Adel Halawa
@ahalawa.bsky.social
Neuroscience PhD student at McGill
Co-supervised by Adrien Peyrache & Blake Richards
Co-supervised by Adrien Peyrache & Blake Richards
Reposted by Adel Halawa
I’m pleased to share our new paper, “Hippocampal ripple diversity organizes neuronal reactivation dynamics in the offline brain”, out in @cp-neuron.bsky.social !
With @vitorlds.bsky.social and David Dupret, we show that diversity in ripple current profiles shapes reactivation dynamics
With @vitorlds.bsky.social and David Dupret, we show that diversity in ripple current profiles shapes reactivation dynamics
October 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I’m pleased to share our new paper, “Hippocampal ripple diversity organizes neuronal reactivation dynamics in the offline brain”, out in @cp-neuron.bsky.social !
With @vitorlds.bsky.social and David Dupret, we show that diversity in ripple current profiles shapes reactivation dynamics
With @vitorlds.bsky.social and David Dupret, we show that diversity in ripple current profiles shapes reactivation dynamics
Reposted by Adel Halawa
For those interested in open neuroscience learning tools, check out the preprint for “RetINaBox: A hands-on tool for experimental neuroscience" that a couple students in my lab worked on in collaboration with the Trenholm lab:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧠📈 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧠📈 🧪
RetINaBox: A hands-on learning tool for experimental neuroscience
An exciting aspect of neuroscience research is developing and testing hypotheses via experimentation. However, due to logistical and financial hurdles, this compelling part of neuroscience research is...
www.biorxiv.org
September 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
For those interested in open neuroscience learning tools, check out the preprint for “RetINaBox: A hands-on tool for experimental neuroscience" that a couple students in my lab worked on in collaboration with the Trenholm lab:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧠📈 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧠📈 🧪
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Stoked to see this paper finally out!
It answers two big questions: where visual objects are encoded in the brain, and how head-direction cells get oriented using visual landmarks.
Super fun collaboration with @mace-lab.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
It answers two big questions: where visual objects are encoded in the brain, and how head-direction cells get oriented using visual landmarks.
Super fun collaboration with @mace-lab.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
September 11, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Stoked to see this paper finally out!
It answers two big questions: where visual objects are encoded in the brain, and how head-direction cells get oriented using visual landmarks.
Super fun collaboration with @mace-lab.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
It answers two big questions: where visual objects are encoded in the brain, and how head-direction cells get oriented using visual landmarks.
Super fun collaboration with @mace-lab.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Thrilled to share this work, long time in the making! Carried through creatively by @siddjakes.bsky.social after initial design & piloting by @trackingskills.bsky.social, with help from @trackingactions.bsky.social. Modeling in collaboration with Massimo Vergassola & Nicola Rigolli.
Mice navigate scent trails using predictive policies
Animals actively sense their environment to extract features of interest to guide behaviors. For mammals, odors are prominent environmental features which are sampled by active modulation of sniffing ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Thrilled to share this work, long time in the making! Carried through creatively by @siddjakes.bsky.social after initial design & piloting by @trackingskills.bsky.social, with help from @trackingactions.bsky.social. Modeling in collaboration with Massimo Vergassola & Nicola Rigolli.
Reposted by Adel Halawa
NWB just announced that they’re heading for a fiscal cliff next year. 😔
It feels like NWB was really just taking off in terms of data reuse — efforts like these take time and investment.
If you want to help push back their cliff, reach out to @bendichter.com
It feels like NWB was really just taking off in terms of data reuse — efforts like these take time and investment.
If you want to help push back their cliff, reach out to @bendichter.com
NWB just turned 10 years old! Researchers worldwide have downloaded 1.9 PB of NWB data from @dandiarchive.org. This animation shows the reach of NWB, facilitating collaboration across the globe. What impact has open neurophysiology data had on your science? Share your stories! 🧠
@openscience
@openscience
August 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
NWB just announced that they’re heading for a fiscal cliff next year. 😔
It feels like NWB was really just taking off in terms of data reuse — efforts like these take time and investment.
If you want to help push back their cliff, reach out to @bendichter.com
It feels like NWB was really just taking off in terms of data reuse — efforts like these take time and investment.
If you want to help push back their cliff, reach out to @bendichter.com
Reposted by Adel Halawa
In neuroscience, we often try to understand systems by analyzing their representations — using tools like regression or RSA. But are these analyses biased towards discovering a subset of what a system represents? If you're interested in this question, check out our new commentary! Thread:
![What do representations tell us about a system? Image of a mouse with a scope showing a vector of activity patterns, and a neural network with a vector of unit activity patterns
Common analyses of neural representations: Encoding models (relating activity to task features) drawing of an arrow from a trace saying [on_____on____] to a neuron and spike train. Comparing models via neural predictivity: comparing two neural networks by their R^2 to mouse brain activity. RSA: assessing brain-brain or model-brain correspondence using representational dissimilarity matrices](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:e6ewzleebkdi2y2bxhjxoknt/bafkreiav2io2ska33o4kizf57co5bboqyyfdpnozo2gxsicrfr5l7qzjcq@jpeg)
August 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
In neuroscience, we often try to understand systems by analyzing their representations — using tools like regression or RSA. But are these analyses biased towards discovering a subset of what a system represents? If you're interested in this question, check out our new commentary! Thread:
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Check out our new review/perspective (w/ @juangallego.bsky.social & Devika Narain) on neural manifolds in the brain! It was a lot of fun to think through these ideas over the past couple of years, and I'm excited it's finally out in the world!
🔗: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄: rdcu.be/ex8hW
🔗: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄: rdcu.be/ex8hW
A neural manifold view of the brain - Nature Neuroscience
Recent advances in neuroscience have revealed how neural population activity underlying behavior can be well described by topological objects called neural manifolds. Understanding how nature, nurture...
www.nature.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Check out our new review/perspective (w/ @juangallego.bsky.social & Devika Narain) on neural manifolds in the brain! It was a lot of fun to think through these ideas over the past couple of years, and I'm excited it's finally out in the world!
🔗: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄: rdcu.be/ex8hW
🔗: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄: rdcu.be/ex8hW
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Attractors are usually not mechanisms - new blog post: open.substack.com/pub/kording/...
Attractors are usually not mechanisms
The mathematical objects can not be. And the "attractor models" have not been established as mechanisms in mammals
open.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Attractors are usually not mechanisms - new blog post: open.substack.com/pub/kording/...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Self supervised learning of spatial representations from episodic memories. Led by undergraduate student in my lab. Very proud!
🧠 Can a neural network build a spatial map from scattered episodic experiences like humans do?
We introduce the Episodic Spatial World Model (ESWM)—a model that constructs flexible internal world models from sparse, disjoint memories.
🧵👇 [1/12]
We introduce the Episodic Spatial World Model (ESWM)—a model that constructs flexible internal world models from sparse, disjoint memories.
🧵👇 [1/12]
June 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Self supervised learning of spatial representations from episodic memories. Led by undergraduate student in my lab. Very proud!
Reposted by Adel Halawa
What's the best neural evidence that the brain does in-context learning? In other words, learning through activity dynamics rather than through synaptic plasticity.
June 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
What's the best neural evidence that the brain does in-context learning? In other words, learning through activity dynamics rather than through synaptic plasticity.
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Thrilled to announce I'll be starting my own neuro-theory lab, as an Assistant Professor at @yaleneuro.bsky.social @wutsaiyale.bsky.social this Fall!
My group will study offline learning in the sleeping brain: how neural activity self-organizes during sleep and the computations it performs. 🧵
My group will study offline learning in the sleeping brain: how neural activity self-organizes during sleep and the computations it performs. 🧵
June 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Thrilled to announce I'll be starting my own neuro-theory lab, as an Assistant Professor at @yaleneuro.bsky.social @wutsaiyale.bsky.social this Fall!
My group will study offline learning in the sleeping brain: how neural activity self-organizes during sleep and the computations it performs. 🧵
My group will study offline learning in the sleeping brain: how neural activity self-organizes during sleep and the computations it performs. 🧵
Reposted by Adel Halawa
New preprint! 🧠🤖
How do we build neural decoders that are:
⚡️ fast enough for real-time use
🎯 accurate across diverse tasks
🌍 generalizable to new sessions, subjects, and even species?
We present POSSM, a hybrid SSM architecture that optimizes for all three of these axes!
🧵1/7
How do we build neural decoders that are:
⚡️ fast enough for real-time use
🎯 accurate across diverse tasks
🌍 generalizable to new sessions, subjects, and even species?
We present POSSM, a hybrid SSM architecture that optimizes for all three of these axes!
🧵1/7
June 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
New preprint! 🧠🤖
How do we build neural decoders that are:
⚡️ fast enough for real-time use
🎯 accurate across diverse tasks
🌍 generalizable to new sessions, subjects, and even species?
We present POSSM, a hybrid SSM architecture that optimizes for all three of these axes!
🧵1/7
How do we build neural decoders that are:
⚡️ fast enough for real-time use
🎯 accurate across diverse tasks
🌍 generalizable to new sessions, subjects, and even species?
We present POSSM, a hybrid SSM architecture that optimizes for all three of these axes!
🧵1/7
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Preprint Alert 🚀
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) often assumes that agents know when other agents cooperate with them. But for humans, this isn’t always the case. For example, plains indigenous groups used to leave resources for others to use at effigies called Manitokan.
1/8
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) often assumes that agents know when other agents cooperate with them. But for humans, this isn’t always the case. For example, plains indigenous groups used to leave resources for others to use at effigies called Manitokan.
1/8
June 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Preprint Alert 🚀
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) often assumes that agents know when other agents cooperate with them. But for humans, this isn’t always the case. For example, plains indigenous groups used to leave resources for others to use at effigies called Manitokan.
1/8
Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) often assumes that agents know when other agents cooperate with them. But for humans, this isn’t always the case. For example, plains indigenous groups used to leave resources for others to use at effigies called Manitokan.
1/8
My first-ever 1st author paper is now on bioRxiv 🙂 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Special thanks to my masters supervisor Steve Prescott!
Also with @lauramedlock.bsky.social , @cdedek.bsky.social & more
Special thanks to my masters supervisor Steve Prescott!
Also with @lauramedlock.bsky.social , @cdedek.bsky.social & more
Adaptation in somatosensory afferents improves rate and temporal coding of vibrotactile stimulus features
Adaptation is a common neural phenomenon wherein sustained stimulation evokes fewer action potentials (spikes) over time. Rather than simply reduce firing rate, adaptation may help neurons form better...
www.biorxiv.org
May 15, 2025 at 10:25 AM
My first-ever 1st author paper is now on bioRxiv 🙂 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Special thanks to my masters supervisor Steve Prescott!
Also with @lauramedlock.bsky.social , @cdedek.bsky.social & more
Special thanks to my masters supervisor Steve Prescott!
Also with @lauramedlock.bsky.social , @cdedek.bsky.social & more
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Many recent posts on free energy. Here is a summary from my class “Statistical mechanics of learning and computation” on the many relations between free energy, KL divergence, large deviation theory, entropy, Boltzmann distribution, cumulants, Legendre duality, saddle points, fluctuation-response…
May 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Many recent posts on free energy. Here is a summary from my class “Statistical mechanics of learning and computation” on the many relations between free energy, KL divergence, large deviation theory, entropy, Boltzmann distribution, cumulants, Legendre duality, saddle points, fluctuation-response…
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Neural manifolds: more than the sum of their neurons — a Journal Club article by Juan Alvaro Gallego
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juangallego.bsky.social
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juangallego.bsky.social
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
Neural manifolds: more than the sum of their neurons - Nature Reviews Neuroscience
In this Journal Club, Juan Gallego discusses a 2014 article that provided a first causal hint that neural manifolds may not only be a convenient way to interpret neural population activity.
www.nature.com
April 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Neural manifolds: more than the sum of their neurons — a Journal Club article by Juan Alvaro Gallego
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juangallego.bsky.social
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juangallego.bsky.social
#neuroscience #neuroskyence
Reposted by Adel Halawa
1/7: Super excited to share our new paper! This one should be of interest to neuroscientists and deep learning theory folks. This paper was a collaboration with Alexandre Payeur, @averyryoo.bsky.social, Thomas Jiralerspong, @mattperich.bsky.social, Luca Mazzucato, @glajoie.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
1/7: Super excited to share our new paper! This one should be of interest to neuroscientists and deep learning theory folks. This paper was a collaboration with Alexandre Payeur, @averyryoo.bsky.social, Thomas Jiralerspong, @mattperich.bsky.social, Luca Mazzucato, @glajoie.bsky.social
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Basic pain researchers Steven Prescott and Stéphanie Ratté critique the clinical relevance of preclinical studies in the field and highlight areas for improvement.
By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/pain/basic-p...
By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/pain/basic-p...
Basic pain research ‘is not working’: Q&A with Steven Prescott and Stéphanie Ratté
Prescott and Ratté critique the clinical relevance of preclinical studies in the field and highlight areas for improvement.
www.thetransmitter.org
April 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Basic pain researchers Steven Prescott and Stéphanie Ratté critique the clinical relevance of preclinical studies in the field and highlight areas for improvement.
By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/pain/basic-p...
By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/pain/basic-p...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
One of our lab trainees, Nour Chahine, just dropped a track on Spotify, and it's 🔥 .
I wish I had done the same back in grad school… if I had any talent.
open.spotify.com/track/4t6E5u...
I wish I had done the same back in grad school… if I had any talent.
open.spotify.com/track/4t6E5u...
Sharks
16BL, Nour · Sharks · Song · 2025
open.spotify.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
One of our lab trainees, Nour Chahine, just dropped a track on Spotify, and it's 🔥 .
I wish I had done the same back in grad school… if I had any talent.
open.spotify.com/track/4t6E5u...
I wish I had done the same back in grad school… if I had any talent.
open.spotify.com/track/4t6E5u...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
I joined this podcast to talk about sleep, dreams, and James Joyce. Yes, all in one conversation. It was a lot of fun!
🔊 Heads up: the audio is a bit rough at the start, but it clears up quickly.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b...
🔊 Heads up: the audio is a bit rough at the start, but it clears up quickly.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b...
Bonus: Professors Adrien Peyrache and Arjun Krishnaswamy on Wake and the Sleeping Brain
Podcast Episode · WAKE: Cold Reading Finnegans Wake · 2025-03-26 · 1h 11m
podcasts.apple.com
April 16, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I joined this podcast to talk about sleep, dreams, and James Joyce. Yes, all in one conversation. It was a lot of fun!
🔊 Heads up: the audio is a bit rough at the start, but it clears up quickly.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b...
🔊 Heads up: the audio is a bit rough at the start, but it clears up quickly.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
Top-down feedback is ubiquitous in the brain and computationally distinct, but rarely modeled in deep neural networks. What happens when a DNN has biologically-inspired top-down feedback? 🧠📈
Our new paper explores this: elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Our new paper explores this: elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Top-down feedback matters: Functional impact of brainlike connectivity motifs on audiovisual integration
elifesciences.org
April 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Top-down feedback is ubiquitous in the brain and computationally distinct, but rarely modeled in deep neural networks. What happens when a DNN has biologically-inspired top-down feedback? 🧠📈
Our new paper explores this: elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Our new paper explores this: elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
One of the most surprising findings is that inhibitory cells are highly selective and even work together to suppress the activity of other brain cells.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
April 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
One of the most surprising findings is that inhibitory cells are highly selective and even work together to suppress the activity of other brain cells.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Adel Halawa
You already know the Ship of Theseus, but do you also know the Ship of Thesis? It was constructed out of 3 loosely related papers which tell the tales of heroic quests and mythic psychodrama. It was only constructed once and then allowed to sink into oblivion.
March 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
You already know the Ship of Theseus, but do you also know the Ship of Thesis? It was constructed out of 3 loosely related papers which tell the tales of heroic quests and mythic psychodrama. It was only constructed once and then allowed to sink into oblivion.