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Kenneth Amaya, PhD

@kenam15.bsky.social
126 followers 117 following 123 posts

Diné & Chicano. Postdoctoral Fellow in the Maguire Lab at Tufts University. NIH-NIMH DSPAN K00. Arizona sports sufferer.

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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Steve Ramirez @okaysteve.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🚨 new work from the lab! "Dissociable cortical-hippocampal dopamine dynamics support memory-guided behavior" by @albitc.bsky.social et al. congratulations whole-heartedly to the team and we're excited to hear everyone's thoughts on the work! 👇🏽 www.cell.com/current-biol...
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Just to be sure
static.klipy.com
Shoot Gun
ALT: Shoot Gun
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Steve Ramirez @okaysteve.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🚨 new work from the lab! "Hippocampal astrocytic sequences emerge during learning and memory recall" by @ryguy.io & @rsuthard.bsky.social thank you to the entire team for your camaraderie and for muscling through science together 🧠 -- we welcome all feedback! nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Hippocampal astrocytic sequences emerge during learning and memory recall
Nature Neuroscience - Senne, Suthard and colleagues show that dorsal hippocampal astrocytes display time-compressed calcium-event sequences after foot shock and upon context re-exposure, and that...
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Tom Kash @superkash.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
new paper out, led by @jobeneuro.bsky.social , exploring 5HT dynamics in cingulate and central amygdala, and how a history of alcohol consumption changes them! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Selective dysregulation of serotonin dynamics in the anterior cingulate cortex and central amygdala following binge alcohol consumption - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Selective dysregulation of serotonin dynamics in the anterior cingulate cortex and central amygdala following binge alcohol consumption
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bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Pavlovian conditioned approach with different reward magnitudes reveals opposing effects of acute and chronic semaglutide treatment www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Alicia Izquierdo @aliciaizquierdo.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Updated lab website with the amazing people I get to work with and some exciting projects underway izquierdolab.com
izquierdolab.com
Izquierdo Lab — Alicia Izquierdo, UCLA Department of Psychology
The Izquierdo Lab at UCLA studies the brain mechanisms of flexible reward learning and value-based decision making, with a focus on frontocortical circuits.
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
New email to Director Bhattacharya to start Labor Day weekend regarding the secret transfer of appropriated funds to the Department of Defense.
Dear Director Bhattacharya:

Nothing screams "radical transparency" like quietly signing an agreement with another agency transferring hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated to NIH that is only publicly disclosed through investigative reporting and only confirmed by a vague statement by you on "X".

As you know, I have been tracking NIH commitments in as close to real time as possible. I am flattered that NIH has mimicked my "funding curves" on the front page of the NIH Reporter website. Apparently, I will need to consider essentially secret interagency transfers in my analysis.

This is another good contribution to your legacy at NIH..."Director Bhattacharya broke new ground and many other things."

Sincerely,

Jeremy M. Berg
Director NIGMS, 2003-2011
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
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Philip J Fry's Shocked Reaction
ALT: Philip J Fry's Shocked Reaction
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Attention all central amygdala aficionados and habit learning lovers: Sharing the latest work from my time at Dartmouth where we examined CeA activity during habit formation, now out at JNeuro www.jneurosci.org/content/earl...
jneurosci.org
Habit learning shapes activity dynamics in the central nucleus of the amygdala
A habit develops as a motivated behavior that is strengthened by extended experience and feedback. While the performance component of a habit is relatively well studied, being linked to action-related...
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
When a student tells you they thought the amygdala only does fear learning and you see an opportunity to spread the Good Word
static.klipy.com
Donald Duck's Evil Smile
ALT: Donald Duck's Evil Smile
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Daniel Castro @flanbrain.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Fresh from the Castro Lab! We characterize how mu opioid receptors on pancreatic alpha cells regulate ingestive phenotypes. Surprise! Mu can act both inside and outside the brain😱 Congrats to our technician Diego De Gregorio! @ssibsociety.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Pancreatic mu opioid receptors regulate metabolism and ingestive behaviors
The mu opioid receptor system has long been recognized for its role in regulating ingestive behaviors and food palatability. However, beyond their rob…
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
No words
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Kurt Fraser @kurtfraser.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Our labs first paper! Some 😳 surprising effects. Turns out everything comes back to context 🤓
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Lex Kravitz @kravitzlab.com · 09/07/2026
I am happy to share our latest manuscript, led by newly-minted PhD Justin Wang, identifying a neural population that selectively controls hedonic, but not homeostatic, feeding. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Ventral pallidal GABAergic neurons control hedonic feeding and obesity
Food intake is governed by two interacting drives. The homeostatic hunger drive regulates food intake to fulfill caloric needs while the hedonic drive promotes intake of palatable foods outside of cal...
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Michael D. Green, PhD @michaeldgreen.phd · 09/07/2026
Running a lab is like running a small business. When you run out of money, you close. Right now we are favoring incumbents and squeezing out the most vulnerable. Life saving research is abruptly shutting down and early career scientists are paying the price!
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Had a fantastic visit to UVM for the Vermont Summer Summit! Unfortunately only took this picture of the world’s tallest filing cabinet while in Burlington
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Trump DOJ investigating Kalshi fraud
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Daniel Castro @flanbrain.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
First Castro Lab paper, brought to you by the hard work of Dr. Kathryn Braden @katybraden.bsky.social In this manuscript we investigate the role of endogenous enkephalin or dorsal raphe nucleus. We find that it is incredibly important for buffering negative affect 😱 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Dorsal raphe nucleus enkephalin peptide modulates behavioral preference - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Dorsal raphe nucleus enkephalin peptide modulates behavioral preference
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Michael D. Green, PhD @michaeldgreen.phd · 26/05/2026
NIH spending on these 5 programs (F31, F32, F99, K99, DP5) grew $3M between FY2024 and FY2025. But new-award dollars fell $16M, and 337 fewer scholars received new awards (~-20%). I’ve seen claims about forward funding helping young scientist, how does it help us if we can’t get an award?
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In Boston news:
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elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
The NIH has canceled 48 early career training funding opportunities in the last year. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/scientific...
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Heads up to postdocs writing K99s out there, reviewers will want you to have already collected data with the tool you’re proposing to learn
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
K99 that initially scored 29 went Not Discussed on resubmission
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
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Andrew Hardaway @andrewhardaway.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Really thrilled to share my lab's latest work where we characterize the role of the CeA in integrating exogenous GLP-1 signals. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Tom Kash @superkash.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Our NIAAA funded Post-DoctT32 has received its NoA (non competing renewal). Are you looking for a post-doc and interested in joining our amazing center? If so, reach out! Here is a convenient form that you can use to upload CV and a cover letter! unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Mariko Bennett @nachoriko.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I 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.
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Shelly Flagel @flagel-lab.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Our article examining the effects of chronic #GLP-1 receptor agonist (#semaglutide #ozempic) treatment on the incentive motivational value of a small #food reward and the cue that predicts it is now out in Psychopharmacology. Open access article 👇 link.springer.com/10.1007/s002...
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Kate Nautiyal @katenautiyal.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Please spread the word about a postbac position in Behavioral Neuroscience at Dartmouth with me, Shelley Warlow, and Kyle smith. The postbac will contribute to collaborative projects across the three labs aimed at studying the neuroscience of motivation and reward learning.
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Norm Charlatan @normcharlatan.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Lionel Hutz terrified of everyone happy
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Governor Maura Healey @massgovernor.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
“Come and take it” flag with Dunkin cup.
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Kirstie Cummings @kacummings.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Happy to share the newest study from our lab, led by superstar postdoc Dr. Rodrigo Campos Cardoso, where we resolve the infralimbic cortex GABAergic circuits of fear extinction: tinyurl.com/38vvr2my
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Stephen V Mahler @svmahler.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Hey ventral pallidum fans, see our new paper showing that #VP GABA neurons, known for reward, also regulate aversive motivation! Inhibiting these cells with #DREADDs potentiates active or passive defenses to threats, likely via LHb. Congrats to Erica Ramirez & Marty Martinez! doi.org/10.1016/j.yn...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
media.tenor.com
a basketball player wearing a number 9 jersey stands in front of a crowd
ALT: a basketball player wearing a number 9 jersey stands in front of a crowd
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I had such a great time at #ACNP2026 where I got to reconnect with and meet new friends! I can’t thank @acnporg.bsky.social enough for the travel award and am really excited for San Diego in 2027!
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Deal breaker if I only want to send in my ACT score?
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Pretty rich for the leader of this nation to be talking about stolen land
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Erica Townsend, PhD @ericastownsend.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
very excited to share some of the final bits of work from my PhD! 🎉 we find that phasic DA in the accumbens simultaneously tracks persistent motivation towards reward cues in addition to new learning (but maybe not RPE?!) in sign-tracking rats. check out the preprint below!
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Kurt Fraser @kurtfraser.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
weight down, less food consumed, learning normal, but motivation up!
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Almost $16 million for 10 conference wins between those two programs. Time to get DOGE on the case.
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
We will fund the most meritorious of proposals but also we have to consider how we geographically allocate funds
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Seeing the recent breadcrumbs about NIH has this postdoc pretty sad about K99 chances
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Raaj Gowrishankar @outraajeous.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
The Gowrishankar lab will be opening its doors @neuro_MUSC on Dec 1, 2025! We will be hiring at all levels. I will also be at @SfNtweets presenting my lab's vision on Wednesday, Nov 19, 8AM-12PM at poster board GG7. If you're interested, please reach out! www.raajgowrishankarlab.org
raajgowrishankarlab.org
Gowrishankar Lab
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Kurt Fraser @kurtfraser.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Folks at SfN come see the first Fraser Lab poster ever at FF6 on Tuesday Nov 18, 8am. Serena Miller has oodles of data to share on a new direction for us. Also, that day happens to be my birthday so you have to come say hi or else
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Stares in Suns fan
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Reposted by Kenneth Amaya, PhD
Kirstie Cummings @kacummings.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
The Cummings Lab is hiring a postdoc to work in the areas of reward and addiction! Please see the ad below:
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
As a postdoc in funding limbo I’d love it if the NIH director would walk the walk wrt trainee funding
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Kenneth Amaya, PhD @kenam15.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
The 14th Annual Tufts Neuroscience Symposium & Shucart Lecture is this week (Thursday, October 16th), featuring an outstanding lineup of speakers related to the theme of "Neural Mechanisms of Emotional Processing: From Synapses to Circuits":
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Mark Laubach @marklaubach.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
I'm recruiting a PhD student to study how enkephalins affect cognitive processing in the rodent frontal cortex. The project uses pharmacology, multi-electrode recordings, and fiber photometry, and is funded by NIDA. Please share with trainees applying this cycle. Thanks!
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