Natalia Favila
@nataliafavila.bsky.social
Postdoc at DZNE Bonn | Computational Neuroscience | Data Science | Basal Ganglia | Border collies 🐶 🐶
Reposted by Natalia Favila
**How distributed is the brain-wide network that is recruited
for cognition?**
That goes to the top of the list!
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
for cognition?**
That goes to the top of the list!
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
December 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
**How distributed is the brain-wide network that is recruited
for cognition?**
That goes to the top of the list!
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
for cognition?**
That goes to the top of the list!
#neuroskyence
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Hunger increases exploration and risk-taking behavior, allowing an animal to forage for food despite risks
Hunger-induced changes in exploration result from the modulation of dopamine signaling in the tail of the striatum via the following circuit:
1/2
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Hunger-induced changes in exploration result from the modulation of dopamine signaling in the tail of the striatum via the following circuit:
1/2
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
December 5, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Hunger increases exploration and risk-taking behavior, allowing an animal to forage for food despite risks
Hunger-induced changes in exploration result from the modulation of dopamine signaling in the tail of the striatum via the following circuit:
1/2
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Hunger-induced changes in exploration result from the modulation of dopamine signaling in the tail of the striatum via the following circuit:
1/2
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Happy to see that our recent work led by @nataliafavila.bsky.social and @jcmneuro.bsky.social on amygdala interneuron function for learning and memory was selected as an Editor’s Highlight by @natcomms.nature.com
Check our work an many other great articles out here: www.nature.com/collections/...
Check our work an many other great articles out here: www.nature.com/collections/...
From brain to behaviour
On this page, we highlight some of the most exciting neuroscience papers that advance our understanding of the brain, covering neurodegeneration, neurological ...
www.nature.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Happy to see that our recent work led by @nataliafavila.bsky.social and @jcmneuro.bsky.social on amygdala interneuron function for learning and memory was selected as an Editor’s Highlight by @natcomms.nature.com
Check our work an many other great articles out here: www.nature.com/collections/...
Check our work an many other great articles out here: www.nature.com/collections/...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
December 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Natalia Favila
1/2 S1 mice display impaired extinction and abnormally sustained VTA-DA activity during US omission. Surprisingly, optogenetic excitation of VTA or IL-terminals failed to rescue the deficit. www.eneuro.org/content/12/1... #RewardSignals #neuroskyence
Altered Dopamine Signaling in Extinction-Deficient Mice
A central mechanism of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and trauma-related disorders is fear extinction. However, the mechanisms underlying fear extinction are deficient in some...
www.eneuro.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
1/2 S1 mice display impaired extinction and abnormally sustained VTA-DA activity during US omission. Surprisingly, optogenetic excitation of VTA or IL-terminals failed to rescue the deficit. www.eneuro.org/content/12/1... #RewardSignals #neuroskyence
Reposted by Natalia Favila
How do parabrachial nucleus 🧠 neurons relay threat ⚠️ information to ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons to influence long-term aversive memory 🤔 ?
Ventral Tegmental Area dopamine neurons regulated by Parabrachial Nucleus mediate long-term aversive memory
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) dopamine neurons are intermixed with glutamate and GABA neurons, which had been implicated in aversion. While it is unclear the neuronal circuitry involved in regulation…
www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
How do parabrachial nucleus 🧠 neurons relay threat ⚠️ information to ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons to influence long-term aversive memory 🤔 ?
Reposted by Natalia Favila
I am really proud that eLife have published this paper. It is a very nice paper, but you need to also read the reviews to understand why! 1/n
"The inevitability and superfluousness of cell types in spatial cognition". Intuitive cell types are found in random artificial networks using the same selection criteria neuroscientists use with actual data. elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre... 1/2
elifesciences.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am really proud that eLife have published this paper. It is a very nice paper, but you need to also read the reviews to understand why! 1/n
Reposted by Natalia Favila
New lab paper drop, this one has been a long time coming! Driven by Rob Aukema (now a postdoc with Kerry Ressler) this paper in Science Advances answered the lingering question of what role the amygdala plays in stress-induced neuroendocrine responses.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A network of basolateral amygdala projection neurons contributes to stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
A network of basolateral amygdala neurons, but not singular projections, contributes to the neuroendocrine response to stress.
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
New lab paper drop, this one has been a long time coming! Driven by Rob Aukema (now a postdoc with Kerry Ressler) this paper in Science Advances answered the lingering question of what role the amygdala plays in stress-induced neuroendocrine responses.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Ventral tegmental area GABA neurons integrate positive and negative valence - Nature Communications
The role of ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in behavior is unclear. Here, authors show that VTA GABA but not dopamine neurons integrate positive and negative valence to encode motivational conflic...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
So excited to see our latest paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com! Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41.... VTA GABA neurons have a unique role in economic decision making - they integrate reward seeking motivation and the current cost of seeking
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Our paper on the counterintuitive effects of activating dopamine "reward" neurons is out now!
Props to all the trainees, especially Fio Lozada-Perdomo and Yuzhen Chen who did most of the work. Yuzhen is applying for PhD programs now and you'd be lucky to get her!
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Props to all the trainees, especially Fio Lozada-Perdomo and Yuzhen Chen who did most of the work. Yuzhen is applying for PhD programs now and you'd be lucky to get her!
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Dual roles of Drosophila reward-encoding dopamine neurons in regulating innate and learned behaviors
Neuroscience; Behavioral neuroscience
www.cell.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Our paper on the counterintuitive effects of activating dopamine "reward" neurons is out now!
Props to all the trainees, especially Fio Lozada-Perdomo and Yuzhen Chen who did most of the work. Yuzhen is applying for PhD programs now and you'd be lucky to get her!
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Props to all the trainees, especially Fio Lozada-Perdomo and Yuzhen Chen who did most of the work. Yuzhen is applying for PhD programs now and you'd be lucky to get her!
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Join us on Dec. 2 for a webinar on the major advances in basal ganglia mapping, including cross-species cellular mapping and open-access visualization tools.
📅 Dec. 2, 9-10:30am PT
📍 Online
🔗 Register: https://alleninstitute.org/events/neuroscience-cell-types-webinars/
#studyBRAIN #neuroskyence
📅 Dec. 2, 9-10:30am PT
📍 Online
🔗 Register: https://alleninstitute.org/events/neuroscience-cell-types-webinars/
#studyBRAIN #neuroskyence
November 22, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Join us on Dec. 2 for a webinar on the major advances in basal ganglia mapping, including cross-species cellular mapping and open-access visualization tools.
📅 Dec. 2, 9-10:30am PT
📍 Online
🔗 Register: https://alleninstitute.org/events/neuroscience-cell-types-webinars/
#studyBRAIN #neuroskyence
📅 Dec. 2, 9-10:30am PT
📍 Online
🔗 Register: https://alleninstitute.org/events/neuroscience-cell-types-webinars/
#studyBRAIN #neuroskyence
Reposted by Natalia Favila
@accumbenshelley.bsky.social re-writing the textbook on neural circuit function
GABA-glutamate corelease is a mechanism for state-dependent neurotransmission https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.19.689286v1
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
@accumbenshelley.bsky.social re-writing the textbook on neural circuit function
Reposted by Natalia Favila
1/3
New Nature Neuroscience paper on estrogen & dopamine RPEs. Female rats in high-estradiol phase (proestrus) show stronger trial-by-trial adjustment of response vigor in a RL task: they start the next trial faster after better rewards.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RewardSignals #neuroskyence
New Nature Neuroscience paper on estrogen & dopamine RPEs. Female rats in high-estradiol phase (proestrus) show stronger trial-by-trial adjustment of response vigor in a RL task: they start the next trial faster after better rewards.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RewardSignals #neuroskyence
Estrogen modulates reward prediction errors and reinforcement learning - Nature Neuroscience
Dopamine encoding of reward prediction errors naturally fluctuates over females’ reproductive cycles with estrogenic signaling due to reduced expression of dopamine reuptake proteins.
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
1/3
New Nature Neuroscience paper on estrogen & dopamine RPEs. Female rats in high-estradiol phase (proestrus) show stronger trial-by-trial adjustment of response vigor in a RL task: they start the next trial faster after better rewards.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RewardSignals #neuroskyence
New Nature Neuroscience paper on estrogen & dopamine RPEs. Female rats in high-estradiol phase (proestrus) show stronger trial-by-trial adjustment of response vigor in a RL task: they start the next trial faster after better rewards.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RewardSignals #neuroskyence
Reposted by Natalia Favila
My paper is out!
Computational modeling of error patterns during reward-based learning show evidence that habit learning (value free!) supplements working memory in 7 human data sets.
rdcu.be/eQjLN
Computational modeling of error patterns during reward-based learning show evidence that habit learning (value free!) supplements working memory in 7 human data sets.
rdcu.be/eQjLN
A habit and working memory model as an alternative account of human reward-based learning
Nature Human Behaviour - In this study, Collins proposes an alternative dual-process (working memory and habit) model of reinforcement learning in humans.
rdcu.be
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
My paper is out!
Computational modeling of error patterns during reward-based learning show evidence that habit learning (value free!) supplements working memory in 7 human data sets.
rdcu.be/eQjLN
Computational modeling of error patterns during reward-based learning show evidence that habit learning (value free!) supplements working memory in 7 human data sets.
rdcu.be/eQjLN
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Independent NeuroScience Services INSS was registered as a company on 14th November 2016, which means it's our 9th birthday today! As a birthday present we've treated ourselves to an SfN exhibitor booth for the first time ever. Come and say hello at Booth #3327
November 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Independent NeuroScience Services INSS was registered as a company on 14th November 2016, which means it's our 9th birthday today! As a birthday present we've treated ourselves to an SfN exhibitor booth for the first time ever. Come and say hello at Booth #3327
Reposted by Natalia Favila
" 60 per cent of UK university libraries are considering dropping their big deals with the five major academic publisher"
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Chaos is coming for scholarly publishing - Research Professional News
Buckling of commercial models alongside maturing of community-led efforts promises major shifts, says Caroline Edwards
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
" 60 per cent of UK university libraries are considering dropping their big deals with the five major academic publisher"
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Delighted to see this finally out: rdcu.be/eO9oW
We tested whether brief striatal dopamine release events influence the vigor of skilled movements. Despite popular belief, we did not find any evidence linking rapid dopamine dynamics to motor vigor on a moment-by-moment basis.
We tested whether brief striatal dopamine release events influence the vigor of skilled movements. Despite popular belief, we did not find any evidence linking rapid dopamine dynamics to motor vigor on a moment-by-moment basis.
Subsecond dopamine fluctuations do not specify the vigor of ongoing actions
Nature Neuroscience - Liu and colleagues show that the vigor (that is, speed and amplitude) of dexterous movements is not controlled by ongoing fluctuations in extracellular dopamine within the...
rdcu.be
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Delighted to see this finally out: rdcu.be/eO9oW
We tested whether brief striatal dopamine release events influence the vigor of skilled movements. Despite popular belief, we did not find any evidence linking rapid dopamine dynamics to motor vigor on a moment-by-moment basis.
We tested whether brief striatal dopamine release events influence the vigor of skilled movements. Despite popular belief, we did not find any evidence linking rapid dopamine dynamics to motor vigor on a moment-by-moment basis.
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Genes, environment & aging all shape Parkinson’s but timing may be key. ⏳
New biomarkers like α-synuclein SAAs highlight when risk turns to disease, and why some never progress.
#Parkinsons #NeuroSkyence
Source: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
New biomarkers like α-synuclein SAAs highlight when risk turns to disease, and why some never progress.
#Parkinsons #NeuroSkyence
Source: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
November 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Genes, environment & aging all shape Parkinson’s but timing may be key. ⏳
New biomarkers like α-synuclein SAAs highlight when risk turns to disease, and why some never progress.
#Parkinsons #NeuroSkyence
Source: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
New biomarkers like α-synuclein SAAs highlight when risk turns to disease, and why some never progress.
#Parkinsons #NeuroSkyence
Source: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Using containers for reproducible computing russpoldrack.substack.com/p/using-cont... - the latest in my Better Code, Better Science series
Using containers for reproducible computing
Better Code, Better Science: Chapter 6, Part 2
russpoldrack.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Using containers for reproducible computing russpoldrack.substack.com/p/using-cont... - the latest in my Better Code, Better Science series
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Dopamine ≠ reward but turns out, also not the learning molecule we thought.
If DA RPE is the emperor, this work SCREAMS it was running naked all the time.
This paper got quite some attention recently. Let's simplify it a bit.
A🧵with my toy model and notes:
#neuroskyence #compneuro #NeuroAI
If DA RPE is the emperor, this work SCREAMS it was running naked all the time.
This paper got quite some attention recently. Let's simplify it a bit.
A🧵with my toy model and notes:
#neuroskyence #compneuro #NeuroAI
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Dopamine ≠ reward but turns out, also not the learning molecule we thought.
If DA RPE is the emperor, this work SCREAMS it was running naked all the time.
This paper got quite some attention recently. Let's simplify it a bit.
A🧵with my toy model and notes:
#neuroskyence #compneuro #NeuroAI
If DA RPE is the emperor, this work SCREAMS it was running naked all the time.
This paper got quite some attention recently. Let's simplify it a bit.
A🧵with my toy model and notes:
#neuroskyence #compneuro #NeuroAI
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Rank- and Threat-Dependent Social Modulation of Innate Defensive Behaviors https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.31.685719v1
November 1, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Rank- and Threat-Dependent Social Modulation of Innate Defensive Behaviors https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.31.685719v1
Reposted by Natalia Favila
Check out this #incredible work on #stability and #control during movement across #humans, #mice, and #flies.
Congratulations @nidhise.bsky.social and @antoinecomite.bsky.social 👏🏽⭐
Congratulations @nidhise.bsky.social and @antoinecomite.bsky.social 👏🏽⭐
Excited that this work discovering cross-species signatures of stabilizing foot placement control is now out in PNAS!
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
@antoinecomite.bsky.social
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
@antoinecomite.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Check out this #incredible work on #stability and #control during movement across #humans, #mice, and #flies.
Congratulations @nidhise.bsky.social and @antoinecomite.bsky.social 👏🏽⭐
Congratulations @nidhise.bsky.social and @antoinecomite.bsky.social 👏🏽⭐
Reposted by Natalia Favila
🚨Pre-print alert! 🚨https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.17.683171v1
Our new study tackles the question: do all neurons in motor cortices (MC) encode movement & coordinate as we move? Answering this question will be key for effectively targeting motor representations in BCIs.
Our new study tackles the question: do all neurons in motor cortices (MC) encode movement & coordinate as we move? Answering this question will be key for effectively targeting motor representations in BCIs.
The spatiotemporal structure of neural activity in motor cortex during reaching
Intracortical brain-computer interfaces (BCI) leverage knowledge about neural representations to translate movement-related neural activity into actions. BCI implants have targeted broad cortical regi...
www.biorxiv.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🚨Pre-print alert! 🚨https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.17.683171v1
Our new study tackles the question: do all neurons in motor cortices (MC) encode movement & coordinate as we move? Answering this question will be key for effectively targeting motor representations in BCIs.
Our new study tackles the question: do all neurons in motor cortices (MC) encode movement & coordinate as we move? Answering this question will be key for effectively targeting motor representations in BCIs.
Reposted by Natalia Favila
New paper from the lab 🚨
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
authors.elsevier.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New paper from the lab 🚨
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...
Led by Ali Golbabaei, this study explores the how the composition of prefrontal cortical engrams changes with memory age:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lzT-3BtfH...