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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 26d

I’ll address this question in a minimal model, which I’ll present at the Bernstein Conference (29 Sep – 02 Oct) in Frankfurt.

If you’re interested, come to our workshop or visit my poster. Looking forward!

@bernsteinneuro.bsky.social
@crmatematica.bsky.social

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 26d

My talk at the WWTNS is now online!
In it, I explore how both random processes and Hebbian learning shape representational drift:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH4P...

In the end I raise the question:
How can neuronal activities change while representational similarity is preserved?

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Representational drift reflects ongoing balancing of stochastic changes by.... | Jens-Bastian Eppler

YouTube video by The Theoretical Neuroscience Channel

www.youtube.com

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 29d

This is the first paper to come out from my postdoc at @crmatematica.bsky.social.

Still in collaboration with my old friends Simon Rumpel and Matthias Kaschube, though. 🧠🤝

5/5

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 29d

This process can be likened to "herding cats": the stochastic changes (cats) are kept in check by statistical learning (shepherd & dogs). We even added an illustration containing 🐱 & 🐶. 🧠🧪

4/5

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 29d

We propose: ongoing statistical learning is not only for adapting to new environments, but also to continuously maintain memories in the face of stochastic changes.

Without it, the system would lose track. With it, the cognitive map stays intact. 🔄🧠

3/5

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 29d

This means that what we call “representations” (Edelman, 1998: "Representation as representation of similarities") are actually stable during “representational drift” - even though neuronal activities change. 🧠🔍

A stable percept can thus emerge from an unstable substrate.

2/5

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · 29d

Following up on my last post with some more detail:

Our new opinion in CONEUR: Statistical learning and representational drift: A dynamic substrate for memories

authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

Neural activity patterns drift over days. Yet, representational similarity remains stable. 🧠🧪

1/5

ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.

authors.elsevier.com

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Sep 7

New opinion paper out in CONEUR:
Statistical learning and representational drift: A dynamic substrate for memories

We propose: Representational drift arises from stochastic changes balanced by statistical learning.

Probably with the craziest figure I’ll ever publish…

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doi.org/10.1016/j.co...

Redirecting

doi.org

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 9

I like the freedom to follow my own ideas and availability to get feedback on those ideas.

Late postdoc stage, though. During my PhD I liked more and closer guidance better (in exchange for less freedom).

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 5

I hope, it is not always 1:1 the environment. :D If the brain would only reflect the environment, how would we be able to learn at all?

I am really excited about all the evidence on learning and manifolds. So much still to be found and understood.

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 4

And for me the big question is: What about representational drift? 😄

Manifolds can be mapped, but individual neuronal responses change. That’s neat, but how does it make sense?

How can perception stay stable if the neurons keep changing?
I’m sure manifolds will help us understand that too…

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3/3

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 4

Brain structure and behavior give rise to manifolds.

But what about the environment? Either through statistical learning or just similar inputs leading to similar representations: the input/task will shape the manifold, no?

Linear track → linear representation.
Circular color space → ring.

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2/3

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 4

Great new review on neural manifolds by @juangallego.bsky.social and @mattperich.bsky.social.

Amazing read. Lots of intuition and examples. Great synthesis of why manifold structure pops up everywhere in neuroscience, from motor control to cognitive tasks.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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A neural manifold view of the brain - Nature Neuroscience

Recent advances in neuroscience have revealed how neural population activity underlying behavior can be well described by topological objects called neural manifolds. Understanding how nature, nurture...

www.nature.com

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 2

:D

I do think excitability plays a role and I really like the tuning changes through lateral inhibition.

I'm not sure about the significance of excitability, as already minor synaptic weight changes can cause huge response changes. And synaptic weights change considerably.

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 2

New preprint by @carolinehaimerl.bsky.social:
A self-consistent model reproducing key features of representational drift without synaptic changes.
Great piece of theoretical work!

That said, I think it remains an academic exercise. Synapses change, all the time.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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www.biorxiv.org

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Aug 1

Great new paper by my colleagues Gloria & Alex, and @lichengzou.bsky.social. Hebbian plasticity accounts for much of representational drift: Drift is ongoing memory storage, not noise. Also reconciles contradictory findings on stability after repeated exposure.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Representational drift as the consequence of ongoing memory storage - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Representational drift as the consequence of ongoing memory storage

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Jens-Bastian Eppler

Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience @bernsteinneuro.bsky.social · Jul 24

⏳ Register for the #BernsteinConference by July 30 and secure the early-bird fees!

Register here 👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 22

An alle Forscher*innen, die KI verwenden/erforschen und deutsch sprechen: Macht mit!
Ich war jetzt schon paarmal dabei und es hat immer sehr viel Spaß gemacht.

(Dieses Mal habe ich leider keine Zeit...)

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Wissenschaft im Dialog @w-i-d.de · Jul 22

Ab sofort könnt ihr euch für die neue Runde von I’m a Scientist rund um #KI bewerben. Tauscht euch mit Schüler*innen zu eurer Forschung und aktuellen Fragen zu KI aus. Die Live-Chats finden vom 22. September bis zum 1. Oktober statt. Bewerbungsschluss: 31. August: imascientist.de/bewerbungsfo...

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 12

:D Ich habe das Zeichenlimit bis auf das letzte Zeichen ausgenutzt...

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 12

Habe beim deutschen #ImAScientist zum Thema KI mitgemacht. Dort können Schüler*innen mit Wissenschaftler*innen chatten.

Ist oft super chaotisch mit einer ganzen Klasse zu chatten, aber macht richtig Spaß. Kann ich wirklich nur empfehlen!

Meine Eindrücke dazu:
imascientist.de/2025/07/09/d...

💬🧪🧠👩‍🔬👨‍🔬

„Der Austausch mit den Schüler*innen hilft dabei, den Spaß und die Freude am Forschen nicht aus den Augen zu verlieren.” – Jens-Bastian Eppler, Gewinner der Themenrunde Künstliche Intelligenz im Inter...

imascientist.de

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 9

I'd be happy to, if you still need someone.

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 8

It is. :D

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 8

Don't forget to submit your abstracts! And see you in Frankfurt. :D

Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience @bernsteinneuro.bsky.social · Jul 8

⌛ One week left to submit your poster abstracts and travel grant applications for the #BernsteinConference 2025!

🗓️ Deadline: July 15

All info and submission 👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jul 8

If you still need one, I'd be happy to.

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Jens-Bastian Eppler @j-b-eppler.bsky.social · Jun 13

Just submitted my abstract. :)
You still have the whole weekend to submit yours for a contributed talk at the #BernsteinConference 2025!

Probably my favorite conference, and once again the speaker lineup looks fantastic. Hope to see many of you in Frankfurt.

Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience @bernsteinneuro.bsky.social · Jun 10

⌛ One week left to submit your contributed talk abstracts for the #BernsteinConference 2025!

🗓️ Deadline: June 17, 15:00 CEST

All info and submission 👉 bernstein-network.de/bernstein-co...

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