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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · 1d

Thought-provoking analysis by @markhaselgrove.bsky.social on a recent preprint looking at benchmarks for associative learning models 👇

Mark Haselgrove @markhaselgrove.bsky.social · 1d

Am slowly making my way through this paper. And it is an impressive body of work by a collection of great researchers.

However, I have a couple of problems with it...

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PsyArXivBot @psyarxivbot.bsky.social · 7d

Benchmarks for Associative Learning Models: https://osf.io/qsgz8

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Mark Haselgrove @markhaselgrove.bsky.social · 6d

In which 94 benchmark phenomena are identified.

16 are domain- and species-general and should be explained by any theory claiming generality.

30 are species- and/or domain-specific but highly robust across procedures

PsyArXivBot @psyarxivbot.bsky.social · 7d

Benchmarks for Associative Learning Models: https://osf.io/qsgz8

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · 19d

I looked into this two years ago and concluded that GPower cannot do this power calculation (2x2 W-S). Daniel Lakens has a shinny app that can do it (but there is a parameter [correlation between measures] which gives a lot of flexibility).

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22d

Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, says UN inquiry

Commission’s 72-page legal analysis cites examples including scale of killings, aid blockages and forced displacement * Middle East crisis – live updates A UN commission of inquiry concluded on Tuesday that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had incited these acts. It cited examples of the scale of the killings, aid blockages, forced displacement and the destruction of a fertility clinic to back up its genocide finding, adding its voice to rights groups and others that have reached the same conclusion. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Mark D Humphries @markdhumphries.bsky.social · 28d

The MRC are looking for a computational neuroscientist to join their Neuroscience & Mental Health Board, to replace me as I step down next year.

Drop me a line if you want to know more

Deadline September 14th

www.ukri.org/who-we-are/w....

MRC Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) member vacancies

Closing date 14 September 2025 at 11:59pm (UK time) Number of positions Six Length of term Two years, plus additional two years after review Time commitment Two days per month Remuneration £160 per da...

www.ukri.org

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Sep 3

Only two days left to apply for this 3-year postdoc position to look at fear, avoidance, heart rate monitoring and the neural mechanisms orchestrating these. Get in touch with Carl Stevenson or myself if you are interested, the deadline is Friday! Please repost.

Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 13

Job Alert!!! We are looking for a motivated postdoc to join a 3-year BBSRC funded project led by my colleague Carl Stevenson (I’m coPI). This multi-disciplinary project will combine in vivo heart rate monitoring and optogenetics with behavioural testing (fear and active avoidance) in rats.

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Sep 1

Only a few days left to apply for this 3-year postdoc position in Nottingham (deadline Sept 5th!). If you're considering applying please get in touch. If you're already a PI, then repost this!

Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 13

Job Alert!!! We are looking for a motivated postdoc to join a 3-year BBSRC funded project led by my colleague Carl Stevenson (I’m coPI). This multi-disciplinary project will combine in vivo heart rate monitoring and optogenetics with behavioural testing (fear and active avoidance) in rats.

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 28

Reminder that we're looking for a Post Doc and the deadline is looming (Sept 5th). If you are interested, please get in touch. If you see this, please repost it to that it is seen by potential applicants!

Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 13

Job Alert!!! We are looking for a motivated postdoc to join a 3-year BBSRC funded project led by my colleague Carl Stevenson (I’m coPI). This multi-disciplinary project will combine in vivo heart rate monitoring and optogenetics with behavioural testing (fear and active avoidance) in rats.

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Neuropsychopharmacology @npp-journal.bsky.social · Aug 20

In this recent #ResearchHighlight, the authors discuss new findings pointing a potential non-pharmacological approach for mitigating maladaptive craving behaviors

To indulge or enrich: how environmental enrichment affects neurons that promote food seeking

Neuropsychopharmacology - To indulge or enrich: how environmental enrichment affects neurons that promote food seeking

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Tomás Ryan @tjryan.bsky.social · Aug 15

The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting.

Our new perspective piece in @cp-trendsneuro.bsky.social, lead by Ryan Lab alumni, Livia Autore. Also with Michael Drew from @utaustin.bsky.social

Trends in Neurosciences www.cell.com/trends/neuro...

The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting

The retention and use of long-term memories is crucial for adaptive behavior. While stable memories help organisms anticipate outcomes, they may become maladaptive if not updated to reflect new condit...

www.cell.com

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Mark D Humphries @markdhumphries.bsky.social · Aug 12

My latest column for @thetransmitter.bsky.social - why neural populations are a convenient fiction

doi.org/10.53053/FZK...

The challenge of defining a neural population

Our current approach is largely arbitrary. We need new methods for grouping cells, ideally by their dynamics.

doi.org

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Esther Mondragón @emp1.bsky.social · Aug 14

Nick Mackintosh and the not-so-recent history of associative learning, as seen through the eyes of his friend and definitive rival, Geoff Hall.

It reminded me of how much fun it was working with Geoff.
www-users.york.ac.uk/~gh1/pdf/201...

www-users.york.ac.uk

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 14

Very interesting take, I had not seen this so thanks for sharing.

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 13

We want to (1) characterise the relationship between different anxiety-related behaviours and arousal states, and (2) causally determine the brain circuit mechanisms involved. Please share widely and get in touch with Carl or me if you are interested.

jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...

Job Vacancy at the University of Nottingham: Post Doctoral Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed term)

Applications from highly motivated and self-driven candidates are invited for the above position to work on the BBSRC-funded project ‘Determining the brain basis of heart rate variability during extin...

jobs.nottingham.ac.uk

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 13

Job Alert!!! We are looking for a motivated postdoc to join a 3-year BBSRC funded project led by my colleague Carl Stevenson (I’m coPI). This multi-disciplinary project will combine in vivo heart rate monitoring and optogenetics with behavioural testing (fear and active avoidance) in rats.

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 8

100% agreed!

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 8

I was thinking of appetitive-aversive inhibitory interactions, unless you manage to use two outcomes which are qualitatively different but of the exactly same valence. Even then you could argue that they may inhibit each other as means of explaining interference. A long shot anyway.

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Aug 8

You will probably need Konorski to get closer to the interaction between outcomes

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Nottingham Summer Scientist Week @nottssummersci.bsky.social · Jul 31

Looking for a free day out over Summer? We give you free car parking, and a fun half day of science. Rember the park and the ice-cream van are only a stones throw away.

We still have a few spaces left for this years Summer Scientist Week, so make sure to get booked on at www.summerscientist.org

Summer Scientist booking system

Summer Scientist Week is a free event for 4-11 year-olds and their parents, which gives a fun introduction to the mind and brain.

www.summerscientist.org

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

School of Psychology, University of Nottingham @notts-psych.bsky.social · Jul 31

As staff, it’s our great honour to witness this moment of celebration. We’ve loved teaching & supporting you throughout your journey, watching you cross the stage, meeting your families & friends is a privilege. Wishing you all the best. Go make your mark, Class of 2025! 💫

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Claire Gillan @clairegillan.bsky.social · Jul 28

New preprint from the lab on habit learning in compulsivity from the fantastic @kellydonegan.bsky.social! ✅ N=1000, ✅ pre-registered, ✅ within-person crossover design...we study individual differences in habit learning using the Neureka App

Kelly Donegan @kellydonegan.bsky.social · Jul 28

🚨PREPRINT ALERT🚨

Why do some people get stuck doing things that no longer make sense, or are even harmful? Our new study shows compulsivity isn’t just about weakened goal-directed control; people high in compulsivity also form stronger habits

📄: osf.io/preprints/ps...

#PaperFairy #Habits #CogSci

OSF

osf.io

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

The Experimental Psychology Society @exppsychsoc.bsky.social · Jul 8

The first day of the joint EPS and CSBBCS meeting in Dundee ends, fittingly, with a joint poster session!

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Claire Gillan @clairegillan.bsky.social · Jun 14

@kellydonegan.bsky.social showing our latest smartphone habit research this morning at @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social 📲

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Reposted by Gonzalo Urcelay

Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Jun 10

Many variables determine whether instrumental behaviour is goal-directed or habitual. We have documented in rats that delays between response and outcome attenuate sensitivity to outcome devaluation (a canonical test of goal directedness). In this study we replicated that observation in humans.

Delayed rewards weaken human goal directed actions - npj Science of Learning

npj Science of Learning - Delayed rewards weaken human goal directed actions

doi.org

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Gonzalo Urcelay @gurcelay.bsky.social · Jun 11

indeed, a good example of the kind of phenomenon we looked at with @omadav.bsky.social and reported in our recent paper (sorry for the plug!). As suggested, we did observe that delayed outcomes impaired contingency knowledge (in addition to sensitivity to devaluation)

Delayed rewards weaken human goal directed actions - npj Science of Learning

npj Science of Learning - Delayed rewards weaken human goal directed actions

doi.org

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