Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Our brain is constantly looking for patterns. When something unexpected happens, we notice it more in a predictable context, than in an unpredictable environment. Our study identifies how the auditory cortex amplifies responses to unexpected sounds in predictable contexts. doi.org/10.1523/jneu... 1348
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 28/05/2026Wonderful end-of-the-year neuroscience training grants retreat. So proud of our own Omer Zeliger presenting on her research on hearing mechanisms in changing acoustic environments and @laurenkreeger.bsky.social presenting exciting new data. The keynote by Jess Cardin was inspiring. 020
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 27/05/2026This is what the future of computational neuroscience looks like. 040
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 27/05/2026Really enjoyed a fantastic lineup of talks at our annual Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience Symposium. From studying monkey behavior to identifying biomarkers of food-related preoccupied thoughts to optimal color transformation in color blindness. Love the energy! 1102
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Loved sharing my thoughts about Hopfield’s seminal paper with @thetransmitter.bsky.social @franciscorr25.bsky.social . It’s so important to be reminded of the beauty and impact of free scientific investigation in these uncertain times. 0278
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 15/05/2026What a fun conversation @franciscorr25.bsky.social @thetransmitter.bsky.social 010
Reposted by Maria GeffenDan Jagger @auditorynerves.bsky.social · 14/05/2026This changes everything! 😮👂🏼 182
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Really enjoying my visit to Seattle — today giving a lecture and meeting with the faculty and trainees at the department of Psychology, tomorrow joining the auditory training grant retreat, and visiting the @alleninstitute.org on Friday. 060
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Join us for the next installment of EARS on Tuesday May 12 at 1 pm ET! Jennifer Bizley @bizleylab.bsky.social "Mapping sounds into space" Brice Bathellier @bathellierlab.bsky.social "A deep encoder for sensory restoration by neuromimetic cortical stimulation" pennmedicine.zoom.us/j/96672201477pennmedicine.zoom.usJoin our Cloud HD Video MeetingZoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications. 162
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Looking forward to the inaugural Lurie Autism Institute Symposium: www.lurieautisminstitute.org/2026-lurie-a... today.lurieautisminstitute.org 021
Reposted by Maria GeffenJenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 06/05/2026PSA: don’t self-censor your grants. Don’t use the AI tools or word/phrase alternative sheets you see out there. Here’s why: 1) These tools are almost certainly wrong bc the list keeps changing. There’s no way they can be up to date, POs can’t even stay up to date. 🧵1/2 23515
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 06/05/2026Congratulations to the Geffen lab undergrads Margot and Kehinde who are graduating from Penn later this month! We had a little Cinco de Mayo party as their send-off. 051
Reposted by Maria GeffenAmelia Eisch 🧪🧠👩🔬 🐁 @eisch.bsky.social · 05/05/20261/ New preprint! 🧪With @talmo.bsky.social and team, we used deep learning on archival NASA video of mice on the ISS. Turns out mice in microgravity become tiny acrobats: huddling to sleep, doing backflips, even briefly generating their own ~1g. #SpaceBiology #OpenScience #NASA #SLEAPbiorxiv.org 65819
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 20/04/2026The Daedalus Quartet came back for another magical lecture/experimental demo for our systems neuroscience students. This time, we focused on predictable and unexpected components in music. The musicians had lots of fun messing up Pachelbel Canon! @zabj.bsky.social @audreydrotos.bsky.social 1150
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 14/04/2026Tune it at 1 pm EDT to EARS early career panel! pennmedicine.zoom.us/j/96672201477 054
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Deadline to submit your abstract to E.A.R.S. Early Career session is fast approaching! 010
Reposted by Maria GeffenJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 26/03/2026My NIH update Let me start by saying again how glad I am that NIH is now posting these curves on the Reporter front page. It is satisfying that leading by example from outside has led to this change and (I hope) reflects a commitment for NIH_leadership™ to hold itself accountable for this. 1/6 28628
Reposted by Maria GeffenMariko Bennett @nachoriko.bsky.social · 24/03/2026I defended my PhD 10 years ago today. That was the least remarkable thing that happened that day. Sharing something I wrote about it last year. Since then "the horrors persist but so do we." And with dignity. 491706568
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 17/03/2026Applications to present in the Early Career Session for the E.A.R.S. seminar series now open! www.med.upenn.edu/pennhearing/... The Early Career Seminar will feature four presentations, selected by the EARS organizing committee from submissions. Deadline: March 31: forms.gle/ScNp8exjEQ3A... .forms.gleEARS Early Career seminar applicationThanks for your interest in participating in the EARS early career seminar on April 14, 2026 at 1 PM ET. Please complete this form to apply by March 31, 2026. Presentations will be 10 minutes long wit... 057
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 13/03/2026New paper from the Geffen and @labhaas.bsky.social Laboratories just published! We find that the enigmatic thalamic reticular nucleus exerts bi-directional cell-specific control over sound processing. The super-thin sheet of inhibitory neurons is rather mighty and highly computationally relevant! 1206
Reposted by Maria GeffenStand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 07/03/2026Which is why we are rallying NATIONWIDE TODAY!!! Visit standupforscience.net/march7 to attend your local National Day of Action Rally or host a pop-up rally if there is no rally near you! LET'S GET OUT THERE!!! #March7 #standupforscience #science #savescience #rallystandupforscience.netStand Up for Science: March 7th, 2026 — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE 06920
Reposted by Maria GeffenJohn Murray @jisaacmurray.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Coolest class demo ever. What were the results? 131
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Really enjoyed hosting the Daedalus Quartet for our systems neuroscience class and doing a mini experiment with them. We tested whether the musicians’ brains synchronized differently while playing music under different conditions (e.g. playing with metronome, while marching or just playing). 2172
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 27/02/2026The deadline to apply for the Brain Prize Cajal summer course in Computational Neuroscience has been extended to March 9! We’re excited for you to join us in sunny Lisbon! Please do not hesitate to send in an application and learn about computational neuroscience! @gjorjulijana.bsky.social 01511
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026Our protocol for a multi-laboratory adversarial collaboration to test multiple theories of consciousness is published! journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... with @alleninstitute.org @fanispa.bsky.socialjournals.plos.orgProtocol for testing global neuronal workspace and integrated information theories of consciousness in non-human primates and miceIdentifying the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) is widely regarded as imperative to our understanding of consciousness. Although several scientific theories of consciousness make predictions ... 064
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026@zabj.bsky.social and I had a lot of fun testing whether our brains are synchronized. We’re practicing for my lecture next week on auditory neuroscience featuring the Daedalus Quartet. 1120
Reposted by Maria GeffenProf Sarah-Jayne Blakemore @sjblakemore.bsky.social · 01/02/2026In Cambridge in the 1970s, my dad, Colin Blakemore, worked and lectured on sensitive periods of sensory development. In my Cambridge undergrad lectures on this topic, I show a clip from one of his TV shows, which describes sensitive periods for sound categorisation, and features Prof Janet Werker: 2317
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 31/01/2026A special year for the Cajal Course in Computational Neuroscience: the BRAIN Prize winners Haim Sompolinsky and Larry Abbott will join us as keynote speakers. And we will bring you the same great roster of instructors as every year. Applications are now open! cajal-training.org/on-site/comp...cajal-training.orgThe Brain Prize Course - Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience - CAJAL[…] 12711
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 16/01/2026Question re new biosketch format on sciEnv: under the previous nih biosketch format, we could list 5 references under personal statement and then additional 4 references per contribution to science (up to 25 references total). It seems that now it’s down to 10 references total. Is that right? 210
Reposted by Maria GeffenJason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 12/07/2025While I’m a big fan of new technologies that help us study human biology…there’s still no replacement for animal research! See my article in Gen News. www.genengnews.com/topics/trans...genengnews.comWhy We Still Need Animal Research in a World of AI and OrganoidsThe portrayal of uncaring scientists without any thought for the animals being used in their research is far from the truth. 410647
Reposted by Maria GeffenTheresa Kim, PhD, MS @tyk314.net · 14/06/2025#NIH colleagues fight for true #HHS leadership. Health has no political affiliation. Sign the #BethesdaDeclaration if you agree. 14211
Reposted by Maria GeffenNews Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 14/06/2025NEW: Democracy is alive in Philly! Amazing scenes in Philadelphia as thousands hit the streets for the anti-Trump protest. #NoKings #50501Movement 159137003112
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 11/06/2025A great deal of hope in these uncertain times for the autism community— Jeffrey Lurie and family announced a large gift to create the Penn-CHOP Lurie Autism Research Institute to support cross-disciplinary and collaborative research. Let’s go do it! www.inquirer.com/health/upenn...inquirer.comEagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and family donate $50 million to CHOP and Penn for autism instituteThe purpose of the new Lurie Autism Institute is to expand research already being done at CHOP and Penn, form a global hub for research, and attract more scientists to the field. 25212
Reposted by Maria GeffenArdem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 10/06/2025Thank you @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social for standing up. We all appreciate you and your colleagues for your courage! 0355
Reposted by Maria GeffenJenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 10/06/2025Today, my NIH colleagues and I did something scary but really important. We spoke up about egregious harms we are seeing happen to research participants and public health through thoughtless and politicized policies at NIH. 🧵1/3 apnews.com/article/nih-... 361038253
Reposted by Maria GeffenDr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 09/06/2025"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT. I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up." Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage! 141145400
Reposted by Maria GeffenJeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 09/06/2025If you weren't angry enough already, here are the rates of non-competitive renewals through May. 4008 Non-competitive renewals were due to be funded in May. The total funded was 99! Some is due to terminations, but most is due to slow grant making due to DOGE review and other impediments. 1/2 10212153
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 09/06/2025Sign on to support the NIH staff in their demand to restore funding and infrastructure for life-saving research! 041
Reposted by Maria GeffenAudrey Drotos, PhD 🧠 🔬 @audreydrotos.bsky.social · 22/05/2025Also—I direct the science communication nonprofit @your.neighborhoodscientist.org ! Check us out at neighborhoodscientist.org 😊neighborhoodscientist.orgYour Neighborhood Scientistcultivating community-based conversations around science, science policy, and scientists 011
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 17/05/2025Huge thanks to all my colleagues for your generous contributions! The Eagles Autism Challenge 5K was a blast! It was amazing to end the run at the stadium. And it’s not too late to donate to the foundation that does so much for autism research and accommodations through the link below! 1120
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 16/05/2025So sad to hear this @hhmi.org program that supports talented young scientists is cancelled, especially after the application deadline. Audrey came up with a really exciting project and worked so hard on her application! 1100
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 13/05/2025Thanks for another fabulous EARS season. As we're preparing for next year's edition, we are soliciting feedback and suggestions. Please fill out this survey with your suggestions by 5/20/25: forms.gle/R64F9V3Wz7uf...docs.google.comE.A.R.S. feedback surveyFrom the E.A.R.S. Organizers: Thank you for attending the E.A.R.S. seminar series for the past year. We will take a break from the series for the summer (June-August). We are currently planning the se... 063
Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 12/05/2025EARS seminar tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13 1 pm ET: Maria Chait (the Ear Institute, UCL) @mariachait.bsky.social “Inferring Instantaneous Auditory Attention from Ocular Dynamics” pennmedicine.zoom.us/j/96672201477.pennmedicine.zoom.usJoin our Cloud HD Video MeetingZoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications. 052
Reposted by Maria GeffenEmerson Harkin @efharkin.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Everybody has that one VIP friend who boosts you up by dragging all your other buddies down. 152
Reposted by Maria GeffenMert Erginkaya @merterginkaya.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Excited to share my PhD paper is out! We studied how motion vision is processed beyond the optic lobes to help flies walk straight. It has been a wonderful collaboration with @michaelreiser.bsky.social, @dddavi.bsky.social and many others not in bluesky! Paper + digest here: bsky.app/profile/cham... 44421
Reposted by Maria GeffenUW Neurobiology & Biophysics @uw-nbio.bsky.social · 30/04/2025Congratulations to Adrienne Fairhall, Prof. of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Adjunct Prof. of Applied Mathematics, and Adjunct Prof. of Physics, who has just been elected to the National Academy of Sciences! 🍾 🎉 518033