Wei-Chung Allen Lee
@darbly.bsky.social
circuit motifs of action selection, execution, & refinement | functional connectomics | assoc prof | lee.hms.harvard.edu
Key annotations from: Tony Azevedo, @tuthill.bsky.social , @zandawala.bsky.social, @hokuba.bsky.social, Steffi Hampel, @andrew-seeds.bsky.social, Kathi Eichler
@jefferis.bsky.social, Michael Pankratz, @fleyes.bsky.social, & Marie Suver.
Renderings by @amysterling.bsky.social and Arie Matsliah
@jefferis.bsky.social, Michael Pankratz, @fleyes.bsky.social, & Marie Suver.
Renderings by @amysterling.bsky.social and Arie Matsliah
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Key annotations from: Tony Azevedo, @tuthill.bsky.social , @zandawala.bsky.social, @hokuba.bsky.social, Steffi Hampel, @andrew-seeds.bsky.social, Kathi Eichler
@jefferis.bsky.social, Michael Pankratz, @fleyes.bsky.social, & Marie Suver.
Renderings by @amysterling.bsky.social and Arie Matsliah
@jefferis.bsky.social, Michael Pankratz, @fleyes.bsky.social, & Marie Suver.
Renderings by @amysterling.bsky.social and Arie Matsliah
Our data support an architecture of distributed, parallelized, and embodied control, reminiscent of “subsumption architectures” from autonomous robotics, where behavior-centric feedback loops are organized s that they can be combined or subsumed to generate complex or resolve competing behaviors.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Our data support an architecture of distributed, parallelized, and embodied control, reminiscent of “subsumption architectures” from autonomous robotics, where behavior-centric feedback loops are organized s that they can be combined or subsumed to generate complex or resolve competing behaviors.
* Brain regions involved in learning and navigation supervise these circuits.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
* Brain regions involved in learning and navigation supervise these circuits.
* Long-range pathways are organized to permit coordination within and across modules to fine-tune, prioritize, resolve conflicts, and link related behaviors in sequences. This may offer structural substrates for behavioral compositionality.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
* Long-range pathways are organized to permit coordination within and across modules to fine-tune, prioritize, resolve conflicts, and link related behaviors in sequences. This may offer structural substrates for behavioral compositionality.
Using the this influence metric, we find:
* Local sensorimotor loops linking matched sensors and effectors are basic building blocks of behavioral control.
* Local sensorimotor loops linking matched sensors and effectors are basic building blocks of behavioral control.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Using the this influence metric, we find:
* Local sensorimotor loops linking matched sensors and effectors are basic building blocks of behavioral control.
* Local sensorimotor loops linking matched sensors and effectors are basic building blocks of behavioral control.
Moreover, Zaki Ajabi developed a computationally efficient method for quantifying the “influence” any neuron has on any other neuron in the CNS. We applied this method to estimate the pairwise interactions between all cells in the CNS, amounting to more than 20 billion influence scores.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Moreover, Zaki Ajabi developed a computationally efficient method for quantifying the “influence” any neuron has on any other neuron in the CNS. We applied this method to estimate the pairwise interactions between all cells in the CNS, amounting to more than 20 billion influence scores.
The dataset includes ~160,000 cells, segmented nuclei and mitochondria, synapses and neurotransmitter predictions, and annotations linking the CNS to peripheral sensory, motor, and visceral systems.
Info: banc.community
Data: codex.flywire.ai?dataset=banc
Viewer: ng.banc.community/view
Info: banc.community
Data: codex.flywire.ai?dataset=banc
Viewer: ng.banc.community/view
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The dataset includes ~160,000 cells, segmented nuclei and mitochondria, synapses and neurotransmitter predictions, and annotations linking the CNS to peripheral sensory, motor, and visceral systems.
Info: banc.community
Data: codex.flywire.ai?dataset=banc
Viewer: ng.banc.community/view
Info: banc.community
Data: codex.flywire.ai?dataset=banc
Viewer: ng.banc.community/view
How is the nervous system organized to coordinate behavior? To approach this massive question, a team led by @asbates.bsky.social, @jasper-tms.bsky.social, @mindyisminsu.bsky.social, & Helen Yang present the BANC: a Brain and Nerve Cord connectome.
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
🧪#Neuroskyence
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
🧪#Neuroskyence
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
How is the nervous system organized to coordinate behavior? To approach this massive question, a team led by @asbates.bsky.social, @jasper-tms.bsky.social, @mindyisminsu.bsky.social, & Helen Yang present the BANC: a Brain and Nerve Cord connectome.
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
🧪#Neuroskyence
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
🧪#Neuroskyence
Using a connectome-informed computational model, @briandepasquale.bsky.social showed that recurrent primary sensory connectivity boosts the downstream neurons output under realistic background odor conditions, meaning recurrent synapses make CO₂ detection robust, even in a noisy world.
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Using a connectome-informed computational model, @briandepasquale.bsky.social showed that recurrent primary sensory connectivity boosts the downstream neurons output under realistic background odor conditions, meaning recurrent synapses make CO₂ detection robust, even in a noisy world.
Compared to recent fruit fly connectomes, this massive increase in recurrent connectivity and ribbon-like synapses was unique to CO₂ circuitry in the mosquito.
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Compared to recent fruit fly connectomes, this massive increase in recurrent connectivity and ribbon-like synapses was unique to CO₂ circuitry in the mosquito.
At some of these recurrent sensory neuron contacts, we found ribbon-like presynaptic structures, these had previously only been seen in vertebrates. In vertebrate neurons, ribbon synapses are thought to enable sustained or graded transmission. These could further enhance recurrent signaling.
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
At some of these recurrent sensory neuron contacts, we found ribbon-like presynaptic structures, these had previously only been seen in vertebrates. In vertebrate neurons, ribbon synapses are thought to enable sustained or graded transmission. These could further enhance recurrent signaling.
We find high recurrent connectivity between the sensory neurons that detect CO₂. Surprising because such neurons are thought to be independent sensors, averaged to reduce noise. Coupling them together could amplify noise, but could lead to higher sensitivity or longer signaling (more on this later).
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
We find high recurrent connectivity between the sensory neurons that detect CO₂. Surprising because such neurons are thought to be independent sensors, averaged to reduce noise. Coupling them together could amplify noise, but could lead to higher sensitivity or longer signaling (more on this later).
We used large-scale electron microscopy to reconstruct the wiring and connectivity of the CO₂-responsive microcircuit (Glomerulus 1) and its neighbors in a mosquito brain.
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
We used large-scale electron microscopy to reconstruct the wiring and connectivity of the CO₂-responsive microcircuit (Glomerulus 1) and its neighbors in a mosquito brain.
Female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes track humans by sensing host cues including CO₂ humans release. CO₂ activates mosquitoes and sensitizes them to other cues like odor and heat, but how is this implemented in its brain?
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes track humans by sensing host cues including CO₂ humans release. CO₂ activates mosquitoes and sensitizes them to other cues like odor and heat, but how is this implemented in its brain?
With @megyounger.bsky.social's lab, et al., we present the first connectomics work in the disease-vector mosquito Aedes aegypti, revealing how its brain is wired to detect host cues.
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#Neuroscience #Connectomics #vEM #VectorBiology 🧪
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#Neuroscience #Connectomics #vEM #VectorBiology 🧪
August 3, 2025 at 3:51 AM
With @megyounger.bsky.social's lab, et al., we present the first connectomics work in the disease-vector mosquito Aedes aegypti, revealing how its brain is wired to detect host cues.
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#Neuroscience #Connectomics #vEM #VectorBiology 🧪
Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#Neuroscience #Connectomics #vEM #VectorBiology 🧪
Delighted to be here. Beautiful new walk. Looking forward to the science tomorrow!
January 29, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Delighted to be here. Beautiful new walk. Looking forward to the science tomorrow!
Thanks Albert, @jefferis.bsky.social, & Joergen for a wonderful visit. Future of connectomics is bright at the @mrclmb.bsky.social.
December 8, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Thanks Albert, @jefferis.bsky.social, & Joergen for a wonderful visit. Future of connectomics is bright at the @mrclmb.bsky.social.
Amazed seeing @bdsc.bsky.social in person the other week. Remarkably, they maintain >100,000 fly lines - with geo-redundancy - and provide them to users around the world! A vital scientific resource.
October 6, 2024 at 1:35 AM
Amazed seeing @bdsc.bsky.social in person the other week. Remarkably, they maintain >100,000 fly lines - with geo-redundancy - and provide them to users around the world! A vital scientific resource.
Ran a nice section of the Sarapiquí with an outfitter last week. A near continuous 2-hour stretch of class III/IV with nice boilers and surfing holes, interspersed with a couple 90 degree walls and some technical drops. Felt like a cross between the Dead and Penobscot rivers. Pura Vida!
August 28, 2023 at 3:03 AM
Ran a nice section of the Sarapiquí with an outfitter last week. A near continuous 2-hour stretch of class III/IV with nice boilers and surfing holes, interspersed with a couple 90 degree walls and some technical drops. Felt like a cross between the Dead and Penobscot rivers. Pura Vida!
Food at local CR sodas was great. I was particularly taken with delicacy of tamales at El Turnito. Each soda seems to have its own delicious chilera recipe to boot.
August 27, 2023 at 2:29 AM
Food at local CR sodas was great. I was particularly taken with delicacy of tamales at El Turnito. Each soda seems to have its own delicious chilera recipe to boot.
