So, I split long-term memory trials by whether the target was spaced near to or far from its nearest competitor

And I found that representations in early visual cortex for ‘near’ trials were nearly 2x as precise as ‘far’ trials!

This was a cool find, one we didn’t design the study for.

12/15

We found that, compared to perception, visual representations were much less precise in early visual cortex during both long-term memory (a replication of prior work in the lab) AND working memory!

This disparity b/w perception and memory was largest in V1, converging later in the hierarchy

7/15

We show that the working memory response intuitively begins similar to perception, but then gradually becomes less precise over the delay in early visual cortex, becoming more like long-term memory!

6/15

To do this we first used fMRI to map small mm-size regions in visual cortex to regions in visual space that they most respond to.

This let us both (1) map visual areas V1-IPS0, and (2) measure how much an area’s activation pattern spreads across the visual field, aka it’s spatial precision

5/15

To test this we scanned humans w/ fMRI while they either viewed, held in working memory, or retrieved from longterm memory a peripheral target. After a delay, they saccaded to the target location

We measured the precision of visual representations across the visual hierarchy during the delay

4/15

A couple more of my #proko intro to art assignments

I love sketching in blue pencil

#art

Years of neuro work and months of grantwriting to be told I would 'provide low returns on investment' b/c I'm latino and applied to a grant meant for URM scientists

Coulda just said "is no longer a priority"

Nah, they *want* us to feel small

Let them try — I deserve to be here

#neuroskyence #DEI

Proud pengu

#sketch #art #penguin

History books will emphatically single out Trump as the worst, and most damaging, president in America

Anything short would be a disservice to the future

3) Responses in visual cortex when seeing the objects were also predictive of memory behavior: for objects later successfully recalled vs forgotten we found greater activation near its location (and suppressed elsewhere) showing that spatial tuning at encoding predicted subsequent memory

6/7

We found:

1) Population responses in early visual cortex during single-shot memory were spatially tuned to the object’s original location during both recognition (old/new) and location recall.

This even though spatial location was never *explicitly* probed during recognition.

4/7

We scanned people with fMRI while they were tested on their recognition and recall of peripheral objects seen once each.

We used population receptive field (pRF) modeling to map the resulting responses in visual cortex to visual space, allowing us to quantify their spatial tuning.

3/7

I’m putting together an NIH F31 app, retooling my DSPAN app stuck in limbo (bc it’s a diversity specialized neuro grant)

My sponsors and I are scouring it for DEI. I’ve removed mention of my Latinidad to give it a shot

And just got this msg from a cosponsor

What a shameful reality

#neuroskyence

He’s some kind of brown dog mixed with some other dog

Theses edits to the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program announcement are appalling (pre/post Jan 20th 2025 comparison)

Increasing representation in science is necessary for us to remain global leaders in research

We’re falling, fast

#science #NIH #nrsa #DEI

Congrats Musk, you destroyed an organization saving countless lives around the world - all to save less than 1% of the federal budget

a new hold is available! Every time I get a Libby notification my inner nerd squeals

Can’t wait to dig into this one. Saw it in a favorite books of 2024 thread by @russpoldrack.bsky.social

This year one of my main goals is to advocate for science - through writing about it and math, and connecting these ideas with artists (and posting here)

Thanks @nicolecrust.bsky.social for the pin!

What am I working on right now? Oh you know. Differential equations.

And hands.