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Laura Sirucek

@laurasirucek.bsky.social
133 followers 112 following 37 posts

Postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain #CNAP at Aalborg University #AAU - from athlete to scientist, interested in the #brain in #pain, passionate about #neuroscience and #painresearch.

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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Inspiring week & wonderful encounters at the Pain Mechanisms & Therapeutics Conference in Verona!💡✨#painmechanisms26 From ion channels to the brain, genes to humans - amazing science throughout. 🧬🧠 Loved presenting our ongoing work at CNAP too. Excited for what’s ahead! #PainResearch #Neuroscience
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
A lab visit to Hamburg so engaging I forgot to take photos except for a last-minute selfie. 😄🤳 Grateful to @christianbuchel.bsky.social, @olegolt.bsky.social, and lab for the warm welcome and inspiring discussions. 🧠 Leaving one’s own bubble. Immersing in critical, generous exchange. Science. 💛
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
My smile (notably at 1 AM CEST 😅) says it all: I had loads of fun co-organizing and moderating this ECR event hosted by @iasp.bsky.social Early Career Network #IASPECN! 🥰 Thanks to IASP, my co-moderators, and all participants - I’m sure we sparked some new global connections! 🌎 #ECR #Networking
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
🚀 Less than one week to go! 🤩 We, the @iasp.bsky.social Early Career Network (ECN) Communication Committee, are hosting a Digital Networking Event on Sept 16, 2025. 💻 👉 Session 1 is almost full – save your spot now or join Session 2! 🤗 Let‘s connect with peers worldwide! 🌍✨ #IASP #IASPECN #ECR
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International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) @iasp.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Register for the 16 September Digital Networking Event hosted by the Early Career Network. Join us for a fun online networking event where you will grow your international network in a relaxed, supportive environment. Session One: bit.ly/4lI6sZv Session Two: bit.ly/4geEB21
Digital Networking Event
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Sammy K. Millard @sammy-millard.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Published open access- European Journal of Neuroscience! 🤓 My second PhD paper is a secondary analysis of the peak alpha frequency (PAF) 🧠 and pain relationship in a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) 🧲 intervention for experimental pain. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 1/5
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Peak Alpha Frequency Is Not Significantly Altered by Five Days of Experimental Pain and Repetitive Transcranial Stimulation of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
This study explored whether the pain-relieving effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in an NGF-induced sustained pain model are associated with changes in peak alpha frequenc...
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Still amazed - my friend‘s gift for my PhD defense on the cover of @painthejournal.bsky.social by @iasp.bsky.social. 🥹 It’s on the July issue where part of my PhD work is published. 📄 What a way to connect two parts of life that I love - my friendships and science. 💛 #PAIN #Research #PostdocLife
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
For one of my pain modulation „bibles“ that also includes information on the amygdala-mPFC-PAG circuitry see: journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
journals.physiology.org
Cellular Circuits in the Brain and Their Modulation in Acute and Chronic Pain | Physiological Reviews | American Physiological Society
Chronic, pathological pain remains a global health problem and a challenge to basic and clinical sciences. A major obstacle to preventing, treating, or reverting chronic pain has been that the nature ...
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Thanks @iasp.bsky.social and @painthejournal.bsky.social for featuring our figure! 🫶 A potential explanation for the reduced excitatory/inhibitory balance in the PAG in individuals with chronic pain. ⚖️🔴 Inspired by amazing work from R. Kuner, V. Neugebauer, P.Sheets, and more. 🙌✨ #PAIN #research
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Thanks a lot! 🙏☺️
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Huge thanks to CNAP and Thomas Graven-Nielsen for helping make this happen - and my lovely lab mates for the hugs, cheers, and good vibes! 🙏💛
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Time to get used to more rye bread 🍞, wind 😅🌬️, and hygge 🕯️☕🛋️🧣 here in 🇩🇰! In October 2025, I’ll be starting my own 2-year project at CNAP focusing on: 🧠💥 Medial prefrontal cortex excitability in chronic pain supported by the @snf-fns.ch Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship. #PostdocLife #PainResearch
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Massi(e)h Moayedi — مسیح مویدی @massih.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
In our new study published in @imagingneurosci.bsky.social, Batu Kaya and others resolve a monosynaptic trigeminal-lateral parabrachial-central amygdalar circuit in humans. direct.mit.edu/imag/article... Now to see if it does in humans what was observed in rodents.
direct.mit.edu
Delineation of the trigeminal-lateral parabrachial-central amygdala tract in humans
Abstract. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) relays interoceptive and exteroceptive information to limbic brain regions. In particular, lateral PBN projections to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)...
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
This one means so much to me. 🥹 My PhD "baby" - out now online ahead of print in @painthejournal.bsky.social. 🌟 We poured in so much thought, work, sweat, tears, diligence, thoroughness, and passion. Grateful for the fantastic team and journey behind it. 🙏 dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
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Rocco Giordano @mirocco.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Yesterday I had so much fun talking about my favorite topic “Epigenetics” 🧬! Its involvement in nature 🐝🐀 ♊️ and pain 😖💥! I had the opportunity to present for @pintofscience.uk in Aalborg, DK🇩🇰 #pint25 Informal and friendly environment is the best for talking science !!! 🧬 science 🧪
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Better eat your royal jelly if you want to be queen! 🐝👑 Fun facts and cool science about epigenetics, environmental influences (jelly matters!), and its role in pain by @mirocco.bsky.social topped with tasty beer at yesterday‘s @pintofscience.uk festival in Aalborg! 🍻🧪 @sammy-millard.bsky.social 👀
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
🎉HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CNAP! 🎉 Last week, we celebrated an incredible group of people and the impressive work they have achieved over the past 10 years. Happy and proud to be part of this amazing CNAP family.💛🩶 Although… judging by the group photo, I might only be half part of it.😅 Can you spot me?😉🔍
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International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) @iasp.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Greetings from Lyon! IASP Early Career Network members Vandana Shree Vedartham Srinivasan, Ginevra Sperandio, Daniela Rosenberger, and Laura Sirucek from the ECN Communication Committee say ‘hello’ from #EFIC2025 – Pain in Europe XIV.
ECN at EFIC 2025
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Sammy K. Millard @sammy-millard.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Wonderful time attending my first @efic.bsky.social conference in beautiful Lyon! Some highlights: 1) sharing and getting feedback on my two posters 🧠 2) inspiring talks integrating the psyc and social aspects of pain 🤓 3) connections with research friends across the world 🗺️ 4) exploring Lyon 🇫🇷
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
5️⃣-8️⃣ Exploring Lyon by day and night and creating unforgettable memories with beautiful souls and fantastic reseachers. 💛 @sammy-millard.bsky.social @mirocco.bsky.social @joellekmetzger.bsky.social
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
1️⃣ & 2️⃣ Fun at the photo booth with my new CNAP and former Balgrist team. 🎊 3️⃣ Poster on a small sub-project of my former lab on pressure pain threshold assessments. 4️⃣ My PhD supervisor P. Schweinhardt presenting our data on brainstem neurotransmitters in chronic pain 🔜 @painthejournal.bsky.social!
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
#EFIC2025 — another invaluable opportunity for both scientific and personal growth. 🌱🌿 Huge thanks to @efic.bsky.social for curating such inspiring content and for fostering a space to reconnect with old friends and create new, meaningful connections — all in stunning Lyon. 🇫🇷 A few snapshots…
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Sammy K. Millard @sammy-millard.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Day two! @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025 👏 Come to my poster, II-B.40, on a slightly different topic than usual for me 🤓 Resilience or vulnerability to pain in climbers: A survey exploring the relationships between psychological flexibility, psychological inflexibility, and pain catastrophizing 🧗‍♀️🧠
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
No subgroup with deficient CPM was identified. Subgroups did not differ in age, sex, pain catastrophizing, and other clinical features. This questions the importance of CPM assessments in chronic pain and highlights the need to further explore sources of CPM variability.
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Poster #1 shows how with latent class linear mixed models, we aimed to investigate whether subgroups with different CPM effects exist in a diverse patient and pain-free control sample (N=146). We identified 3 subgroups with different degrees of inhibitory CPM, all containing patients and controls.
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Fun first day yesterday at @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025! 🤩 1️⃣ Conference mode on 2️⃣ Poster #1 on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) - more below 3️⃣ Cheering for ⭐️ @sammy-millard.bsky.social 4️⃣ First congress as CNAP member 💛 🔜 Poster #2 on pressure algometry with flat vs. round tip on Sat, III-C.18
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Also, for all IASP members, check out IASP Connect by @iasp.bsky.social! 🌐Create a Discussion or Q&A thread and interact with our community. Give it a try and drop me a comment here or on IASP Connect if you're going to #EFIC2025! 🗨️👇 tinyurl.com/2khpy2pc
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Hey Early Career Pain Researchers/Professionals, who's going to the @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025 in Lyon next week? 😊 As a member of the @iasp.bsky.social #IASPECN, I am particularly looking forward to some exciting activities just for us ECRs! Program: tinyurl.com/3x2dpx2p See you there?😎
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International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) @iasp.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Hello, IASP Early Career Members! The Early Career Network (ECN) is working with IASP to support you with exciting initiatives. We want your input to help shape the ECN and ensure your voice is heard. Share your ideas, concerns, and wishes with us at earlycareer@iasp-pain.org! #IASP #ECN
ECN img
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Sammy K. Millard @sammy-millard.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
I thought this might be a fitting first post 🦋 After officially completing my PhD with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) early in 2024, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate my graduation back in Australia to close out 2024! 🎓🧪👩‍🔬
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
But let‘s stop bothering the BlueSky community 😂 Maybe we‘ll get the chance to discuss at EFIC or elsewhere. 😊
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Also (being provocative here): it seems as if your claim of these „interactions“ is a good excuse for all cases where the nociceptive system does not fit the aparatus definition. Are you sure that the WDR‘s function was nociceptive at first and now it simply interacts with other NS components?
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Thank you, I am aware of that. 😉 The WDRs are just a good example of a nociceptive system component that doesn‘t match ChatGPT‘s apparatus definition - even given your claim that it‘s merely interacting with another component of the NS.
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
P.S.: Don't take me too seriously 😊 - I just enjoy such discussions. And I just thought that maybe ChatGPT's answer is too simple for the complexity of the nociceptive ... world. 😉
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Is ChatGPT wrong then?😉 You write in your paper: "Could one envision the activation of such an apparatus without an experience of pain? We suggest yes." I agree, e.g., WDR neurons. But this doesn't align with ChatGPT's definition/purpose of the apparatus as it's not nociception-specific.
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Mhm... but the cardiovascular system is also part of the autonomic nervous system, no? And what about WDR neurons? They are part of the nociceptive section but do not only deal with threats to existential integrity. Or what do you see as "nociceptive section"? Only nociceptors and the STT?
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Mhm, interesting. However - aren't some apparatus features are too simple for nociceptive processes?🤔 E.g., purpose: some nociceptive system/apparatus components are not performing a specific operation or function. They are performing multiple operations/functions, e.g., the insula.
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Johanna Joyce @johannajoyce.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️ So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality? We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary #WomeninSTEM www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... 🧵 1/
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
🔵 NO SENSORY ALTERATIONS in the pain-free REMOTE area. 🖐️🆗 This suggests: ABSENT SUPRASPINAL SENSITIZATION More on our concept, findings, and interpretation in the article - excited to hear the community‘s thoughts! 🤗 🧵6/6
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
🟡MECHANICAL HYPERALGESIA and ALLODYNIA in the pain-free area ADJACENT to the most painful area. ⬆️🪡🖌️ This might reflect secondary hyperalgesia and thus: PRESENT SPINAL SENSITIZATION 🧵5/6
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
🔴REDUCED SENSITIVITY to cold and vibration stimuli in the patients' MOST PAINFUL area.⬇️❄️🫨 This is in line with decreased tactile acuity reported in chronic low back pain and suggests: ABSENT PERIPHERAL SENSITIZATION 🧵4/6
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
To test these concepts, QST needed to be assessed in three body areas: 🔴MOST PAINFUL area (lower back) = proxy for primarily affected area. 🟡Pain-free area ADJACENT to the most painful area (AD) = proxy for secondary area. 🔵REMOTE, pain-free area (hand). What did we find? 🧐 🧵3/6
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
we used established concepts about sensory signs of each sensitization type. 🔴PERIPHERAL: Hypersensitivity in primarily affected area. 🟡SPINAL: Allodynia or mechanical hyperalgesia in a secondary area surrounding the primarily affected area. 🔵SUPRASPINAL: Remote hypersensitivity. 🧵2/6
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Guess it's time to share some research! 🔎 In our most recent publication in Pain Reports, we aimed to differentiate PERIPHERAL, SPINAL, and SUPRASPINAL SENSITIZATION in patients with chronic low back pain using quantitative sensory testing. For that ... 🧵1/6 journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
journals.lww.com
Indication for spinal sensitization in chronic low back... : PAIN Reports
study conceptualized the most painful area (MP) of patients with nonspecific CLBP as primarily affected area and assessed signs of peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal sensitization using quantitative ...
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Thank you - absolutely, fantastic team here, very happy with my decision! 🧡🤗
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Also: hands up pain researchers, looking forward to connect! 👋 #community
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Laura Sirucek @laurasirucek.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Kickstarting my @bsky.app #painresearch profile by sharing my biggest life change of 2024: Started a #postdoc at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain #CNAP at Aalborg University #AAU - fantastic decision! 🤩 Follow if you're interested in #pain #neuroplasticity. #research #neuroscience #brain
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