Nick Blauch
@nblauch.bsky.social
postdoc @ harvard | neural networks | cortical topography | learning | vision | language | neurotech
https://nblauch.github.io
https://nblauch.github.io
Pinned
Nick Blauch
@nblauch.bsky.social
· Jun 16
What shapes the topography of high-level visual cortex?
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
To be clear, there is nothing inconsistent with 1) large scale “areas” being extremely functionally relevant and 2) them being just one scale of a locally and globally coherent map of activity!
September 5, 2025 at 12:36 AM
To be clear, there is nothing inconsistent with 1) large scale “areas” being extremely functionally relevant and 2) them being just one scale of a locally and globally coherent map of activity!
Reposted by Nick Blauch
What makes visual processing in the brain so powerful and flexible? Very excited to share our new work where we started from SOTA models that accurately predict dynamic brain activity during hours of video watching, and investigated core computations underlying visual perception
July 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
What makes visual processing in the brain so powerful and flexible? Very excited to share our new work where we started from SOTA models that accurately predict dynamic brain activity during hours of video watching, and investigated core computations underlying visual perception
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Excited to share a new preprint w/ @annaschapiro.bsky.social! Why are there gradients of plasticity and sparsity along the neocortex–hippocampus hierarchy? We show that brain-like organization of these properties emerges in ANNs that meta-learn layer-wise plasticity and sparsity. bit.ly/4kB1yg5
A gradient of complementary learning systems emerges through meta-learning
Long-term learning and memory in the primate brain rely on a series of hierarchically organized subsystems extending from early sensory neocortical areas to the hippocampus. The components differ in t...
bit.ly
July 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Excited to share a new preprint w/ @annaschapiro.bsky.social! Why are there gradients of plasticity and sparsity along the neocortex–hippocampus hierarchy? We show that brain-like organization of these properties emerges in ANNs that meta-learn layer-wise plasticity and sparsity. bit.ly/4kB1yg5
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Exciting new preprint from the lab: “Adopting a human developmental visual diet yields robust, shape-based AI vision”. A most wonderful case where brain inspiration massively improved AI solutions.
Work with @zejinlu.bsky.social @sushrutthorat.bsky.social and Radek Cichy
arxiv.org/abs/2507.03168
Work with @zejinlu.bsky.social @sushrutthorat.bsky.social and Radek Cichy
arxiv.org/abs/2507.03168
arxiv.org
July 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Exciting new preprint from the lab: “Adopting a human developmental visual diet yields robust, shape-based AI vision”. A most wonderful case where brain inspiration massively improved AI solutions.
Work with @zejinlu.bsky.social @sushrutthorat.bsky.social and Radek Cichy
arxiv.org/abs/2507.03168
Work with @zejinlu.bsky.social @sushrutthorat.bsky.social and Radek Cichy
arxiv.org/abs/2507.03168
Very cool work and very in line with how we've been thinking about category selectivity in topographic neural net models -- one scale of an inherently interactive topographic network.
Their results provide important constraints for the next generation of active, multimodal neural net models.
Their results provide important constraints for the next generation of active, multimodal neural net models.
How is high-level visual cortex organized?
In a new preprint with @martinhebart.bsky.social & @kathadobs.bsky.social, we show that category-selective areas encode a rich, multidimensional feature space 🌈
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroskyence
🧵 1/n
In a new preprint with @martinhebart.bsky.social & @kathadobs.bsky.social, we show that category-selective areas encode a rich, multidimensional feature space 🌈
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroskyence
🧵 1/n
www.biorxiv.org
June 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Very cool work and very in line with how we've been thinking about category selectivity in topographic neural net models -- one scale of an inherently interactive topographic network.
Their results provide important constraints for the next generation of active, multimodal neural net models.
Their results provide important constraints for the next generation of active, multimodal neural net models.
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Can seemingly complex multi-area computations in the brain emerge from the need for energy efficient computation? In our new preprint on predictive remapping in active vision, we report on such a case.
Let us take you for a spin. 1/6 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Let us take you for a spin. 1/6 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
June 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Can seemingly complex multi-area computations in the brain emerge from the need for energy efficient computation? In our new preprint on predictive remapping in active vision, we report on such a case.
Let us take you for a spin. 1/6 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Let us take you for a spin. 1/6 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Nick Blauch
June 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Nick Blauch
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
June 16, 2025 at 9:46 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
What shapes the topography of high-level visual cortex?
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
June 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
What shapes the topography of high-level visual cortex?
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Excited to share a new pre-print addressing this question with connectivity-constrained interactive topographic networks, titled "Retinotopic scaffolding of high-level vision", w/ Marlene Behrmann & David Plaut.
🧵 ↓ 1/n
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Our new story. Now also posted by the official side. :)
Activity patterns drift. Representational maps are preserved.
Even after single neuron ablations, representational maps are recovered within days.
Activity patterns drift. Representational maps are preserved.
Even after single neuron ablations, representational maps are recovered within days.
How homeostatic mechanisms protect the representational map of sounds after neuron loss in mouse auditory cortex
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Homeostasis of a representational map in the neocortex - Nature Neuroscience
This study investigates how homeostatic mechanisms endow sensory representations in the auditory cortex with resilience against neuron loss. The map of sounds has the ability to recover after microabl...
www.nature.com
June 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Our new story. Now also posted by the official side. :)
Activity patterns drift. Representational maps are preserved.
Even after single neuron ablations, representational maps are recovered within days.
Activity patterns drift. Representational maps are preserved.
Even after single neuron ablations, representational maps are recovered within days.
Reposted by Nick Blauch
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
May 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
Reposted by Nick Blauch
What are the organizing dimensions of language processing?
We show that voxel responses during comprehension are organized along 2 main axes: processing difficulty & meaning abstractness—revealing an interpretable, topographic representational basis for language processing shared across individuals
We show that voxel responses during comprehension are organized along 2 main axes: processing difficulty & meaning abstractness—revealing an interpretable, topographic representational basis for language processing shared across individuals
May 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
What are the organizing dimensions of language processing?
We show that voxel responses during comprehension are organized along 2 main axes: processing difficulty & meaning abstractness—revealing an interpretable, topographic representational basis for language processing shared across individuals
We show that voxel responses during comprehension are organized along 2 main axes: processing difficulty & meaning abstractness—revealing an interpretable, topographic representational basis for language processing shared across individuals
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Respectfully, news orgs should not report that "Harvard can no longer" do xyz -- Trump just saying some shit doesn't make it law. Stop carrying water for him rhetorically.
Harvard can no longer enroll international students after the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. The school called the decision "unlawful."
Trump administration revokes Harvard's ability to enroll international students
Harvard can no longer enroll international students after the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. The school called the decision "unlawful."
www.wbur.org
May 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Respectfully, news orgs should not report that "Harvard can no longer" do xyz -- Trump just saying some shit doesn't make it law. Stop carrying water for him rhetorically.
Reposted by Nick Blauch
🧪 Basic science boosts the economy:
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually
Economists find public R&D drives a quarter of U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself
www.forbes.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🧪 Basic science boosts the economy:
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
"The proposed dismantling of NSF [and NIH] raises an urgent question: do these cuts actually save money or merely delay spending until the bill gets larger?
The answer is clear: these cuts will cost the economy billions."
Reposted by Nick Blauch
I’m happy to be at #VSS2025 and share what our lab has been up to this year!
I’m also honored to receive this year’s young investigator award and will give a short talk at the awards ceremony Monday
I’m also honored to receive this year’s young investigator award and will give a short talk at the awards ceremony Monday
May 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I’m happy to be at #VSS2025 and share what our lab has been up to this year!
I’m also honored to receive this year’s young investigator award and will give a short talk at the awards ceremony Monday
I’m also honored to receive this year’s young investigator award and will give a short talk at the awards ceremony Monday
Reposted by Nick Blauch
How Your Brain Splits Space to Double Its Perception Power
neurosciencenews.com/brain-hemisp...
#neuroscience
neurosciencenews.com/brain-hemisp...
#neuroscience
How Your Brain Splits Space to Double Its Perception Power - Neuroscience News
Despite popular myths about left- and right-brain thinking, research shows the hemispheres truly do divide up certain tasks—especially visual spatial perception.
neurosciencenews.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:44 AM
How Your Brain Splits Space to Double Its Perception Power
neurosciencenews.com/brain-hemisp...
#neuroscience
neurosciencenews.com/brain-hemisp...
#neuroscience
Just back from an awesome visit to Georgia Tech to speak at their Computational Cognition Postdoc Day. Very impressed by their community. And really happy to finally have met my good friend and student @neurotaha.bsky.social in person after knowing each other remotely for over 3 years!
May 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Just back from an awesome visit to Georgia Tech to speak at their Computational Cognition Postdoc Day. Very impressed by their community. And really happy to finally have met my good friend and student @neurotaha.bsky.social in person after knowing each other remotely for over 3 years!
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Time to catch up on the past week’s news about science and medicine in the US. Whew. 1/10
May 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Time to catch up on the past week’s news about science and medicine in the US. Whew. 1/10
Reposted by Nick Blauch
in press @natcomms.nature.com 🌟
"Multimodal gradients unify local and global cortical organization"
7T MRI + cytoarchitectonics reveal a sensory-paralimbic axis of areal specialization & integration
led by superstar Yezhou Wang & a terrific team of friends & colleagues
▶️ doi.org/10.1038/s414...
"Multimodal gradients unify local and global cortical organization"
7T MRI + cytoarchitectonics reveal a sensory-paralimbic axis of areal specialization & integration
led by superstar Yezhou Wang & a terrific team of friends & colleagues
▶️ doi.org/10.1038/s414...
April 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
in press @natcomms.nature.com 🌟
"Multimodal gradients unify local and global cortical organization"
7T MRI + cytoarchitectonics reveal a sensory-paralimbic axis of areal specialization & integration
led by superstar Yezhou Wang & a terrific team of friends & colleagues
▶️ doi.org/10.1038/s414...
"Multimodal gradients unify local and global cortical organization"
7T MRI + cytoarchitectonics reveal a sensory-paralimbic axis of areal specialization & integration
led by superstar Yezhou Wang & a terrific team of friends & colleagues
▶️ doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by Nick Blauch
NIH is going to hold a town hall for staff with director Jayanta Bhattacharya, and apparently the form to submit questions is publicly available. In case that’s of interest.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
April 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM
NIH is going to hold a town hall for staff with director Jayanta Bhattacharya, and apparently the form to submit questions is publicly available. In case that’s of interest.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Reposted by Nick Blauch
I got an email yesterday afternoon that my NSF SPRF Postdoctoral Fellowship was terminated. My grant focused on testing interventions to address online misinformation and I was 8 months into a two year appointment.
Friday Night Massacre of accurate information.
A devastating day for the USA as tens of millions of dollars of grants seeking to combat the spread of false information were terminated. We have a federal govenrment that does not consider the verifiable truth a priority. www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
A devastating day for the USA as tens of millions of dollars of grants seeking to combat the spread of false information were terminated. We have a federal govenrment that does not consider the verifiable truth a priority. www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Updates on NSF Priorities
www.nsf.gov
April 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I got an email yesterday afternoon that my NSF SPRF Postdoctoral Fellowship was terminated. My grant focused on testing interventions to address online misinformation and I was 8 months into a two year appointment.
Reposted by Nick Blauch
Dendritic arbors structure memories | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Dendritic arbors structure memories
Synapses on different dendritic domains store distinct types of information
www.science.org
April 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Dendritic arbors structure memories | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Nick Blauch
There is a PR narrative quickly emerging about “entitlement” of elite universities, as if this $ is some sort of subsidy
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value
April 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
There is a PR narrative quickly emerging about “entitlement” of elite universities, as if this $ is some sort of subsidy
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value
Harvard & others must counter this quickly
The $ doesn’t flow into Harvard’s coffers - this is grant money, most of which goes to research the govt has agreed has social value