iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

New preprint When I started contributing to the field of dance neuroscience, there was only a case study on the neural impact of dance in Parkinson’s. Incredible to share our randomized, controlled trial with 57 participants using rsfMRI pre- and post-intervention. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...

medrxiv.org

Leader and Follower Roles in Adapted Tango Reveal Complementary Neural Routes to Motor Improvement in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) disrupts internally generated (IG) movement through impaired striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry, while externally guided (EG) movement may recruit relatively preserved cerebel...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Cogan Lab @coganlab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Can a speech BCI learn across people? In Nature Communications, led by @zspald.bsky.social: High-density µECoG reveals shared neural dynamics that can be aligned to improve cross-patient speech decoding, even with little data from a new participant. doi.org/10.1038/s414... 1/5

doi.org

Shared latent representations of speech production for cross-patient speech decoding - Nature Communications

Current speech brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) rely on patient-specific decoding approaches. Here, the authors show that patient-specific data can be aligned to a shared space that preserves speech i...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

📌New study out 📌 Highlights • A 12-week Amazonian dance-based intervention (vs. Nordic walking) improves prosody and semantic organization in Parkinson’s disease • Effects may reflect auditory-motor coupling, timing, or shared brain pathways www.cell.com/iscience/ful... @cp-iscience.bsky.social

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Auditory-Visual Speech Association (AVISA) @avsp.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Individual differences in speech monitoring: Functional & structural correlates of delayed auditory feedback www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... Delaying auditory feedback (DAF) disrupts impairs fluency > here a word production task with/out DAF & MRI>what brain structures link with a susceptibility index?

pnas.org

Individual differences in speech monitoring: Functional and structural correlates of delayed auditory feedback | PNAS

Sensory feedback is essential for the fine-tuning of motor actions, and speech production is no exception. It depends on continuous self-monitoring...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Please tell friends & colleagues about our unique course “Genetics & Neurobiology of Language” July 27-Aug 3 2026. Expert tutors, interactive talks, panel discussions, all in a beautiful setting. Scholarships available: meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx... @cshlnews.bsky.social @cshlbanbury.bsky.social

Group photograph of faculty and participants of the very first Cold Spring Harbor summer course on Genetics and Neurobiology of Language in 2014, taken as the sun was going down at the Banbury Campus, Lloyd Harbor.

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

NPR @npr.org · 10/02/2026

Parkinson's disease appears to disrupt a brain network involved in everything from movement to memory. n.pr/4kpKWtv

n.pr

This complex brain network may explain many of Parkinson's stranger symptoms

Parkinson's disease appears to disrupt a brain network involved in everything from movement to memory.

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

We are recruiting participants for a new study, Dance for Parkinson’s Disease, exploring how dance impacts brain function and behavior in people with Parkinson’s Disease! Spread the news to anyone who might be a good fit. Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

📌 NEW PREPRINT OUT 📌 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Stanislas Dehaene @standehaene.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

A new paper from the lab, using 7T fMRI and MEG to shed light on how we read, specifically how the visual system encodes strings of letters and moves from retinotopic to ordinal neural codes. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

pnas.org

PNAS

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

AZA Stephen Allsop, David Leventhal, Mai Lê Hô, curated and moderated by Nisha Sajnani. For those who cannot make it in person, our conversation will be livestreamed and recorded so you can watch along. (2/2)

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

If you are in NYC, join us tonight at the @lincolncenter.bsky.social (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts) for a conversation on arts and collective wellbeing. I am looking forward to -what is meant to be- an inspiring conversation with colleagues: lincolncenter.org/series/summe... (1/2)

lincolncenter.org

Festival Orchestra Pre-Show Discussion · Lincoln Center

In what ways do the arts foster belonging, resilience, and healing within communities? Join leading artists, researchers, and lived experience experts in a 3-part series of…

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Take a peek at our recent publication through the lens of a visual summary creatively crafted by the Jameel Arts and Health Lab. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Huge thanks to Vicky Karkou, who brought the team together, and to the rest of the co-authors: Pierluigi Sacco, Matthew Pelowski, Catherine Carr, Val Huet, Jane Bourne, @robynd.bsky.social, and Helen Chatterjee.

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

We highlight the limitations of narrow neuroscientific framings and call for more inclusive, context-sensitive standards of evidence.

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

We welcome every effort to bring rigor to arts and health research (e.g., powered trials with well-defined control groups) but argue that such rigor must also reflect the complexity and ecological validity of real-world practices.

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

In this piece just published in Physics of Life Reviews, we came together as an interdisciplinary team of artists, art therapists, arts educators, and theoretical and clinical researchers to respond to Skov & Nadal’s recent critique of arts-based interventions. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Comment on 'Can arts-based interventions improve health? A conceptual and methodological critique' by Skov and Nadal - A critique of the critique: Towards a more nuanced evaluation of current research...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Laura Gwilliams @lauragwilliams.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Check out the latest -From Our Neurons To Yours- podcast episode! I discuss my work using large speech and language systems as "model species" to understand how the human brain processes language 🧠

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Dan Quintana @dsquintana.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Very happy to have contributed a chapter on the evolution of oxytocin receptor signalling for a new book on evolutionary and comparative neuroendocrinology. Great work from @aisartorius.bsky.social and @constantinatheo.bsky.social! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

A blue book cover of 'Evolutionary and Comparative Neuroendocrinology'

Paper abstract:

Oxytocin is a neuromodulator and hormone that helps coordinate a variety of physiological and behavioural functions. Oxytocin exerts its diverse effects by binding to oxytocin receptors throughout the brain and the periphery, which initiates various signalling cascades. The location and distribution of oxytocin receptors can differ between species, which can facilitate species-specific behaviours that promote survival and reproduction. Yet, despite the increasing interest in the oxytocin signalling system, the extent of its functions in human health and wellbeing are currently not well understood. Pinpointing the evolutionary trajectory of the oxytocin receptor is one approach that can help unravel the current purpose of the oxytocin signalling system. Here, we demonstrate three analytical approaches that help uncover the evolutionary history of the oxytocin receptor: sequence homology searches, synteny mapping, and positive selection analysis. Our non-technical guide includes suggestions for software packages

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

ajua duker @ajuaduker.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

🚨 I’m hiring a full-time lab manager to help me build my lab start in July or August 2025! 🚨 If you know any stellar candidates who might be interested, please send this their way. 🗓 Application review begins April 15 ⏰ Final deadline is April 25 📎 Apply here ➡️ lnkd.in/evhfqzTP

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Our flamenco/jazz event is just ONE WEEK AWAY (and it is free and open to everyone)! RSVP: lnkd.in/e5g5duZY

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

It was a huge pleasure to discuss with the amazing JD Talasek and David Leventhal about how dance is helping patients regain movement and other abilities, and what neuroscience research says about dance as a form of healing. Links to several podcast platforms: issues.org/music-and-he...

issues.org

Music and Health: Dancing Together

How can dancing help Parkinson's patients regain their ability to walk? What does neuroscience say about the healing power of dance?

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Thanks to the New York Academy of Sciences for this interview! www.nyas.org/ideas-insigh...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Wonderful work and so revelant to our efforts to understand the neurobiology of speech & dance.

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Hugo Ninou @hugoninou.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

🚨 Paper Alert! 🚨 1/n Thrilled to share our latest research, now published in Nature Communications! 🎉 This study dives deep into how the cerebellum shapes cortical preparatory activity during motor adaptation. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #neuroskyence #motorcontrol #cerebellum #motoradaptation

nature.com

Cerebellar output shapes cortical preparatory activity during motor adaptation - Nature Communications

Functional role of the cerebellum in motor adaptation is not fully understood. The authors show that cerebellar signals act as low-dimensional feedback which constrains the structure of the preparator...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Ev Fedorenko @evfedorenko.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

So excited to have our work on conlangs out in PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... Congrats, Saima, Maya, and the rest of the crew -- well done! Here is the MIT news story: news.mit.edu/2025/esperan...

news.mit.edu

To the brain, Esperanto and Klingon appear the same as English or Mandarin

MIT research finds the brain’s language-processing network also responds to artificial languages such as Esperanto and languages made for TV, such as Klingon on “Star Trek” and High Valyrian and Dothr...

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

This event is sponsored by the Rockefeller University Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Microgrant Program.

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Artistic team: Alfonso Cid (flute and vocals), Tim Ferguson (double bass), Jesús Hernández (piano), Alberto Muñoz Sánchez (cajón and drums), and Constantina Theofanopoulou (flamenco dance).

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

💃🏽 FLAMENCO/JAZZ EVENT in NYC 🪭 📅 Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 ⏰ Time/📍Location: 5 PM – Wine/beer reception at Abby 5:30 PM – Event at Caspary Auditorium The Rockefeller University (1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065) 🎟 Audience: Free and open to the public 🔗 RSVP: lnkd.in/e5g5duZY

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

It is great to see dance being highlighted for its brain benefits in Discover magazine this month. Also delightful to see our research featured alongside that of superb collaborators. #dance #neuroscience

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Laura Ferreri @lauraferreri.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

🚨New Preprint! 🎵🧠 Joint music listening enhances interpersonal affective and neural synchrony. A huge fNIRS hyperscanning study on shared music listening & pleasure with @federicocurzel.bsky.social , @giacomonovembre.bsky.social, Barbara Tillmann and Arnaud Fournel. 👉 osf.io/preprints/os...

osf.io

OSF

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Hugely indebted to Women in Science at Rockefeller for making me part of this Women's History Month Celebration. This initiative has made such an important impact on the university's culture, and I cannot wait to witness and contribute to what comes next. www.wiseratrockefeller.com/womens-histo...

wiseratrockefeller.com

Constantina Theofanopoulou — WISeR

WISeR: “What sparked your initial interest in science, and what drew you to your specific field?” CT: “Since the beginning, my main driving force has been an unceasing passion for uncovering truth t...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Giacomo Novembre @giacomonovembre.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

🎶 Everything you ever wanted to know about Joint Music Making—but were afraid to ask! 🎶 A comprehensive review by Sara Abalde, @neuromusicnerd.bsky.social , @perikeller.bsky.social rikeller.bsky.social & me, bridging behavioural findings, neural processes, and computational models (link below).

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

With an incredible team: Alfonso Cid Tim Ferguson Alberto Muñoz Sánchez The Neurobiology of Social Communication team Video courtesy of Ben Ouriel 🎞 Thanks to the partners: Jameel Arts and Health Lab @who.int @whoeurope.bsky.social Culture Runners NYU Steinhardt Community Jameel

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Constantina Theofanopoulou @constantinatheo.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Wonderful flamenco-jazz memories from the The Art and Science of Social Connection symposium (United Nations General Assembly Healing Arts 2024). Live brain electroencephalography showing two artists' brain responses in real time 🧠💃🏽🥁

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Catherine Dulac @dulaclab.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Our latest findings on social behavior circuits is out: how does the brain responds to social isolation? Terrific work by @dingliu.bsky.social et al. uncovering a circuit with similar neural architecture as physiological needs (hunger, thirst, sleep..). Detailed thread soon. rdcu.be/ebo63

rdcu.be

A hypothalamic circuit underlying the dynamic control of social homeostasis

Nature - New data on brain-wide circuits centred around two interconnected hypothalamic neuron populations provide significant mechanistic insights into the emergence of social need during social...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Oscar Woolnough @owoolnough.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Out now in Nature Comms. To learn a new word, we need to remember it. We track factors driving memory of novel words, showing which words we remember or forget is predictable across people, and isolate a distinct region of fusiform cortex sensitive to this memorability. 🧠📈 #VisionScience 🧠💬 🧵👇

doi.org

Memorability of novel words correlates with anterior fusiform activity during reading - Nature Communications

To learn new written words, we need to be able to remember their associated letters. Here, the authors show the factors that predict how memorable or forgettable new words are and show a region of hum...

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

animal prattle @animal-prattle.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

"Hidden assumptions of integer ratio analyses in bioacoustics and music" from Jadoul @marcogamba.bsky.social @andrearavignani.bsky.social et al. Looks like a thoughtful guide + method for testing hypotheses about rhythms using integer ratios 🥁🥁🥁 arxiv.org/pdf/2502.04464 #prattle 💬 #bioacoustics

arxiv.org

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

Anila D’Mello @aniladmello.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Check out our paper ‘Ignoring the cerebellum is hindering progress in neuroscience’ in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social ! With @0xwbj.bsky.social and @amandalebel.bsky.social we quantify the extent of cerebellar exclusion in the neuroimaging literature and discuss reasons/fixes

sciencedirect.com

Ignoring the cerebellum is hindering progress in neuroscience

Traditionally considered a motor structure, the cerebellum has been shown to play a key role in several cognitive functions. However, for decades, the…

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Reposted by Constantina Theofanopoulou

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

In honor of today’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, The Transmitter spoke with eight women neuroscientists leading initiatives that strive to promote women in the field. www.thetransmitter.org/qa/how-eight... #WomenInScience #February11

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Center for Academic Research & Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) @anthropogeny.org · 29/01/2025

Explore The Origin of Love this Valentine's Day at our virtual CARTA Symposium! 🧡💗 Our speakers will dive into topics like oxytocin, pair bonding, monogamy, grandmaternal love, and the biological and evolutionary foundations of this powerful human experience. Register now to join us!

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