Joao Barbosa
@jbarbosa.org
INSERM group leader @ Neuromodulation Institute and NeuroSpin (Paris) in computational neuroscience.
How and why are computations enabling cognition distributed across the brain?
Expect neuroscience and ML content.
jbarbosa.org
How and why are computations enabling cognition distributed across the brain?
Expect neuroscience and ML content.
jbarbosa.org
Pinned
Joao Barbosa
@jbarbosa.org
· Feb 2
A good time to repost this banger from 'The Responsibility of Intellectuals' by Noam Chomsky in '67
Vance is absolutely correct: universities are - and must be - the enemy.
This is why the Right is attacking scholarship globally. They want to end the privilege Chomsky's talking about in 67
Vance is absolutely correct: universities are - and must be - the enemy.
This is why the Right is attacking scholarship globally. They want to end the privilege Chomsky's talking about in 67
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Humans will NEVER colonize another planet. Never.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Humans will NEVER colonize another planet. Never.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
If we can’t even agree to do the minimum to keep Earth habitable, there’s no way in hell we’ll cooperate to make another planet habitable.
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
As it's hiring season again I'm resharing the NeuroJobs feed. Add #NeuroJobs to your post if you're recruiting or looking for an RA, PhD, Postdoc, or faculty position in Neuro or an adjacent field.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
September 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
As it's hiring season again I'm resharing the NeuroJobs feed. Add #NeuroJobs to your post if you're recruiting or looking for an RA, PhD, Postdoc, or faculty position in Neuro or an adjacent field.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
This is one of my favs...
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This is one of my favs...
"ASS is inviting scientists who are active in academic activities to serve as editorial members"
is ASS the 'best' predatory journal around?
is ASS the 'best' predatory journal around?
November 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"ASS is inviting scientists who are active in academic activities to serve as editorial members"
is ASS the 'best' predatory journal around?
is ASS the 'best' predatory journal around?
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
I am recruiting graduate students for the experimental side of my lab @mcgill.ca for admission in Fall 2026!
Get in touch if you're interested in how brain circuits implement distributed computation, including dopamine-based distributed RL and probabilistic representations.
Get in touch if you're interested in how brain circuits implement distributed computation, including dopamine-based distributed RL and probabilistic representations.
November 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I am recruiting graduate students for the experimental side of my lab @mcgill.ca for admission in Fall 2026!
Get in touch if you're interested in how brain circuits implement distributed computation, including dopamine-based distributed RL and probabilistic representations.
Get in touch if you're interested in how brain circuits implement distributed computation, including dopamine-based distributed RL and probabilistic representations.
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
I read the caption first and thought the illusion might be because the y-axis was on a log scale, but it's not!
My brain was bamboozled regardless.
My brain was bamboozled regardless.
November 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I read the caption first and thought the illusion might be because the y-axis was on a log scale, but it's not!
My brain was bamboozled regardless.
My brain was bamboozled regardless.
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Overheard at #SfN25: “It’s up to us to reflect the truth.”
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Overheard at #SfN25: “It’s up to us to reflect the truth.”
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
“This is not a sprint, this is not a marathon, this is a relay.” (Advocate for science, and when you get tired, let someone else do it for a while, then get involved again…
#StandUpForScience #SciPolicy #Advocacy #Neuroscience #Neurosky
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
A remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford, EMERGENCE is a coming-of-age tale where heartbreak and humor meet the scientific wonder of modern artificial intelligence.
🔗 Preorder: tinyurl.com/fzcxb5ea
🔗 Preorder: tinyurl.com/fzcxb5ea
November 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
A remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford, EMERGENCE is a coming-of-age tale where heartbreak and humor meet the scientific wonder of modern artificial intelligence.
🔗 Preorder: tinyurl.com/fzcxb5ea
🔗 Preorder: tinyurl.com/fzcxb5ea
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Since so many people are here for #sfn25 this week, maybe a good time to mention the algorithmic “For You” feed:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
which shows you posts that people who liked the same things as you liked 🫧📌
bsky.app/profile/did:...
which shows you posts that people who liked the same things as you liked 🫧📌
Welcome to the ✨For You✨ feed!
It finds people who liked the same posts as you, and shows you what else they've liked recently.
📌 Pin to add it to your top bar
❤️ Like the feed and repost to spread the goodness
It finds people who liked the same posts as you, and shows you what else they've liked recently.
📌 Pin to add it to your top bar
❤️ Like the feed and repost to spread the goodness
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Since so many people are here for #sfn25 this week, maybe a good time to mention the algorithmic “For You” feed:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
which shows you posts that people who liked the same things as you liked 🫧📌
bsky.app/profile/did:...
which shows you posts that people who liked the same things as you liked 🫧📌
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
After initially being place on the reserve list, my Academy Research Fellowship has now received a positive result from the Research Council of Finland 🥳 Next year I will be starting my own team where we will work on identifying new interoception-based treatment targets for mental health disorders!
November 17, 2025 at 7:16 AM
After initially being place on the reserve list, my Academy Research Fellowship has now received a positive result from the Research Council of Finland 🥳 Next year I will be starting my own team where we will work on identifying new interoception-based treatment targets for mental health disorders!
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Excited to be at #SfN25! Come catch my poster “Neural dimensionality expands over the course of brain-computer interface learning” wed PM (W15) if you’re interested in non-invasive BCIs, neural manifolds, human learning, etc. Building upon our recent work (doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.29.646109)
Accelerated learning of a noninvasive human brain-computer interface via manifold geometry
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) promise to restore and enhance a wide range of human capabilities. However, a barrier to the adoption of BCIs is how long it can take users to learn to control them. W...
www.biorxiv.org
November 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Excited to be at #SfN25! Come catch my poster “Neural dimensionality expands over the course of brain-computer interface learning” wed PM (W15) if you’re interested in non-invasive BCIs, neural manifolds, human learning, etc. Building upon our recent work (doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.29.646109)
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
🧠Our new preprint is out on PsyArXiv!
We study how getting more feedback (seeing what you could have earned) and facing gains vs losses change the way people choose between risky and safe options.
🖇️Link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
It's a thread🧶:
We study how getting more feedback (seeing what you could have earned) and facing gains vs losses change the way people choose between risky and safe options.
🖇️Link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
It's a thread🧶:
November 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
🧠Our new preprint is out on PsyArXiv!
We study how getting more feedback (seeing what you could have earned) and facing gains vs losses change the way people choose between risky and safe options.
🖇️Link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
It's a thread🧶:
We study how getting more feedback (seeing what you could have earned) and facing gains vs losses change the way people choose between risky and safe options.
🖇️Link: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
It's a thread🧶:
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
I’m off to #SfN2025! Grateful for the TPDA sponsor from @sfn.org. I will present in two sessions, details below.
I’m seeking 2026 postdoc positions to continue research in animal cognition/naturalistic behaviors—if you’re looking for a neuroethologist and a mouse whisperer, come to see me!
I’m seeking 2026 postdoc positions to continue research in animal cognition/naturalistic behaviors—if you’re looking for a neuroethologist and a mouse whisperer, come to see me!
November 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
1. New preprint resolving a conundrum in systems neuroscience with an AI scientist, and humans Reilly Tilbury, Dabin Kwon, @haydari.bsky.social, @jacobmratliff.bsky.social, @bio-emergent.bsky.social, @carandinilab.net, @kevinjmiller.bsky.social, @neurokim.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Characterizing neuronal population geometry with AI equation discovery
The visual cortex contains millions of neurons, whose combined activity forms a population code representing visual stimuli. There is, however, a discrepancy between our understanding of this code at ...
www.biorxiv.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
1. New preprint resolving a conundrum in systems neuroscience with an AI scientist, and humans Reilly Tilbury, Dabin Kwon, @haydari.bsky.social, @jacobmratliff.bsky.social, @bio-emergent.bsky.social, @carandinilab.net, @kevinjmiller.bsky.social, @neurokim.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Miller Lab at #SFN2025. Come by and say hi ya. #Neuroscience
November 14, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Miller Lab at #SFN2025. Come by and say hi ya. #Neuroscience
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Come check out my SFN nano talk @ 4:15 on Sunday, especially if you’re interested in:
- spicy debates in task switching
- using control theory to compare latent dynamical systems fit to RNNs and EEG
eppro02.ativ.me/appinfo.php?...
Stay for the whole ‘Adaptive Choice’ symposium!
- spicy debates in task switching
- using control theory to compare latent dynamical systems fit to RNNs and EEG
eppro02.ativ.me/appinfo.php?...
Stay for the whole ‘Adaptive Choice’ symposium!
Neuroscience 2025
eppro02.ativ.me
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Come check out my SFN nano talk @ 4:15 on Sunday, especially if you’re interested in:
- spicy debates in task switching
- using control theory to compare latent dynamical systems fit to RNNs and EEG
eppro02.ativ.me/appinfo.php?...
Stay for the whole ‘Adaptive Choice’ symposium!
- spicy debates in task switching
- using control theory to compare latent dynamical systems fit to RNNs and EEG
eppro02.ativ.me/appinfo.php?...
Stay for the whole ‘Adaptive Choice’ symposium!
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
🗓️ Mark your calendars: the next #BernsteinConference will take place September 28 to October 1, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main!
Follow the link below to meet the first confirmed speakers. More to come!
👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...
#BernsteinNetwork #CompNeuro
Follow the link below to meet the first confirmed speakers. More to come!
👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...
#BernsteinNetwork #CompNeuro
November 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🗓️ Mark your calendars: the next #BernsteinConference will take place September 28 to October 1, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main!
Follow the link below to meet the first confirmed speakers. More to come!
👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...
#BernsteinNetwork #CompNeuro
Follow the link below to meet the first confirmed speakers. More to come!
👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...
#BernsteinNetwork #CompNeuro
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Our lab is looking for a postdoc! We have interesting projects and cutting-edge techniques such as Neuropixels Opto, Light Beads Microscopy and more. We would be delighted to receive your application. Deadline is 25 November 2025. More info here:
www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/po...
www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/po...
November 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Our lab is looking for a postdoc! We have interesting projects and cutting-edge techniques such as Neuropixels Opto, Light Beads Microscopy and more. We would be delighted to receive your application. Deadline is 25 November 2025. More info here:
www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/po...
www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/po...
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Insects are also capable of complex behaviour. If this is the only criterion, should we stop doing experiments on mammals?
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Trends in Cognitive Sciences | Series: Insect Cognition | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
Despite their tiny brains, insects demonstrate a remarkable array of complex behaviors, challenging our assumptions about the neural requirements for intelligence. This collection of articles in Trend...
www.sciencedirect.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Insects are also capable of complex behaviour. If this is the only criterion, should we stop doing experiments on mammals?
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
www.sciencedirect.com/special-issu...
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
After 13 years in the US, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave. Having packed up everything and rethought about priorities, rather painstakingly, while I’m sad to leave the life I’ve made here, I’m also relieved that I won’t have to plan my life around immigration policies anymore.
October 31, 2025 at 4:08 AM
After 13 years in the US, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave. Having packed up everything and rethought about priorities, rather painstakingly, while I’m sad to leave the life I’ve made here, I’m also relieved that I won’t have to plan my life around immigration policies anymore.
Reposted by Joao Barbosa
Connectome datasets alone are generally not sufficient to predict neural activity. However, pairing connectivity information with neural recordings can produce accurate predictions of activity in unrecorded neurons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Prediction of neural activity in connectome-constrained recurrent networks - Nature Neuroscience
The authors show that connectome datasets alone are generally not sufficient to predict neural activity. However, pairing connectivity information with neural recordings can produce accurate predictio...
www.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Connectome datasets alone are generally not sufficient to predict neural activity. However, pairing connectivity information with neural recordings can produce accurate predictions of activity in unrecorded neurons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...