Scott Pluta
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
Striving to understand the relationship between brain and behavior.
www.plutalab.com
Would rather be in Iceland. 📷🏔️
www.plutalab.com
Would rather be in Iceland. 📷🏔️
Pinned
Scott Pluta
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
· May 14
Bilateral integration in somatosensory cortex is controlled by behavioral relevance - Nature Neuroscience
How sensory signals from both sides of the body are integrated into a single percept is not well understood. Park et al. show that callosal signaling supports the integration of bilateral tactile stim...
www.nature.com
I'm really proud of my two graduate students, Hyein and Hayagreev, for getting this challenging and exciting project across the finish line. We reveal the state-dependent logic that underlies callosal signaling between the somatosensory cortices. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
Pretty tired from a 12km loop yesterday from highland base camp to Hveradalir in Kerlingarfjöll. Worth the pain, though.
September 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Pretty tired from a 12km loop yesterday from highland base camp to Hveradalir in Kerlingarfjöll. Worth the pain, though.
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Full professor complaining to an assistant professor on how hard it is to get funding nowadays
September 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Full professor complaining to an assistant professor on how hard it is to get funding nowadays
Reposted by Scott Pluta
This will devastate all of my colleagues that do neuroscience in mice. Drugs don't always translate from mouse to human, But 90% of our genes are shared. They allow recordings and manipulations that cannot be done in humans. We will cede discovery to Europe and China with this unnecessary handicap.
NIH announces end to funding for animal-only studies - Drug Discovery and Development
Drug Discovery and Development covers strategies and technologies related to pharmaceutical research and development and drug formulation.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This will devastate all of my colleagues that do neuroscience in mice. Drugs don't always translate from mouse to human, But 90% of our genes are shared. They allow recordings and manipulations that cannot be done in humans. We will cede discovery to Europe and China with this unnecessary handicap.
Reposted by Scott Pluta
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
“In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately”
June 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM
must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away
Reposted by Scott Pluta
UK neuroscience graduates! PhD opportunity here at Glasgow SPN: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... Closing date July 4
Converting percepts into actions in the visual cortex and superior colliculus. at University of Glasgow on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Converting percepts into actions in the visual cortex and superior colliculus. at University of Glasgow, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
UK neuroscience graduates! PhD opportunity here at Glasgow SPN: www.findaphd.com/phds/project... Closing date July 4
Reposted by Scott Pluta
In late January, I said we were "still exploring" a cool thing we found in RN.
Well, we're back, and we've got movement kinematics (thanks to @deeplabcut.bsky.social)!
(You can find all the details in our updated bioRxiv paper, linked below)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Well, we're back, and we've got movement kinematics (thanks to @deeplabcut.bsky.social)!
(You can find all the details in our updated bioRxiv paper, linked below)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
May 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM
In late January, I said we were "still exploring" a cool thing we found in RN.
Well, we're back, and we've got movement kinematics (thanks to @deeplabcut.bsky.social)!
(You can find all the details in our updated bioRxiv paper, linked below)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Well, we're back, and we've got movement kinematics (thanks to @deeplabcut.bsky.social)!
(You can find all the details in our updated bioRxiv paper, linked below)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Large-scale projects run the risk of stifling scientific independence. Instead, let’s explore alternative mechanisms of collaboration, writes @neuralreckoning.bsky.social.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
Neuroscience needs to empower early-career researchers, not fund moon shots
Large-scale projects run the risk of stifling scientific independence. Instead, let’s explore alternative mechanisms of collaboration.
www.thetransmitter.org
May 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Large-scale projects run the risk of stifling scientific independence. Instead, let’s explore alternative mechanisms of collaboration, writes @neuralreckoning.bsky.social.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
It is beyond disturbing when the NIH and HHS Directors do not understand that animal models are essential in research
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
There is no replacement (yet) for animal models in medical research
The NIH is “reducing animal use in research.” But there is no replacement for animal models.
www.statnews.com
May 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It is beyond disturbing when the NIH and HHS Directors do not understand that animal models are essential in research
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Excited to share my PhD paper! In it, we use targeted 2-photon optogenetic stimulation to determine how V1 activity is read-out in a detection task. We found that network influence, not visual coding properties, predicted the impact of ensembles on behavior - contradicting our expectations (1/5).
May 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Excited to share my PhD paper! In it, we use targeted 2-photon optogenetic stimulation to determine how V1 activity is read-out in a detection task. We found that network influence, not visual coding properties, predicted the impact of ensembles on behavior - contradicting our expectations (1/5).
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Bilateral integration in somatosensory cortex is controlled by behavioral relevance 🧠🧪
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bilateral integration in somatosensory cortex is controlled by behavioral relevance - Nature Neuroscience
How sensory signals from both sides of the body are integrated into a single percept is not well understood. Park et al. show that callosal signaling supports the integration of bilateral tactile stim...
www.nature.com
May 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Bilateral integration in somatosensory cortex is controlled by behavioral relevance 🧠🧪
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@scottrpluta.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I'm really proud of my two graduate students, Hyein and Hayagreev, for getting this challenging and exciting project across the finish line. We reveal the state-dependent logic that underlies callosal signaling between the somatosensory cortices. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bilateral integration in somatosensory cortex is controlled by behavioral relevance - Nature Neuroscience
How sensory signals from both sides of the body are integrated into a single percept is not well understood. Park et al. show that callosal signaling supports the integration of bilateral tactile stim...
www.nature.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I'm really proud of my two graduate students, Hyein and Hayagreev, for getting this challenging and exciting project across the finish line. We reveal the state-dependent logic that underlies callosal signaling between the somatosensory cortices. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
The Oldenburg lab is looking for another postdoc! If you want to use holographic optogenetics to answer questions about neural codes let me know. We like shooting lasers and thinking about movement.
We're located at Rutgers in Piscataway NJ (its like ~45 min from NYC).
oldenburglab.com/positions/
We're located at Rutgers in Piscataway NJ (its like ~45 min from NYC).
oldenburglab.com/positions/
Positions
Join the lab We are looking for curious, motivated, and talented people from all different backgrounds to join our team at all levels. Mentoring is simply one of the best parts of being an academic sc...
oldenburglab.com
May 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Oldenburg lab is looking for another postdoc! If you want to use holographic optogenetics to answer questions about neural codes let me know. We like shooting lasers and thinking about movement.
We're located at Rutgers in Piscataway NJ (its like ~45 min from NYC).
oldenburglab.com/positions/
We're located at Rutgers in Piscataway NJ (its like ~45 min from NYC).
oldenburglab.com/positions/
May 2021, shortly after we finished building automated boxes for training mice to perform bilateral discrimination using active touch. The first paper is finally dropping soon.
May 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM
May 2021, shortly after we finished building automated boxes for training mice to perform bilateral discrimination using active touch. The first paper is finally dropping soon.
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Our latest editorial in defense of vaccines and vaccination, introduces two Perspectives in this issue on priorities for outbreak vaccination, as well as the important successes of vaccines to date
Please read and spread the word 🙏🏻!
Please read and spread the word 🙏🏻!
Vacciness have saved > 6 lives/min in the last 50 years, yet their importance & safety is often questioned
“We should not allow misinformation, disinformation, ignorance and defunding to hinder vaccine development, deployment and use”
My latest @plosbiology.org
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
“We should not allow misinformation, disinformation, ignorance and defunding to hinder vaccine development, deployment and use”
My latest @plosbiology.org
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Vaccines work… and do not cause autism
Vaccines have saved millions of lives, yet their importance and safety is repeatedly in question. W e cannot let disinformation campaigns get in the way of global public health – it is not time to def...
journals.plos.org
April 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Our latest editorial in defense of vaccines and vaccination, introduces two Perspectives in this issue on priorities for outbreak vaccination, as well as the important successes of vaccines to date
Please read and spread the word 🙏🏻!
Please read and spread the word 🙏🏻!
Reposted by Scott Pluta
New results!
Evidence for an active handoff between cerebral hemispheres during target tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroscience
Evidence for an active handoff between cerebral hemispheres during target tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroscience
Evidence for an active handoff between cerebral hemispheres during target tracking
The brain has somewhat separate cognitive resources for the left and right sides of our visual field. Despite this lateralization, we have a smooth and unified perception of our environment. This rais...
www.biorxiv.org
April 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
New results!
Evidence for an active handoff between cerebral hemispheres during target tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroscience
Evidence for an active handoff between cerebral hemispheres during target tracking
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroscience
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Thrilled that our paper has been published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
We ask: how can a neuron integrate information across multiple time scales?
Twist: This neuron has extreme properties that helps it work ~300x times faster than neurons in the hippocampus
Summary 🧵to follow
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
We ask: how can a neuron integrate information across multiple time scales?
Twist: This neuron has extreme properties that helps it work ~300x times faster than neurons in the hippocampus
Summary 🧵to follow
April 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Thrilled that our paper has been published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
We ask: how can a neuron integrate information across multiple time scales?
Twist: This neuron has extreme properties that helps it work ~300x times faster than neurons in the hippocampus
Summary 🧵to follow
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
We ask: how can a neuron integrate information across multiple time scales?
Twist: This neuron has extreme properties that helps it work ~300x times faster than neurons in the hippocampus
Summary 🧵to follow
Reposted by Scott Pluta
My lab @kinshiplab.bsky.social is recruiting a postdoc 🚨 with Sept start date
Preference for in-vivo ephys / circuits experience / interest in applying quantitative methods to natural social behaviour.
Funding & visa fees for 1-yr with possible extension. Send me your CV & visit kinshiplab.org
Preference for in-vivo ephys / circuits experience / interest in applying quantitative methods to natural social behaviour.
Funding & visa fees for 1-yr with possible extension. Send me your CV & visit kinshiplab.org
April 17, 2025 at 9:28 PM
My lab @kinshiplab.bsky.social is recruiting a postdoc 🚨 with Sept start date
Preference for in-vivo ephys / circuits experience / interest in applying quantitative methods to natural social behaviour.
Funding & visa fees for 1-yr with possible extension. Send me your CV & visit kinshiplab.org
Preference for in-vivo ephys / circuits experience / interest in applying quantitative methods to natural social behaviour.
Funding & visa fees for 1-yr with possible extension. Send me your CV & visit kinshiplab.org
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Our new paper is out in Science.
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Distinct synaptic plasticity rules operate across dendritic compartments in vivo during learning
Synaptic plasticity underlies learning by modifying specific synaptic inputs to reshape neural activity and behavior. However, the rules governing which synapses will undergo different forms of plasti...
www.science.org
April 17, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Our new paper is out in Science.
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
(Plz repost)
I’ve been receiving some good news lately and will be hiring at all levels to expand the lab. Please get in contact if you are interested in reinforcement learning, neural plasticity, neural circuit dynamics, and/or hearing rehabilitation.
pierre.apostolides @ umich .edu
Tyvm
I’ve been receiving some good news lately and will be hiring at all levels to expand the lab. Please get in contact if you are interested in reinforcement learning, neural plasticity, neural circuit dynamics, and/or hearing rehabilitation.
pierre.apostolides @ umich .edu
Tyvm
April 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
(Plz repost)
I’ve been receiving some good news lately and will be hiring at all levels to expand the lab. Please get in contact if you are interested in reinforcement learning, neural plasticity, neural circuit dynamics, and/or hearing rehabilitation.
pierre.apostolides @ umich .edu
Tyvm
I’ve been receiving some good news lately and will be hiring at all levels to expand the lab. Please get in contact if you are interested in reinforcement learning, neural plasticity, neural circuit dynamics, and/or hearing rehabilitation.
pierre.apostolides @ umich .edu
Tyvm
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Thrilled to see this part of my PhD work with @rcbagot.bsky.social now out in @natcomms.nature.com!
(1/14)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(1/14)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reward integration in prefrontal-cortical and ventral-hippocampal nucleus accumbens inputs cooperatively modulates engagement - Nature Communications
Neural circuit mechanisms underlying integrating information about reward across time are not fully understood. Here, the authors show that common outcome-integration signals from the medial...
www.nature.com
April 15, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Thrilled to see this part of my PhD work with @rcbagot.bsky.social now out in @natcomms.nature.com!
(1/14)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(1/14)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Scott Pluta
Neurons just keep mixing their selectivity.
Whisking and locomotion are jointly represented in superior colliculus neurons
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#neuroscience
Whisking and locomotion are jointly represented in superior colliculus neurons
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#neuroscience
Whisking and locomotion are jointly represented in superior colliculus neurons
To navigate the world, the brain needs to have internal models of self-motion, for example of whisker movement in mice. This study shows how neurons in the midbrain superior colliculus encode internal...
journals.plos.org
April 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Neurons just keep mixing their selectivity.
Whisking and locomotion are jointly represented in superior colliculus neurons
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#neuroscience
Whisking and locomotion are jointly represented in superior colliculus neurons
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
#neuroscience
It brings me real satisfaction to see this long overdue piece in the whisker system puzzle come to fruition. Suma Chinta's implementation of the LNP model was incredible. After seeing this data for 3+ years now, it still amazes me how well SC neurons predict movements - past, present, and future! 🐭
To navigate the world, the brain needs internal models of self-motion. @scottrpluta.bsky.social &co show how #neurons in the midbrain superior colliculus encode internal & external signals to build an accurate representation of #whisker position & locomotion speed @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/42nJIGm
April 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It brings me real satisfaction to see this long overdue piece in the whisker system puzzle come to fruition. Suma Chinta's implementation of the LNP model was incredible. After seeing this data for 3+ years now, it still amazes me how well SC neurons predict movements - past, present, and future! 🐭
Yes, we were surprised to discover that the sensory map in superior colliculus (SC) is biased by stimulus value, while the map in cortex maintained a faithful representation of receptor space. Bias in the SC map emerged only when the sensory associations had opposite values. Check out the paper!
Intelligent behavior includes the ability to respond selectively to #stimuli with higher value. @scottrpluta.bsky.social &co reveal where & how in the murine neural hierarchy the transition from a map of stimulus location to a map of stimulus value occurs @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4jgxnKZ
April 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Yes, we were surprised to discover that the sensory map in superior colliculus (SC) is biased by stimulus value, while the map in cortex maintained a faithful representation of receptor space. Bias in the SC map emerged only when the sensory associations had opposite values. Check out the paper!
Across the neural hierarchy, sensory maps are thought to transition from a faithful representation of receptor space to a map weighted by learned associations. Where does this transformation occur? In our latest paper, we explore a value-based spatial transformation between cortex and midbrain.
journals.plos.org
March 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Across the neural hierarchy, sensory maps are thought to transition from a faithful representation of receptor space to a map weighted by learned associations. Where does this transformation occur? In our latest paper, we explore a value-based spatial transformation between cortex and midbrain.