirely exhaustive and further formalization would be beneficial to tighten the definitions.
#neuroskyence
Reposted by PessoaBrain
Neuroscience is moving away from a modular view of the brain because the brain is not modular. It is network of murmuring neurons. Great metaphor by @pessoabrain.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
Opinion | What Are We Thinking?
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Neuroscience is moving away from a modular view of the brain because the brain is not modular. It is network of murmuring neurons. Great metaphor by @pessoabrain.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
#neuroscience
Reposted by PessoaBrain
hey scientists, have you seen a cool paper recently that didn't get enough attention? let me know! I'm always looking for new studies to cover and would love to hear from you👇
January 16, 2026 at 8:58 PM
hey scientists, have you seen a cool paper recently that didn't get enough attention? let me know! I'm always looking for new studies to cover and would love to hear from you👇
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴?
That I don't know but D Brooks discusses some ideas of my book, The Entangled Brain: '"neuronal ensembles distributed across multiple brain regions,” which, like a murmuration of starlings, “forms a single pattern from the collective behavior."'
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
That I don't know but D Brooks discusses some ideas of my book, The Entangled Brain: '"neuronal ensembles distributed across multiple brain regions,” which, like a murmuration of starlings, “forms a single pattern from the collective behavior."'
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
January 16, 2026 at 6:15 PM
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴?
That I don't know but D Brooks discusses some ideas of my book, The Entangled Brain: '"neuronal ensembles distributed across multiple brain regions,” which, like a murmuration of starlings, “forms a single pattern from the collective behavior."'
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
That I don't know but D Brooks discusses some ideas of my book, The Entangled Brain: '"neuronal ensembles distributed across multiple brain regions,” which, like a murmuration of starlings, “forms a single pattern from the collective behavior."'
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/o...
Reposted by PessoaBrain
main goal for this year: find a new job! 🙂
looking for a role with fun & complex technical challenges & within a great community. my main expertise is in signal processing/EEG/MEG, but topic-wise I am quite flexible.
science/industry both great! starting mid-year. nschawor.github.io/cv
looking for a role with fun & complex technical challenges & within a great community. my main expertise is in signal processing/EEG/MEG, but topic-wise I am quite flexible.
science/industry both great! starting mid-year. nschawor.github.io/cv
January 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
main goal for this year: find a new job! 🙂
looking for a role with fun & complex technical challenges & within a great community. my main expertise is in signal processing/EEG/MEG, but topic-wise I am quite flexible.
science/industry both great! starting mid-year. nschawor.github.io/cv
looking for a role with fun & complex technical challenges & within a great community. my main expertise is in signal processing/EEG/MEG, but topic-wise I am quite flexible.
science/industry both great! starting mid-year. nschawor.github.io/cv
Reposted by PessoaBrain
Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).
January 16, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).
Reposted by PessoaBrain
This short book by @djnicholson.bsky.social is extraordinarily good for understanding not just the genesis, message and myths of Schrödinger's book but also why molecular biology developed in the way it did (and what's problematic about that).
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
What Is Life? Revisited
Cambridge Core - Philosophy of Science - What Is Life? Revisited
www.cambridge.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:18 PM
This short book by @djnicholson.bsky.social is extraordinarily good for understanding not just the genesis, message and myths of Schrödinger's book but also why molecular biology developed in the way it did (and what's problematic about that).
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Reposted by PessoaBrain
Our new book on health and disease is now available for free for two weeks. Get it before it is gone and please share this post! #philsci
Health and Disease
Cambridge Core - Philosophy of Science - Health and Disease
www.cambridge.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Our new book on health and disease is now available for free for two weeks. Get it before it is gone and please share this post! #philsci
Reposted by PessoaBrain
This bobtail squid burrowing into the sand is already adorable, but please watch till the very end!
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
January 12, 2026 at 12:03 PM
This bobtail squid burrowing into the sand is already adorable, but please watch till the very end!
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
It sticks out its little arms and earnestly sprinkles sand over itself 🦑𓂃◌𓈒𓐍
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻
If we leave aside the more extreme discussions about "everything everywhere" and modularity this is a very cool paper.
So much can be done with data from 260 regions and 60K neurons.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#neuroskyence
If we leave aside the more extreme discussions about "everything everywhere" and modularity this is a very cool paper.
So much can be done with data from 260 regions and 60K neurons.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#neuroskyence
January 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM
𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻
If we leave aside the more extreme discussions about "everything everywhere" and modularity this is a very cool paper.
So much can be done with data from 260 regions and 60K neurons.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#neuroskyence
If we leave aside the more extreme discussions about "everything everywhere" and modularity this is a very cool paper.
So much can be done with data from 260 regions and 60K neurons.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#neuroskyence
NSF guidance, please please:
For the many tables that NSF requires, does NOT providing the organization of the individual get one's project rejected by the system?? Not an easy (or at times possible) task.
For the many tables that NSF requires, does NOT providing the organization of the individual get one's project rejected by the system?? Not an easy (or at times possible) task.
December 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
NSF guidance, please please:
For the many tables that NSF requires, does NOT providing the organization of the individual get one's project rejected by the system?? Not an easy (or at times possible) task.
For the many tables that NSF requires, does NOT providing the organization of the individual get one's project rejected by the system?? Not an easy (or at times possible) task.