Rhodri Cusack
@rhodricusack.bsky.social
Developmental computational cognitive neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin. We scan infants to understand the emergence of cognition, and how it is disrupted by brain injury. Director of the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience.
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Delighted to announce with my colleagues Prof Yvonne Daly, Dublin City Uni; Prof Dave Walsh Walsh, De Montfort Uni; Prof Bennett Kleinberg, Tilburg Uni, we have secured an ERC Synergy grant entitled JUSTICE (or ‘Joining Unique Strategies Together For Interrogative Coercion Elimination).
📣 Meet the new ERC Synergy Grant awardees!
Sixty-six research teams have been selected for funding, bringing together 239 scientists. Congratulations to all!
➡️ buff.ly/PSn3bi9
#EUfunded #HorizonEurope #ERCSyG
Sixty-six research teams have been selected for funding, bringing together 239 scientists. Congratulations to all!
➡️ buff.ly/PSn3bi9
#EUfunded #HorizonEurope #ERCSyG
November 6, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Delighted to announce with my colleagues Prof Yvonne Daly, Dublin City Uni; Prof Dave Walsh Walsh, De Montfort Uni; Prof Bennett Kleinberg, Tilburg Uni, we have secured an ERC Synergy grant entitled JUSTICE (or ‘Joining Unique Strategies Together For Interrogative Coercion Elimination).
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
We are delighted to be able to thank the @erc.europa.eu European Research Council (ERC) for the funding award of €10,403,517 for this six-year project. @tcddublin.bsky.social @trinityneuro.bsky.social & @tcdpsychology.bsky.social Trinity College Dublin will host my work.
November 6, 2025 at 11:45 AM
We are delighted to be able to thank the @erc.europa.eu European Research Council (ERC) for the funding award of €10,403,517 for this six-year project. @tcddublin.bsky.social @trinityneuro.bsky.social & @tcdpsychology.bsky.social Trinity College Dublin will host my work.
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Ever wonder how habituation works? Here's our attempt to understand:
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Ever wonder how habituation works? Here's our attempt to understand:
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
A stimulus-computable rational model of visual habituation in infants and adults doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
This is the thesis of two wonderful students: @anjiecao.bsky.social @galraz.bsky.social, w/ @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social
Amazing talk from @sjblakemore.bsky.social at #flux2025 - childhood and the age of legal responsibility; voting age; graduated driving licenses.
September 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Amazing talk from @sjblakemore.bsky.social at #flux2025 - childhood and the age of legal responsibility; voting age; graduated driving licenses.
Wearable TCD brain scanner a 'gamechanger' for research
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
@trinityneuro.bsky.social
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
@trinityneuro.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Wearable TCD brain scanner a 'gamechanger' for research
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
@trinityneuro.bsky.social
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
@trinityneuro.bsky.social
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Finally got around to this interesting exchange. Much to like! However, in my view neonate cortex is building a foundation model while sub-cortical sensorimotor routes support newborn behaviours and, importantly, bias the inputs to the foundation model (e.g. orienting toward faces).
August 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Finally got around to this interesting exchange. Much to like! However, in my view neonate cortex is building a foundation model while sub-cortical sensorimotor routes support newborn behaviours and, importantly, bias the inputs to the foundation model (e.g. orienting toward faces).
Ireland launches global talent fund! www.researchireland.ie/funding/glob...
If you're a neuroscience professor (assistant/associate/full) and would consider relocating to the vibrant and booming city of Dublin, please get in touch!
If you're a neuroscience professor (assistant/associate/full) and would consider relocating to the vibrant and booming city of Dublin, please get in touch!
July 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Ireland launches global talent fund! www.researchireland.ie/funding/glob...
If you're a neuroscience professor (assistant/associate/full) and would consider relocating to the vibrant and booming city of Dublin, please get in touch!
If you're a neuroscience professor (assistant/associate/full) and would consider relocating to the vibrant and booming city of Dublin, please get in touch!
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Very pleased that my commentary on Jonathan Birch's fantastic "The Edge of Sentience" has finally appeared. @birchlse.bsky.social and I agree on many things, but there was enough distance between our views to make this a productive exchange.
Wonderful to read Tim Bayne's review of The Edge of Sentience in Mind & Language. Subscribers to the journal can read the full review and my responses. doi.org/10.1111/mila...
July 18, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Very pleased that my commentary on Jonathan Birch's fantastic "The Edge of Sentience" has finally appeared. @birchlse.bsky.social and I agree on many things, but there was enough distance between our views to make this a productive exchange.
Thank you very much for the discussion, Martin, @marielgoddu.bsky.social and Ruthe! Look forward to discussing more. Will any of you make it to CCN in Amsterdam?
Enjoyed this interesting discussion with Rhodri Cusack & co-author team about their foundation model perspective on infant development! Both the letter by @marielgoddu.bsky.social, Ruthe, and I (www.cell.com/trends/cogni... and a thoughtful response from the original authors are now officially out.
July 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Thank you very much for the discussion, Martin, @marielgoddu.bsky.social and Ruthe! Look forward to discussing more. Will any of you make it to CCN in Amsterdam?
Thanks to fellow defenders @clionaod.bsky.social, Marc'Aurelio Ranzato, and @charvetcj.bsky.social
Defending the foundation model view of infant development www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Defending the foundation model view of infant development www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Defending the foundation model view of infant development
www.sciencedirect.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Thanks to fellow defenders @clionaod.bsky.social, Marc'Aurelio Ranzato, and @charvetcj.bsky.social
Defending the foundation model view of infant development www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Defending the foundation model view of infant development www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Not just one, but two fantastic chances to discuss how infant development can inform machine learning and vice-versa at CCN 2025 in Amsterdam!!! Satellite workshop sites.google.com/view/child2m...
and Generative Adversarial Collaboration sites.google.com/ccneuro.org/...
and Generative Adversarial Collaboration sites.google.com/ccneuro.org/...
CCN 2025 Satellite Event
Background
The human visual system is full of optimisations—mechanisms designed to extract the most useful information from a constant stream of incoming data. The field of neuro-AI has made significa...
sites.google.com
June 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Not just one, but two fantastic chances to discuss how infant development can inform machine learning and vice-versa at CCN 2025 in Amsterdam!!! Satellite workshop sites.google.com/view/child2m...
and Generative Adversarial Collaboration sites.google.com/ccneuro.org/...
and Generative Adversarial Collaboration sites.google.com/ccneuro.org/...
Excited to see our response published www.cell.com/trends/cogni... to Zettersten at al's thoughtful commentary www.cell.com/trends/cogni... on our TiCS perspective "Helpless infants are learning a foundation model" www.cell.com/trends/cogni... @trinityneuro.bsky.social @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social
Defending the foundation model view of infant development
In response to the opinion article by Cusack et al. [1], Zettersten et al. [2] challenge
the proposal that human infants undergo a stage-like development from sensory to goal-directed
actions. Zetters...
www.cell.com
May 24, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Excited to see our response published www.cell.com/trends/cogni... to Zettersten at al's thoughtful commentary www.cell.com/trends/cogni... on our TiCS perspective "Helpless infants are learning a foundation model" www.cell.com/trends/cogni... @trinityneuro.bsky.social @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social
Great to see this award to Peter Gorman, from Trinity-Columbia's joint BA programme. www.tcd.ie/news_events/... @trinityneuro.bsky.social
Trinity-Columbia Dual BA graduate delivers valedictorian speech
Peter Gorman, a graduate of the Dual BA Program between Trinity and Columbia University, recently delivered the Columbia GS Class of 2025 valedictorian speech.
www.tcd.ie
May 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Great to see this award to Peter Gorman, from Trinity-Columbia's joint BA programme. www.tcd.ie/news_events/... @trinityneuro.bsky.social
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
We are recruiting for 5 permanent staff positions (Prof, Senior-, Lecturer) including for 7T-MRI. Please have a look and share widely.
(Closing date: May 12)
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
(Closing date: May 12)
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Professor, Senior Lecturer/Lecturer and Lecturer posts - Glasgow City (GB) job with University of Glasgow | 12838283
University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences School of Psychology & Neuroscience Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience/Psy...
www.nature.com
April 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
We are recruiting for 5 permanent staff positions (Prof, Senior-, Lecturer) including for 7T-MRI. Please have a look and share widely.
(Closing date: May 12)
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
(Closing date: May 12)
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Fabulous chance to study brain health in athletes!
📢 Join my group as a #PhD or #RA in advanced #neuroimaging #biomarkers of #risk and #resilience factors for #dementia. DM me if interested. Looking for PhD and RA applicants. Please RT 👇
www.theresolvestudy.org
www.lorinanaci.org universityvacancies.com/trinity-coll...
www.theresolvestudy.org
www.lorinanaci.org universityvacancies.com/trinity-coll...
April 9, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Fabulous chance to study brain health in athletes!
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Very pleased to share the fMRI pipeline paper from the fetal release or the developing human connectome project, a true labour of love and incredible work from Slava Karolis #dhcp #connectome #fmri direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
The developing Human Connectome Project fetal functional MRI release: Methods and data structures
Abstract. Recent advances in fetal fMRI present a new opportunity for neuroscience to study functional human brain connectivity at the time of its emergence. Progress in the field, however, has been h...
direct.mit.edu
March 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Very pleased to share the fMRI pipeline paper from the fetal release or the developing human connectome project, a true labour of love and incredible work from Slava Karolis #dhcp #connectome #fmri direct.mit.edu/imag/article...
Join us as an Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology. my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
'
my.corehr.com
March 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Join us as an Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology. my.corehr.com/pls/trrecrui...
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
The latest paper from my PhD is now out in Nature Human Behavior! rdcu.be/edRwQ
White matter connections of human ventral temporal cortex are organized by cytoarchitecture, eccentricity and category-selectivity from birth
Nature Human Behaviour - Kubota et al. find that white matter connections of ventral temporal cortex are innately organized by cytoarchitecture, category and eccentricity from birth, and also...
rdcu.be
March 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The latest paper from my PhD is now out in Nature Human Behavior! rdcu.be/edRwQ
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Why do we not remember being a baby? One idea is that the hippocampus, which is essential for episodic memory in adults, is too immature to form individual memories in infancy. We tested this using awake infant fMRI, new in @science.org #ScienceResearch www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Hippocampal encoding of memories in human infants
Humans lack memories for specific events from the first few years of life. We investigated the mechanistic basis of this infantile amnesia by scanning the brains of awake infants with functional magne...
www.science.org
March 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Why do we not remember being a baby? One idea is that the hippocampus, which is essential for episodic memory in adults, is too immature to form individual memories in infancy. We tested this using awake infant fMRI, new in @science.org #ScienceResearch www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Why academia is sleepwalking into self-destruction. My editorial @brain1878.bsky.social If you agree with the sentiments please repost. It's important for all our sakes to stop the madness
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
March 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Why academia is sleepwalking into self-destruction. My editorial @brain1878.bsky.social If you agree with the sentiments please repost. It's important for all our sakes to stop the madness
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
academic.oup.com/brain/articl...
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Cortical maturation unfolds hierarchically, endowing the PFC with extended plasticity. But do timeframes of plasticity vary across PFC layers?
With 7T quantitative myelin imaging, EEG, and cognitive data, we uncover heterochronous laminar maturation in the PFC 1/n. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With 7T quantitative myelin imaging, EEG, and cognitive data, we uncover heterochronous laminar maturation in the PFC 1/n. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
February 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Cortical maturation unfolds hierarchically, endowing the PFC with extended plasticity. But do timeframes of plasticity vary across PFC layers?
With 7T quantitative myelin imaging, EEG, and cognitive data, we uncover heterochronous laminar maturation in the PFC 1/n. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With 7T quantitative myelin imaging, EEG, and cognitive data, we uncover heterochronous laminar maturation in the PFC 1/n. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Rhodri Cusack
Announcing a new endowed Chair in Young People's Mental Health at @campsydept.bsky.social. An exciting opportunity to shape mental health strategy and conduct world-leading research in one of the most intellectually vibrant places in the world. Please share!
The Dawson Professorship of Young People's Mental Health - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge
The Dawson Professorship of Young People's Mental Health in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge.
www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
January 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Announcing a new endowed Chair in Young People's Mental Health at @campsydept.bsky.social. An exciting opportunity to shape mental health strategy and conduct world-leading research in one of the most intellectually vibrant places in the world. Please share!
Heading to #BCCCD25. Looking forward to the meeting and our symposium New Insights in Infant Neuroscience on Saturday, put together by Moritz Koester with Barbara Pomiechowska, Giulia Orioli, Marlena Baldauf and discussant Stefanie Hoel.
January 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Heading to #BCCCD25. Looking forward to the meeting and our symposium New Insights in Infant Neuroscience on Saturday, put together by Moritz Koester with Barbara Pomiechowska, Giulia Orioli, Marlena Baldauf and discussant Stefanie Hoel.
Congratulations to my colleague Ruth Byrne @tcddublin.bsky.social #tcin #tcdpsychology. What an achievement!
Join us as we celebrate Ruth Byrne, Seana Coulson, Adele Goldberg, Arthur Graesser, Ping Li, and Asli Ozyurek – our esteemed ✨Cognitive Science Society Fellows of 2025!✨
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/fellows to learn more!
Visit cognitivesciencesociety.org/fellows to learn more!
January 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Congratulations to my colleague Ruth Byrne @tcddublin.bsky.social #tcin #tcdpsychology. What an achievement!