Michèle Insanally, PhD
@minsanally.bsky.social
Assistant Prof at Pitt Med. Perception, learning, plasticity.
Formerly @UC Berkeley, NYU, Columbia
Formerly @UC Berkeley, NYU, Columbia
Pinned
INSANALLY LAB
insanallylab.com
Hi Bluesky 🦋! Great to see so many friends and colleagues here!
I'm an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine using experimental and computational approaches to study perception, learning, and plasticity 🧠
insanallylab.com
I'm an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine using experimental and computational approaches to study perception, learning, and plasticity 🧠
insanallylab.com
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Latest from the lab: Laura Haetzel finds that excitatory transmission from auditory thalamus to tail of striatum is accompanied by a sparse inhibitory projection. This allows for state-dependent control of striatal output.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Inhibitory inputs from thalamus promote resilient spiking in tail of striatum
Neuroscience; Sensory neuroscience
www.cell.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Latest from the lab: Laura Haetzel finds that excitatory transmission from auditory thalamus to tail of striatum is accompanied by a sparse inhibitory projection. This allows for state-dependent control of striatal output.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
we are almost booked! Only a handful of openings left. So, please do attend if you register. Also, here is the poster!
October 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
we are almost booked! Only a handful of openings left. So, please do attend if you register. Also, here is the poster!
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Our first preprint has been accepted for publication www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... !!
tldr: @ezeyulu00.bsky.social , @amartyapradhan.bsky.social , @dkoveal.bsky.social and I developed a method using injectable nanoparticles to turn mice into…constellations in motion. 🧵⤵️
tldr: @ezeyulu00.bsky.social , @amartyapradhan.bsky.social , @dkoveal.bsky.social and I developed a method using injectable nanoparticles to turn mice into…constellations in motion. 🧵⤵️
High-resolution in vivo kinematic tracking with customized injectable fluorescent nanoparticles
Injectable fluorescent nanoparticles were used to track positions on and inside of freely moving animals at high resolution.
www.science.org
October 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Our first preprint has been accepted for publication www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... !!
tldr: @ezeyulu00.bsky.social , @amartyapradhan.bsky.social , @dkoveal.bsky.social and I developed a method using injectable nanoparticles to turn mice into…constellations in motion. 🧵⤵️
tldr: @ezeyulu00.bsky.social , @amartyapradhan.bsky.social , @dkoveal.bsky.social and I developed a method using injectable nanoparticles to turn mice into…constellations in motion. 🧵⤵️
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
#Cosyne2026 is now open for business!
Show us what you got both for the main meeting & workshop proposals 🧠🥳🧠🥳🧠
Show us what you got both for the main meeting & workshop proposals 🧠🥳🧠🥳🧠
September 9, 2025 at 7:20 AM
#Cosyne2026 is now open for business!
Show us what you got both for the main meeting & workshop proposals 🧠🥳🧠🥳🧠
Show us what you got both for the main meeting & workshop proposals 🧠🥳🧠🥳🧠
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
New workshop! Just before SFN, join the Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Neuroscience of the Simons Foundation for a workshop on pynapple and NeMoS. Learn how to use these open-source packages to analyze and model neural data! Accommodation & meals provided. Link ⬇️
August 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
New workshop! Just before SFN, join the Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Neuroscience of the Simons Foundation for a workshop on pynapple and NeMoS. Learn how to use these open-source packages to analyze and model neural data! Accommodation & meals provided. Link ⬇️
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Episode #30 in #TheoreticalNeurosciencePodcast: On co-dependent excitatory and inhibitory plasticity – with Tim Vogels @tpvogels.bsky.social
theoreticalneuroscience.no/thn30
How can excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity, co-exist in spiking neural network models? With co-dependence!
theoreticalneuroscience.no/thn30
How can excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity, co-exist in spiking neural network models? With co-dependence!
July 19, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Episode #30 in #TheoreticalNeurosciencePodcast: On co-dependent excitatory and inhibitory plasticity – with Tim Vogels @tpvogels.bsky.social
theoreticalneuroscience.no/thn30
How can excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity, co-exist in spiking neural network models? With co-dependence!
theoreticalneuroscience.no/thn30
How can excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity, co-exist in spiking neural network models? With co-dependence!
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Know a brilliant postdoc? Encourage them to apply for the SWC Emerging Neuroscientists Seminar Series — a chance to present to the London neuroscience community.
Open to postdocs worldwide, travel & accommodation covered, no CV’s or references needed.
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/content/...
Open to postdocs worldwide, travel & accommodation covered, no CV’s or references needed.
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/content/...
June 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Know a brilliant postdoc? Encourage them to apply for the SWC Emerging Neuroscientists Seminar Series — a chance to present to the London neuroscience community.
Open to postdocs worldwide, travel & accommodation covered, no CV’s or references needed.
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/content/...
Open to postdocs worldwide, travel & accommodation covered, no CV’s or references needed.
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/content/...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Very happy to see a Transmitter (@thetransmitter.bsky.social) piece on our recent work on estrous cycle modulation of hippocampal structure and function. Thanks to Sydney Wyatt (@sydneywyatt.bsky.social) for covering the work and its context:
www.thetransmitter.org/neuroendocri...
www.thetransmitter.org/neuroendocri...
Spatial learning circuitry fluctuates in step with estrous cycle in mice
Cyclic shifts in estradiol levels coincide with changes in dendritic spine density and the activity of place cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a new study shows.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Very happy to see a Transmitter (@thetransmitter.bsky.social) piece on our recent work on estrous cycle modulation of hippocampal structure and function. Thanks to Sydney Wyatt (@sydneywyatt.bsky.social) for covering the work and its context:
www.thetransmitter.org/neuroendocri...
www.thetransmitter.org/neuroendocri...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
New powerful article up in the New York Times on cancelled and delayed grants
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Here Are the Nearly 2,500 Medical Research Grants Canceled or Delayed by Trump (Gift Article)
Some cuts have been starkly visible, but the country’s medical grant-making machinery has also radically transformed outside the public eye.
www.nytimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New powerful article up in the New York Times on cancelled and delayed grants
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
🧠🤖 Computational Neuroscience summer school IMBIZO in Cape Town is open for applications again!
💻🧬 3 weeks of intense coursework & projects with support from expert tutors and faculty
📈Apply until July 1st!
🔗https://imbizo.africa/
💻🧬 3 weeks of intense coursework & projects with support from expert tutors and faculty
📈Apply until July 1st!
🔗https://imbizo.africa/
May 8, 2025 at 8:19 AM
🧠🤖 Computational Neuroscience summer school IMBIZO in Cape Town is open for applications again!
💻🧬 3 weeks of intense coursework & projects with support from expert tutors and faculty
📈Apply until July 1st!
🔗https://imbizo.africa/
💻🧬 3 weeks of intense coursework & projects with support from expert tutors and faculty
📈Apply until July 1st!
🔗https://imbizo.africa/
✨Excited to share that my trainee Tiange Hou will be pursuing her PhD at Scripps Research this Fall! Looking forward to learning about the discoveries this talented researcher will make in the future! #skyence #PhD #neuroscience
April 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
✨Excited to share that my trainee Tiange Hou will be pursuing her PhD at Scripps Research this Fall! Looking forward to learning about the discoveries this talented researcher will make in the future! #skyence #PhD #neuroscience
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
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 Michèle Insanally, PhD
Was just pointed to this important preprint from @minsanally.bsky.social :
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4...
tl;dr: classically "non-responsive" cells are preferentially recruited by top-down inputs and are critical for learning.
So, my neuro-friends: Don't ignore untuned cells!!!!
🧠📈 🧪
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4...
tl;dr: classically "non-responsive" cells are preferentially recruited by top-down inputs and are critical for learning.
So, my neuro-friends: Don't ignore untuned cells!!!!
🧠📈 🧪
Dynamic gating of perceptual flexibility by non-classically responsive cortical neurons
The ability to flexibly respond to sensory cues in dynamic environments is essential to adaptive auditory-guided behaviors. Cortical spiking responses during behavior are highly diverse, ranging from ...
www.researchsquare.com
April 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Was just pointed to this important preprint from @minsanally.bsky.social :
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4...
tl;dr: classically "non-responsive" cells are preferentially recruited by top-down inputs and are critical for learning.
So, my neuro-friends: Don't ignore untuned cells!!!!
🧠📈 🧪
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4...
tl;dr: classically "non-responsive" cells are preferentially recruited by top-down inputs and are critical for learning.
So, my neuro-friends: Don't ignore untuned cells!!!!
🧠📈 🧪
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
(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 Michèle Insanally, PhD
1/ Why do patients with late-stage cancer lose motivation & sink into apathy?
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
A neuroimmune circuit mediates cancer cachexia-associated apathy
Cachexia, a severe wasting syndrome associated with inflammatory conditions, often leads to multiorgan failure and death. Patients with cachexia experience extreme fatigue, apathy, and clinical depres...
doi.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
1/ Why do patients with late-stage cancer lose motivation & sink into apathy?
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
🚨New in @science.org🚨
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos
Compositionality, the capacity to combine meaningful elements into larger meaningful structures, is a hallmark of human language. Compositionality can be trivial (the combination’s meaning is the sum ...
www.science.org
April 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🚨New in @science.org🚨
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
With Simon Townsend (@nccrlanguage.bsky.social) and Martin Surbeck, we have investigated whether wild bonobos can combine calls in complex combinations, similar to how humans combine words into sentences 🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#ScienceResearch #AnimalCommunication
Come check out our posters at Cosyne this year! #cosyne2025 @cosynemeeting.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Come check out our posters at Cosyne this year! #cosyne2025 @cosynemeeting.bsky.social
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
🌟 Exciting news!
The Call for Symposia and Technical Workshops for #FENS2026 in Barcelona is now open! 🧠
🗓️ Deadline: 5 May 2025
🔗 Find out more and submit your proposal today: loom.ly/riIGtu0
#NeuroscienceConference #CallForProposals
The Call for Symposia and Technical Workshops for #FENS2026 in Barcelona is now open! 🧠
🗓️ Deadline: 5 May 2025
🔗 Find out more and submit your proposal today: loom.ly/riIGtu0
#NeuroscienceConference #CallForProposals
February 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
🌟 Exciting news!
The Call for Symposia and Technical Workshops for #FENS2026 in Barcelona is now open! 🧠
🗓️ Deadline: 5 May 2025
🔗 Find out more and submit your proposal today: loom.ly/riIGtu0
#NeuroscienceConference #CallForProposals
The Call for Symposia and Technical Workshops for #FENS2026 in Barcelona is now open! 🧠
🗓️ Deadline: 5 May 2025
🔗 Find out more and submit your proposal today: loom.ly/riIGtu0
#NeuroscienceConference #CallForProposals
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Applications are open for the summer school 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.
compneuronrsn.org
Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Located in beautiful Eresfjord, Norway 🇳🇴
#Neuroscience #ComputationalNeuroscience #KavliNeuro
@kavlintnu.bsky.social
compneuronrsn.org
Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Located in beautiful Eresfjord, Norway 🇳🇴
#Neuroscience #ComputationalNeuroscience #KavliNeuro
@kavlintnu.bsky.social
Mathematical Methods in Computational Neuroscience
Summer school in Eresfjord, Norway (July 8th - 26th, 2024)
compneuronrsn.org
March 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Applications are open for the summer school 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.
compneuronrsn.org
Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Located in beautiful Eresfjord, Norway 🇳🇴
#Neuroscience #ComputationalNeuroscience #KavliNeuro
@kavlintnu.bsky.social
compneuronrsn.org
Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Located in beautiful Eresfjord, Norway 🇳🇴
#Neuroscience #ComputationalNeuroscience #KavliNeuro
@kavlintnu.bsky.social
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
We can't wait for the next annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal from September 23–26, 2025 at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon.
Our current president, Steve Chang sends everybody a few words: "This upcoming meeting is extra special for a couple of reasons..."
Our current president, Steve Chang sends everybody a few words: "This upcoming meeting is extra special for a couple of reasons..."
We have news: #S4SN2025 will be from September 23rd to 26th 2025 in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal! ☀️
Stay tuned for more info and mark your calendars! 🗓️
Stay tuned for more info and mark your calendars! 🗓️
March 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We can't wait for the next annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal from September 23–26, 2025 at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon.
Our current president, Steve Chang sends everybody a few words: "This upcoming meeting is extra special for a couple of reasons..."
Our current president, Steve Chang sends everybody a few words: "This upcoming meeting is extra special for a couple of reasons..."
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
We are excited to announce that nominations are open for our “Rising stars in neuroscience” 2025 report. We seek to feature early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to community-building. Submit a nominee here:
bit.ly/4bsoBXD
bit.ly/4bsoBXD
The Transmitter’s ‘Rising stars in neuroscience’ 2025
Recognize early-career researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the field. Selected nominees will be featured on our website and in our annual book.
bit.ly
March 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
We are excited to announce that nominations are open for our “Rising stars in neuroscience” 2025 report. We seek to feature early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to community-building. Submit a nominee here:
bit.ly/4bsoBXD
bit.ly/4bsoBXD
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
How does the brain integrate sensory inputs to shape memory and behaviour?
In a recent SWC seminar @jangrundemann.bsky.social, from @dzne.science, shared his research on the auditory thalamus and its role in learning.
Read the Q&A:
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/qa/bridg...
In a recent SWC seminar @jangrundemann.bsky.social, from @dzne.science, shared his research on the auditory thalamus and its role in learning.
Read the Q&A:
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/qa/bridg...
March 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
How does the brain integrate sensory inputs to shape memory and behaviour?
In a recent SWC seminar @jangrundemann.bsky.social, from @dzne.science, shared his research on the auditory thalamus and its role in learning.
Read the Q&A:
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/qa/bridg...
In a recent SWC seminar @jangrundemann.bsky.social, from @dzne.science, shared his research on the auditory thalamus and its role in learning.
Read the Q&A:
www.sainsburywellcome.org/web/qa/bridg...
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
If you know anyone who would like to spend the summer contributing to open-source neuroscience software (and getting paid), please get in touch.
Projects can include neuroanatomy, behaviour, ephys and data management tools.
Projects can include neuroanatomy, behaviour, ephys and data management tools.
Excited to announce that we will be taking part in the Google Summer of Code this year!
If you'd like to get paid to contribute to open-source neuroscience software, please get in touch.
Full details here:
neuroinformatics.dev/get-involved...
If you'd like to get paid to contribute to open-source neuroscience software, please get in touch.
Full details here:
neuroinformatics.dev/get-involved...
Google Summer of Code — NIU
neuroinformatics.dev
February 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
If you know anyone who would like to spend the summer contributing to open-source neuroscience software (and getting paid), please get in touch.
Projects can include neuroanatomy, behaviour, ephys and data management tools.
Projects can include neuroanatomy, behaviour, ephys and data management tools.
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Looking forward to this!
📢Abstract submissions is 16th March AOE for the Annual Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (May 27-30th; National Opera Theatre, Split, Croatia)
A truly outstanding line-up of keynotes, session chairs, and invited speakers. We'd love you to come along too!
www.neuromonster.org
A truly outstanding line-up of keynotes, session chairs, and invited speakers. We'd love you to come along too!
www.neuromonster.org
February 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Looking forward to this!
Reposted by Michèle Insanally, PhD
Hey Neuroscientists 🧠! Heading to San Diego for #SfN25 in November? Join us for an exciting all-day symposium at @scripps.edu in beautiful La Jolla, just a couple of days before the conference. It's free to attend, so register early and plan your travels accordingly! 🧪
January 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Hey Neuroscientists 🧠! Heading to San Diego for #SfN25 in November? Join us for an exciting all-day symposium at @scripps.edu in beautiful La Jolla, just a couple of days before the conference. It's free to attend, so register early and plan your travels accordingly! 🧪