Hunter Schone
@hunterschone.bsky.social
www.hunterschone.com
Assistive technologies and neuroplasticity | NIH BRAIN Initiative postdoctoral fellow in the Collinger lab at the University of Pittsburgh | Prev: UCL and NIMHgov | 🏳️🌈
Assistive technologies and neuroplasticity | NIH BRAIN Initiative postdoctoral fellow in the Collinger lab at the University of Pittsburgh | Prev: UCL and NIMHgov | 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Hunter Schone
@hunterschone.bsky.social
· Aug 21
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
Reposted by Hunter Schone
🚨Job alert🚨
The lab has up to *3 postdoc openings* for comp systems neuroscientists interested in describing and manipulating neural population dynamics mediating behaviour
This is part of a collaborative ARIA grant "4D precision control of cortical dynamics"
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/383909
The lab has up to *3 postdoc openings* for comp systems neuroscientists interested in describing and manipulating neural population dynamics mediating behaviour
This is part of a collaborative ARIA grant "4D precision control of cortical dynamics"
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/383909
3 Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Champalimaud Foundation (Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr.
euraxess.ec.europa.eu
November 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
🚨Job alert🚨
The lab has up to *3 postdoc openings* for comp systems neuroscientists interested in describing and manipulating neural population dynamics mediating behaviour
This is part of a collaborative ARIA grant "4D precision control of cortical dynamics"
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/383909
The lab has up to *3 postdoc openings* for comp systems neuroscientists interested in describing and manipulating neural population dynamics mediating behaviour
This is part of a collaborative ARIA grant "4D precision control of cortical dynamics"
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/383909
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Come join us at University of Toronto. We're hiring a Professor of computational cognitive neuroscience.
#neuroAI #compneuro jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-...
#neuroAI #compneuro jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-...
Professor - Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
Professor - Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
jobs.utoronto.ca
September 5, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Come join us at University of Toronto. We're hiring a Professor of computational cognitive neuroscience.
#neuroAI #compneuro jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-...
#neuroAI #compneuro jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
🦵We’re sure you’ve heard of phantom limbs - the sensation or pain felt in a limb that has been amputated. What if we told you that….
…the brain never forgets the missing limb?🧠
…the brain never forgets the missing limb?🧠
Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation - Nature Neuroscience
Longitudinal neuroimaging of participants with planned arm amputations shows that the cortical body map remains stable after amputation, with no evidence of hand or face reorganization, thus challengi...
www.nature.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:41 AM
🦵We’re sure you’ve heard of phantom limbs - the sensation or pain felt in a limb that has been amputated. What if we told you that….
…the brain never forgets the missing limb?🧠
…the brain never forgets the missing limb?🧠
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Longitudinal neuroimaging in three adults, followed before and up to 5 years after arm amputation, reveals that amputation does not trigger large-scale cortical reorganization
@hunterschone.bsky.social @cibaker.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@hunterschone.bsky.social @cibaker.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation - Nature Neuroscience
Longitudinal neuroimaging of participants with planned arm amputations shows that the cortical body map remains stable after amputation, with no evidence of hand or face reorganization, thus challengi...
www.nature.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Longitudinal neuroimaging in three adults, followed before and up to 5 years after arm amputation, reveals that amputation does not trigger large-scale cortical reorganization
@hunterschone.bsky.social @cibaker.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@hunterschone.bsky.social @cibaker.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Phantom feelings in lost limbs present a puzzle for neuroscientists who were taught to believe that once a body part is amputated, another body part will creep into its spot on the brain’s map of the body.
A new imaging study undermines that theory. https://scim.ag/45SInZQ
A new imaging study undermines that theory. https://scim.ag/45SInZQ
After an amputation, the brain’s map of the body is more stable than previously thought
Imaging study could inform future prosthetics and treatments for phantom limb pain
scim.ag
August 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Phantom feelings in lost limbs present a puzzle for neuroscientists who were taught to believe that once a body part is amputated, another body part will creep into its spot on the brain’s map of the body.
A new imaging study undermines that theory. https://scim.ag/45SInZQ
A new imaging study undermines that theory. https://scim.ag/45SInZQ
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Preprint out -- using intramuscular microelectrode arrays to detect residual motoneuron activity in tetraplegic spinal cord injury, and then using that activity for control
Credit to my other co-first authors Agnese Grison and Ciara Gibbs
1/n
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Credit to my other co-first authors Agnese Grison and Ciara Gibbs
1/n
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Multidimensional motoneuron control using intramuscular microelectrode arrays in tetraplegic spinal cord injury
Loss of hand function after spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impairs independence and quality of life. Although residual muscle activity recorded on the skin can provide intuitive control signal...
www.medrxiv.org
July 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Preprint out -- using intramuscular microelectrode arrays to detect residual motoneuron activity in tetraplegic spinal cord injury, and then using that activity for control
Credit to my other co-first authors Agnese Grison and Ciara Gibbs
1/n
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Credit to my other co-first authors Agnese Grison and Ciara Gibbs
1/n
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
"primary somatosensory cortex stays remarkably constant even years after arm amputation. The study refutes foundational knowledge in the field of neuroscience that losing a limb results in a drastic reorganization of this region, the authors say." www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The brain’s map of the body is surprisingly stable — even after a limb is lost
Study challenges the textbook idea that the brain region that processes body sensations reorganizes itself after limb amputation.
www.nature.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:35 AM
"primary somatosensory cortex stays remarkably constant even years after arm amputation. The study refutes foundational knowledge in the field of neuroscience that losing a limb results in a drastic reorganization of this region, the authors say." www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Of course I stumble onto this paper right before I head to discuss post-injury remapping in my cog neuro lecture this morning www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🙃
Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation - Nature Neuroscience
Longitudinal neuroimaging of participants with planned arm amputations shows that the cortical body map remains stable after amputation, with no evidence of hand or face reorganization, thus challengi...
www.nature.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Of course I stumble onto this paper right before I head to discuss post-injury remapping in my cog neuro lecture this morning www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🙃
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Well, neuroplasticity — you had a good run.
A brain-imaging study of people with amputated arms has upended a long-standing belief
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
The brain’s map of the body is surprisingly stable — even after a limb is lost
Study challenges the textbook idea that the brain region that processes body sensations reorganizes itself after limb amputation.
go.nature.com
August 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Well, neuroplasticity — you had a good run.
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Really delighted to announce that our paper is now out! We fMRI scanned patients both before amputation and after - allowing us to make direct comparisons.
We found that the cortical maps are extremely stable, almost unchanged - even 5 years after amputation!
We found that the cortical maps are extremely stable, almost unchanged - even 5 years after amputation!
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 22, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Really delighted to announce that our paper is now out! We fMRI scanned patients both before amputation and after - allowing us to make direct comparisons.
We found that the cortical maps are extremely stable, almost unchanged - even 5 years after amputation!
We found that the cortical maps are extremely stable, almost unchanged - even 5 years after amputation!
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Contrary to what many neuroscientists think: the brain holds a map of the body that remains unchanged even after a limb has been amputated: https://bit.ly/3UyFkRx
@mrccbu.bsky.social @pittdeptofmed.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social @hunterschone.bsky.social 🧪 #PhantomLimb #Research
@mrccbu.bsky.social @pittdeptofmed.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social @hunterschone.bsky.social 🧪 #PhantomLimb #Research
August 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Contrary to what many neuroscientists think: the brain holds a map of the body that remains unchanged even after a limb has been amputated: https://bit.ly/3UyFkRx
@mrccbu.bsky.social @pittdeptofmed.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social @hunterschone.bsky.social 🧪 #PhantomLimb #Research
@mrccbu.bsky.social @pittdeptofmed.bsky.social @plasticity-lab.bsky.social @hunterschone.bsky.social 🧪 #PhantomLimb #Research
Reposted by Hunter Schone
“This neural configuration before amputation remains after the amputation. And it’s not ‘use it or lose it,’” says John W. Krakauer.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/plasticity/a...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/plasticity/a...
Adult human cortex does not reorganize after amputation
The results from a new longitudinal study contradict classic findings in monkeys but may not warrant a rewriting of the textbooks just yet.
www.thetransmitter.org
August 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
“This neural configuration before amputation remains after the amputation. And it’s not ‘use it or lose it,’” says John W. Krakauer.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/plasticity/a...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/plasticity/a...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Hunter Schone
This is an incredible study and such important work. It also aligns with what we are seeing in the complimentary situation after stoke- rather than losing the peripheral limb, losing the central map.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34172735/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37940595/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34172735/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37940595/
Barrel cortex plasticity after photothrombotic stroke involves potentiating responses of pre-existing circuits but not functional remapping to new circuits - PubMed
Recovery after stroke is thought to be mediated by adaptive circuit plasticity, whereby surviving neurons assume the roles of those that died. However, definitive longitudinal evidence of neurons chan...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This is an incredible study and such important work. It also aligns with what we are seeing in the complimentary situation after stoke- rather than losing the peripheral limb, losing the central map.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34172735/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37940595/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34172735/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37940595/
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Another amazing piece of work by @hunterschone.bsky.social
The only person I know that could have pulled off such a complicated project.
Really proud to be a part of it!
The only person I know that could have pulled off such a complicated project.
Really proud to be a part of it!
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Another amazing piece of work by @hunterschone.bsky.social
The only person I know that could have pulled off such a complicated project.
Really proud to be a part of it!
The only person I know that could have pulled off such a complicated project.
Really proud to be a part of it!
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Loss of sensory input has long been used to study brain plasticity - here, we challenge the prevailing view of massive reorganization in a longitudinal study of amputees
Massive effort from @hunterschone.bsky.social who was in the awesome NIH/UCL PhD program with @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
Massive effort from @hunterschone.bsky.social who was in the awesome NIH/UCL PhD program with @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Loss of sensory input has long been used to study brain plasticity - here, we challenge the prevailing view of massive reorganization in a longitudinal study of amputees
Massive effort from @hunterschone.bsky.social who was in the awesome NIH/UCL PhD program with @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
Massive effort from @hunterschone.bsky.social who was in the awesome NIH/UCL PhD program with @plasticity-lab.bsky.social
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Really amazing work that challenges some long-held beliefs about cortical plasticity.
"We show adult sensory body maps are unaltered after amputation, suggesting deprivation-driven plasticity is even more marginal than argued by the strongest opponents of cortical reorganization."
"We show adult sensory body maps are unaltered after amputation, suggesting deprivation-driven plasticity is even more marginal than argued by the strongest opponents of cortical reorganization."
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Really amazing work that challenges some long-held beliefs about cortical plasticity.
"We show adult sensory body maps are unaltered after amputation, suggesting deprivation-driven plasticity is even more marginal than argued by the strongest opponents of cortical reorganization."
"We show adult sensory body maps are unaltered after amputation, suggesting deprivation-driven plasticity is even more marginal than argued by the strongest opponents of cortical reorganization."
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Super pleased to see this heroic effort finally in print!! Many thanks to Hunter, our amazing study participants, and everyone else who made this fantastic study come true.
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Super pleased to see this heroic effort finally in print!! Many thanks to Hunter, our amazing study participants, and everyone else who made this fantastic study come true.
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
Reposted by Hunter Schone
$323 million worth of neuroscience funding has been cut from NIH according to a new analysis from @thetransmitter.bsky.social/ @claudia-lopez.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
NIH cuts quash $323 million for neuroscience research and training
“I am frightened for the state of the future of our field if this isn't reversed rapidly,” says Joshua Gordon, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and former director of the National…
www.thetransmitter.org
June 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
$323 million worth of neuroscience funding has been cut from NIH according to a new analysis from @thetransmitter.bsky.social/ @claudia-lopez.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nih-...
Reposted by Hunter Schone
We had a great time at the @bcisociety.bsky.social meeting in Banff, Canada. We gathered almost all (@hunterschone.bsky.social?) the CBRG attendees (current and former) for the official photo.
@jenpitt.bsky.social @giacomovalle.bsky.social @johndowney.bsky.social @miskarous.bsky.social
@jenpitt.bsky.social @giacomovalle.bsky.social @johndowney.bsky.social @miskarous.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
We had a great time at the @bcisociety.bsky.social meeting in Banff, Canada. We gathered almost all (@hunterschone.bsky.social?) the CBRG attendees (current and former) for the official photo.
@jenpitt.bsky.social @giacomovalle.bsky.social @johndowney.bsky.social @miskarous.bsky.social
@jenpitt.bsky.social @giacomovalle.bsky.social @johndowney.bsky.social @miskarous.bsky.social
Reposted by Hunter Schone
I have confirmation from several sources now that all T32s, many F30s and F31s, and most or all Center awards (P30, P50) have been terminated at Columbia.
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
March 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I have confirmation from several sources now that all T32s, many F30s and F31s, and most or all Center awards (P30, P50) have been terminated at Columbia.
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
@standupforscience.bsky.social in Pittsburgh with @jeffweiss.bsky.social and Brian Dekleva
March 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
@standupforscience.bsky.social in Pittsburgh with @jeffweiss.bsky.social and Brian Dekleva
Reposted by Hunter Schone
One of the most-viewed PNAS articles in the last week is “Neural network retuning and neural predictors of learning success associated with cello training.” Explore the article here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
February 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
One of the most-viewed PNAS articles in the last week is “Neural network retuning and neural predictors of learning success associated with cello training.” Explore the article here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.
Reposted by Hunter Schone
Most of what we know about health and disease centers on the male body. This 2016 NIH policy was a huge win for those of us that want the scientific body of knowledge to serve, well, all bodies.
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies
Such a shift would “put us back in the dark ages in terms of our science,” says neuroscientist Anne Murphy, who helped to formulate the original policy.
www.thetransmitter.org
February 25, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Most of what we know about health and disease centers on the male body. This 2016 NIH policy was a huge win for those of us that want the scientific body of knowledge to serve, well, all bodies.