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EPFL Brain Mind Institute

@epfl-brainmind.bsky.social
824 followers 16 following 71 posts

EPFL Brain Mind Institute researchers develop & deploy technology to gain fundamental insight into brain & spinal cord systems, exploiting this knowledge for new therapies for brain disorders & towards novel intelligent machines go.epfl.ch/brain

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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
What makes our behaviors individual? Beyond genes & environment, learning matters too. Ana Marija Jakšić's @merianelion.bsky.social group studied thousands of #Drosophila, & revealed that learning can produce behavioral differences even among genetically identical animals - doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A new dataset from the lab of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Henry Markram includes 244 reconstructions and 641 curated recordings of juvenile rat cortical neurons, linked so researchers can examine structure and electrical behaviour in the same cells - doi.org/10.3389/fnin...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
We look forward to welcoming a new professor Lindsey Salay whose lab will work on how the brain combines sensory, social and internal signals to guide adaptive behaviours. actu.epfl.ch/news/appoint...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
EPFL news story: actu.epfl.ch/news/the-fir...
actu.epfl.ch
The first map of lipids in the mouse brain
EPFL scientists have charted how lipids are arranged across the mouse brain, uncovering over 500 biochemical zones and how the map is redrawn during pregnancy.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A new mouse brain lipid atlas from the labs of @gioelelamanno.bsky.social & Giovanni D'Angelo reveals 500+ distinct biochemical territories or 'lipizones', that reflect brain anatomy & connectivity plus change in pregnancy. Read the paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415... & explore the atlas: lbae-v2.epfl.ch
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Congratulations to @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Gioele La Manno @gioelelamanno.bsky.social for winning the 25th Eppendorf & Science Magazine Prize for Neurobiology!
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
HCN channels help set electrical rhythms including neuronal excitability. But how does temperature affect them? A new study by Rajnish Ranjan in the Markram lab compares mouse, rat & human HCN channels, revealing conserved kinetics and faster gating at higher temperatures: doi.org/10.1113/EP09...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Deep learning could help improve cortical visual prostheses - Michael Herzog’s lab in the @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social found that a deep neural network–based strategy reduced the number of phosphenes needed for object recognition, especially at low electrode densities: doi.org/10.1088/1741...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
CRISPR HDR genome editing uses a repair template. But the @mccabelab.org in @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social found these templates sneak into the #Drosophila genome uninvited, corrupting downstream results. Their fix is a template design that makes stray insertions easy to catch: doi.org/10.1371/jour...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Why are some of us more willing to put in more effort & what changes when that fades? The Sandi @carmensandi10.bsky.social lab links effort-based motivation to mitochondrial health in D1 ventral striatum neurons. Males & females have the same deficit but via distinct routes: doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
How does the brain know when a sensation should trigger an action? Ghaderi, Crochet & Petersen in the @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social find that whisker secondary motor cortex (wM2) is where context meets touch, predicting a mouse's lick within 30 ms of a whisker deflection: doi.org/10.1038/s414...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Congratulations to Gioele La Manno @gioelelamanno.bsky.social upon receiving the the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award at #FENS.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Congratulations to Carmen Sandi @carmensandi10.bsky.social upon receiving the 2026 Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation Award today at #FENS.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Read the news story: actu.epfl.ch/news/mice-ac...
actu.epfl.ch
Mice actively seek better views to make visual decisions
A study led by EPFL shows that when objects are difficult to see, mice don't simply look harder. They move to find better viewpoints, adjusting their behavior according to how much visual information ...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Your eyes constantly move to hunt for information, a strategy known as infotaxis. New work from Prof. Mackenzie Mathis's lab @trackingactions.bsky.social shows mice do it too: in a VR task, they actively sought out the most informative views, adjusting as visual info changed doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
The same touch can mean different things. New work from Carl Petersen's lab in the @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social mapped the cortical circuits underlying this in mice and found a surprise; the retrosplenial cortex was the first area to tell contexts apart after a whisker touch doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Do good vision test scores predict better performance on other vision tests? A new study by the @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social group of Michael Herzog says: not really. Weak correlations across tests suggest we may be measuring methods, not vision itself. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
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Reposted by EPFL Brain Mind Institute
McCabe Lab @mccabelab.org · 08/06/2026
Minis, aka spontaneous synaptic neurotransmitter vesicle release, was long dismissed as noise. Our new 📄 using optical electrophysiology shows minis are not spontaneous at all. They're an independent release modality regulated by Unc-5 & critical for synapse preservation 👉 doi.org/10.64898/202...
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Reposted by EPFL Brain Mind Institute
Mackenzie Weygandt Mathis @trackingactions.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Honored to share that I’ve been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social @epfl-ai-center.bsky.social (EPFL)! 🎉 Deeply grateful to my current and past incredible lab members, collaborators, and mentors who’ve made this journey possible. 🧠✨🙏🏼
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Electrophysiological recording feature extraction is hard to standardise. Prof. Henry Markram's @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social lab introduces eFEL: an open-source, cross-platform library defining 90+ electrophysiological features for efficient, reproducible, FAIR analysis: doi.org/10.1093/bioi...
doi.org
eFEL: Electrophysiology Feature Extraction Library
AbstractMotivation. Electrophysiological recordings are essential in experimental and computational neuroscience, providing insights into neuronal excitabi
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
New CmeCUT&Tag method from the lab of Fides Zenk @epign.bsky.social in @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social maps DNA methylation genome-wide both faster & cheaper. Validated across stem cells, organoids & tumours, its matches the gold standard of bisulfite sequencing doi.org/10.1038/s414...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Congratulations to @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professors Mackenzie Weygandt Mathis @trackingactions.bsky.social and Alexander Mathis @trackingskills.bsky.social on their well-deserved promotion to Associate Professor! actu.epfl.ch/news/appoint...
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Reposted by EPFL Brain Mind Institute
Alexander Mathis @trackingskills.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I‘m looking for postdoc candidates in computer vision and control theory (2 positions). Get in touch if you’re interested.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Can microglia be stimulated to help fight #Alzheimer’s disease (AD)? New work from the Gräff @graeffjohannes.bsky.social & Sanchez-Mut groups shows PM20D1, via its metabolite OLE, promotes microglial engagement with amyloid plaques and neuroprotection in AD models - doi.org/10.1038/s413...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
New work by Simone Astori in Carmen Sandi's @carmensandi10.bsky.social lab shows that nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons rapidly tune their excitability to mitochondrial energy shifts via K-ATP channels, linking neuronal bioenergetics to effort-related motivated behaviour doi.org/10.1038/s413...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Many motor tasks require precise coordination between multiple motor & sensory systems. New #Drosophila work by the @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social group of Pavan Ramdya reveals the centralized neural circuits necessary to solve antennal grooming synchronized motor-control - doi.org/10.1038/s414...
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Reposted by EPFL Brain Mind Institute
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies - FENS @fens.org · 24/04/2026
🧠 Carmen Sandi | Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation Award Lecture 🌟 At #FENS2026, join Prof. Carmen Sandi, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, on 9 July! 🔗 Meet all the speakers: buff.ly/1EBdiLL
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Carl Petersen: Cortical circuits for whisker sensory perception—From barrel columns to brain-wide interactions doi.org/10.1016/j.co...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Two new @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social group reviews: The lab of Alexander Mathis @trackingskills.bsky.social: The behavior biopsy: Interpreting animal behavior as embodied, situated, and hierarchical doi.org/10.1016/j.co...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Many congratulations to @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Gioele La Manno @gioelelamanno.bsky.social!
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Novelty is not just about whats new, but also what feels new given past experience. New study from Sophia Becker in Wulfram Gerstner’s @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social lab posits a model showing how similarity between familiar and novel stimuli shapes exploration and learning - doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
How does circuit structure shape neural activity? The lab of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social Prof. Wulfram Gerstner shows that distinct neural circuits can produce similar low-dimensional dynamics, while retaining clear signatures in single neuron and population activity data: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Read the EPFL story - actu.epfl.ch/news/rejuven...
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Rejuvenating neurons restores learning and memory in mice
EPFL scientists report that briefly switching on three “reprogramming” genes in a small set of memory-trace neurons restored memory in aged mice and in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease to level of ...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
What if memory loss from aging or disease could be restored? The lab of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social Professor Johannes Gräff @graeffjohannes.bsky.social shows that partial cellular reprogramming of engram neurons restores learning and memory to youthful levels in mice - doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
When objects are close together, seeing details is harder 👉visual crowding. @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social prof. Michael Herzog's lab shows that a single nearby object barely affects perception, but many can aid or impede it, depending on alignment, challenging current theories doi.org/10.1177/1747...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Understanding how brain regions communicate to shape behavior requires realistic models. The @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social labs of Carl Petersen & Wulfram Gerstner show that adding biological features to neural networks improves the prediction of brain responses to stimulation doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Identifying individual wild animals is key for conservation. The lab of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Alexander Mathis @trackingskills.bsky.social uses AI and images of Alaskan brown bears to non-invasively identify individuals & their behavior across seasons & years doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
EPFL ELISIR apps now open go.epfl.ch/ELISIR. Fantastic opportunity for young neuroscientists to start an independent lab right after PhD, just like @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social ELISIR group leaders @jamespriestley.bsky.social & @ashleymaynard.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjPD... 👉 April 1 26
go.epfl.ch
EPFL Life Sciences Early Independent Research Scholar (ELISIR)
From exceptional PhD directly to independent group leader
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
@epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Michael Herzog's lab carried out a simulation study to identify how many visual elements are needed for object recognition by cortical visual prostheses, establishing a practical lower-bound phosphene estimate for more effective function: doi.org/10.1016/j.vi...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
The group of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Johannes Gräff @graeffjohannes.bsky.social show that altering histone acetylation enhances fear memory recall, while reducing it weakens recall, demonstrating a functional link to the activity of memory engram cells: doi.org/10.1002/hipo...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Read the news story: actu.epfl.ch/news/switchi... and perspective: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
actu.epfl.ch
Switching memories on and off with epigenetics
EPFL scientists have found that changing the “packaging” of DNA in neurons can turn memories on or off in mice.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Can memories be switched on and off, as in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'? The team of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Johannes Gräff @graeffjohannes.bsky.social use CRISPR-based epigenetic control of Arc to reduce or enhance memories in mice: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Prof. Carmen Sandi's @carmensandi10.bsky.social group reviews the potential for modulation of metabolic pathways to treat anorexia nervosa - www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Providing alternative fuel for the brain in anorexia nervosa: a review of the literature on ketones and their effects on metabolism and the brain - Translational Psychiatry
Translational Psychiatry - Providing alternative fuel for the brain in anorexia nervosa: a review of the literature on ketones and their effects on metabolism and the brain
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Reposted by EPFL Brain Mind Institute
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies - FENS @fens.org · 20/10/2025
The Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation and #FENS are thrilled to announce the winner of the Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation Award in Translational Neuroscience 2026: Prof. Carmen Sandi (@carmensandi10.bsky.social)! 🧠 👉 loom.ly/Uh0TghU
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
The group of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Henry Markram shows that glucose-dependent N-glycosylation drives variability in the Kv3.4 ion channel, regulating activity & cell excitability. N-glycosylation regulation may link neurological disorders & glucose metabolism: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
How do we weigh curiosity, effort, and reward? The labs of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professors Wulfram Gerstner & Michael Herzog find humans overexplore when seeking monetary reward, drawn to novel options even when more exploration offers no advantage. Explore the paper 👉 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
New study by the group of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Carmen Sandi @carmensandi10.bsky.social shows that three mitochondrial associated metabolites in the dmPFC/dACC brain region can predict mental effort choices - www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Last chance to apply for the EPFL Neuroscience tenure track assistant professor faculty position - the deadline is tomorrow October 1. Submit now! go.epfl.ch/neurofaculty.
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Group of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Gioele La Manno @gioelelamanno.bsky.social + Giovanni D’Angelo lab, use MS imaging & a novel analytical framework to map the 4D distribution >100 lipids in zebrafish & find unexpected distributions 👉 unknown developmental roles - doi.org/10.1038/s415...
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EPFL Brain Mind Institute @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure worldwide. The lab of @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor Michael Herzog shows that in addition to visual acuity, cataracts also affect low-level visual processing, which should be considered in ophthalmic clinical care doi.org/10.1167/jov....
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