iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

James Lightfoot @jameslightfoot.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

How does evolution turn a harmless bacterial feeder into an active predator? Our new study led by @marianneroca.bsky.social and published in @pnas.org explores how sensory systems were rewired to enable prey detection and predatory behaviour in nematodes. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 🧵below!

pnas.org

Evolution of sensory systems underlies the emergence of predatory feeding behaviors in nematodes | PNAS

Understanding how animal behavior evolves remains a major challenge, with few studies linking genetic changes to differences in neural function and...

15125

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 28/01/2026

Congratulations to @marianneroca.bsky.social on this great paper 🎉 The study shows how P.pacificus detects prey by integrating mechanical&chemical cues in the same sensory neurons, revealing how evolution rewired systems originally used for avoidance to enable hunting. mpinb.mpg.de/en/press/pre...

041

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 28/01/2026

Neurobiologie zum Anfassen 🧠 Austausch, Experimente & Karrierewege beim Besuch von #juFORUM Neurowissenschaften bei uns am Institut. Mehr davon bitte! :-D

030

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 21/01/2026

Great thread by @jameslightfoot.bsky.social breaking down the key ideas behind our new Nature paper step by step. Highly recommended if you want the full story behind how predatory behavior evolved in these worms.

060

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 21/01/2026

How do new behaviors evolve? A new Nature study shows how predatory aggression can emerge through changes in neuromodulatory circuits – without adding new neurons. We’ve created a short animated explainer video to walk through the key ideas. youtu.be/wNhjKDCPs_8?...

youtu.be

How new behaviors evolve: from peaceful worm to predator

YouTube video by MPINB

0123

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

leoboeger.bsky.social @leoboeger.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Our latest paper is out in Nature 🥳 We investigated the underlying neuromodulatory regulation of aggressive behavior in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus 🪱🧠🔬 And we show that novel behaviors can evolve through changes of single neuron function by switches in neuromodulator-receptor expression. 👇

nature.com

Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits - Nature

Noradrenergic circuits support and balance aggressive behavioural states in predatory nematodes, distinguish predatory from non-predatory nematode species and are associated with the evolution of comp...

1174

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

DZNE research center @dzne.science · 20/10/2025

Registration open: eveeno.com/applicationb... Under the theme “From Genes to Circuits and Behavior”, top neuroscientists - incl. Cori Bargmann, @edvardmoser.bsky.social, Rosa Paolicelli, Maude Baldwin & Zachary Knight - will meet at to explore how neural circuits drive behavior.

166

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 08/10/2025

💡 Join the 8th Bonn Brain Conference March 23–25, 2026 | DZNE Bonn, Germany Explore the latest in brain states, neural circuits, and behavior — with keynote talks by leading neuroscientists including Cori Bargmann and Edvard Moser @edvardmoser.bsky.social

1127

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

It is a true pleasure to take part at this year’s Konstanz school on collective behavior and talk about our theoretical framework of computing with transients. @mpinb.mpg.de

041

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 28/07/2025

Exciting news! @kerrlab.bsky.social is part of a new #MaxPlanckCenter with @mpi-mr.bsky.social and the Institute for Basic Science at Yonsei University in Seoul. We aim to visualize and influence cellular processes deep in human tissue — in a targeted way, without causing damage. Stay tuned ! 🌟

010

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Excited to be part of “Unifying theories in high-dimensional biophyics” symposium @ICTS in Bangalore. Looking forward to learn about novel theoretical descriptions from molecular to behavior of ecologies! @mpinb.mpg.de

071

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 23/07/2025

🚀 Big news from our @monikakscholz.bsky.social lab! We’re part of DynOrg, a new @dfg.de-funded Research Unit exploring how #GPCR signaling coordinates organ function & animal behavior — from heartbeat to foraging. 🧠💓 #FOR #neurotransmitters

Ilustration for FOR5807 showing sketches of c. elegans and its neuronal networks and molecular form of serotonin and dopamin

182

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

Max Planck Neuroscience @mpneuro.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Despite the trillions of synapses in the brain, there is sparse connectivity between neurons. This may be a feature, not a flaw, per new research at @mpinb.mpg.de‬. A study finds that “sparse connectivity” of neurons may contribute to more efficient info-processing in the brain: bit.ly/4kO1TMY

Image of neural connections. Text reads: The brain’s sparse connectivity is not a limitation it’s an optimization!

021

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

We had a privilege to have Chittaranjan Hens from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India, visiting for a day and telling us about the origins of instability in dynamical systems on undirected networks! @mpinb.mpg.de

052

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

International Society for Neuroethology @neuroethology.org · 01/07/2025

In our evening`s session, Monika Scholz from the @mpinb.mpg.de talks about her research on the foraging behavior of a predatory nematode Pristionchus pacificus and compares the underlying neuronal mechanisms with the ones of C. elegans. @monikakscholz.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

biorxiv.org

Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits

Behaviors are adaptive traits evolving through natural selection. Crucially, the genetic, molecular, and neural modifications that shape behavioral innovations are poorly understood. Here, we identify...

061

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

We are at #DDays2025 ! Join us at our 3!! talks on multistability and metastability, today, on Thursday and Friday! @mpinb.mpg.de

072

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 12/06/2025

🚀 New Neurovoyagers episode just dropped! It's been such a great time chatting with ‪@monikakscholz.bsky.social about worms, neural bottlenecks, open science, and the joy of building stuff that works 🧠🔧 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/1r2a...

open.spotify.com

Brains in Miniature: Evolution, Foraging, and Open Science with Monika Scholz

Neurovoyagers: Exploring the Minds Behind Neuroscience · Episode

175

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 11/06/2025

Cells use more than signal strength to decide their fate—they "listen" to the tempo of signaling. Check out this work by our Cellular Computations and Learning Lab introducing signaling homeorhesis, a concept where dynamic signal patterns guide cell decisions. #CellSignaling #cellfate

041

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 03/06/2025

(1/3) Paper alert! 🧠 What does it take a 🐀 to move a single whisker? More than we expected! Research from our In Silico Brain Sciences Lab and University of Pittsburgh (Pitt Med) shows: ✅ a diverse set of brain areas is involved ✅ movements even originate from areas linked to sensing and cognition.

Schematic drawing of a rat with an inset microscopy image showing neurons involved in whisker motor control

130

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

iBehave @ibehave.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

New #iBOTS Workshop "Intro Neural Spike Analysis in Python" 📅June 11-13 Dr. Ole Bialas Open to All @unibonn.bsky.social @uniklinikkoeln.bsky.social @unicologne.bsky.social @mpinb.mpg.de @fz-juelich.de Learn how to process & analyze neural spiking data! Register: uni-bonn.zoom-x.de/meeting/regi...

002

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 21/04/2025

🧠💤 Glia Regulate Sleep Through Brain Metabolism! A new study in Drosophila shows that glial cells monitor brain CO₂ and pH levels to regulate rest and sleep – revealing a key link between metabolism and sleep need. Activating glia can even induce rest in flies. 🪰🛌 (1/2) @natneuro.nature.com

Schematic of the fly's behavior and corresponding glia cell activity.

1105

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

It is a true honor and privilege to host Vijay Balasubramanian @upenn.edu , a distinguished scholar and a profound intellectual, at our Neuroscience seminar series today. We are enjoying a day of thought-provoking conversations that inspire! @mpinb.mpg.de

031

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 15/04/2025

🧠 Interested in a postdoc in neuroscience? Our Department of Computational Neuroethology is hiring for two exciting projects: 🔬 Retinal circuitry evolution 🐟 Mechanistic cognition in Danionella cerebrum mpinb.mpg.de/en/research-... 📅 Apply by May 13 via the Max Planck #PostdocProgram #Neuroethology

mpinb.mpg.de

Research Focus - MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR NEUROBIOLOGY OF BEHAVIOR — CAESAR

021

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 08/04/2025

We had a great time at #PostdocDay2025! Lots of inspiring chats at our booth and a full room during our talk on the role of networking, given by @anjaguenther.bsky.social 🎤🙌. Big thanks to @unibonn.bsky.social & @bora-network.bsky.social. Looking forward to next time! #ResearchCareers #Networking

Anja Günther from MPINB during her talk at BORA Postdoc Day 25

062

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 07/04/2025

👩‍🔧👩‍🔬 From biology to engineering, toolmaking & lab tech – we opened our labs for #GirlsDay on April 3! Huge thanks to our curious participants and to our helpers for sparking excitement in STEM! 💡🔬✨ Here’s to the next generation of female scientists! 💡🔬✨ #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInScience #FutureScientists

063

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 04/04/2025

🧠 Our group leader Aneta Koseska@koseskalab.bsky.social is giving an invited talk today at the Spatiotemporal Dynamics in Neural Networks symposium at the Fields Institute, Toronto 🇨🇦. Enjoy! 🔍 Curious to learn more about the Koseska Lab and our research? Dive in here 👉 mpinb.mpg.de/en/research-...

mpinb.mpg.de

Research Focus - MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR NEUROBIOLOGY OF BEHAVIOR — CAESAR

011

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 26/03/2025

Hey Göttingen Meeting attendees! Don’t miss the inspiring talks from our group leaders and faculty members of our IMPRS for Brain and Behavior graduate program. Enjoy! 🧠✨

011

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 18/03/2025

🚀 Paper Alert! 🚀 More connections = better learning? Not so fast! 🤯 Our latest research from the In Silico Brain Sciences Lab challenges this assumption: What if the brain’s sparse connectivity is actually an optimization? 🧠✨ (1/3)

AI Image of neurons, text: "the brain's sparse connectivity is not a limitation, it's an optimization"

130

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

koseskalab.bsky.social @koseskalab.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Happy to welcome Kalel Rossi, a new postdoc in the group, Prayas Chakrabarty, Master student, and Abbie Chen, student assistant! #CellularComputationsAndLearning @mpinb.mpg.de

052

Reposted by Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar

James Lightfoot @jameslightfoot.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Have you ever wondered what is on the surface of a #nematode like #Celegans? …it turns out they are surprisingly greasy little critters and covered in many different lipids. To read more about this, check out the excellent paper from the Chauhan lab which we were very happy to be a small part of.

0167

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 04/02/2025

(1/3) Paper out in Current Biology!👏 How do predators use their vision to both navigate through the terrain whilst tracking prey running for its life? Read more about it here: mpinb.mpg.de/en/research-... @kerrlab.bsky.social @mpfneuro.bsky.social Picture by Charles G. Summers, Jr.

122

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 04/02/2025

New Video Alert! How do tiny fruit flies ( #Drosophila melanogaster) make life-or-death flight decisions in milliseconds? Our latest video explains the key role of DNp03, a #neuron that helps flies execute rapid turns (saccades). 🧐👇 Watch here: youtu.be/U11baSEQ_uY

youtu.be

How Do Fruit Flies Make Split-Second Flight Decisions?

YouTube video by MPINB

163

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 23/01/2025

On Monday, more than 30 students from the local universities visited our institute, learned about our research mission and engaged with our scientists during discussion cafés. We had a fantastic time! Thanks to everyone who contributed. We are already looking forward to next time #NextStopJob

Picture of a group of students during a discussion at a table in the MPINB library

110

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 09/01/2025

🌌 New NeuroVoyagers episode out! Had an amazing chat with Marie Dacke @lundvision.bsky.social about dung beetles, the Milky Way, and science outreach. Don’t miss it—fun guaranteed! 🎧 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/0S1K... More Info here: mpinb.mpg.de/en/events/po... #sciencepodcast

010

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 23/12/2024

🎄✨ We wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year!

051

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar @mpinb.mpg.de · 18/12/2024

Looking back at #BIOMORA24. It was a pleasure to host the international #molerat community. We enjoyed fantastic talks, posters and discussions. Thanks to Alison Barker, Pascal Malkemper, Friedemann Pohlig & Jane Reznick for organizing, and to @dfgpublic.bsky.social for funding! @cecad.bsky.social

012