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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · 7d

New bioarXiv paper out from the NEF team on the neural computations during multi-option reward learning in macaques:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Neural dynamics reveal foraging-like computations in the frontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex has a central role in flexible behavior. Computations for weighing alternatives, committing to an option, integrating evidence, and abandoning an option are dominantly formalized...

www.biorxiv.org

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · 27d

brilliant!

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · 27d

I often add some papers from ecology showing complex swarm behaviour from simple mechanisms on the individual animal level, where it seems like the swarm has a mind of its own.

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · 27d

I always talk about this book in my lectures on cognitive modelling. It is a great way to get the students to question cognitive models for humans and animals as well!

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · 28d

Would be interesting to know how much such formats impact what research gets funded. Does everyone just find a way to write these things or does this distort the research that is pursued in favour of research that fits those boxes neatly? And as a followup, what is "boxable" research?

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Aug 1

Job Alert: Our team is looking for someone for a research assistant/manager position for between 6 months and 1 year. Application deadline end of August. Only CV and motivation letter needed.
Our team wesite : sites.google.com/view/ecc-tea... . Please get in touch with me if you are interested.

ECC Team

Team info The primary aim of our team is understanding of how the human brain implements reward-guided decision making, learning and plans into the future. For this, we focus particularly on the role ...

sites.google.com

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Reposted by Nils Kolling

RLDM @rldmdublin2025.bsky.social · Jun 4

Only ONE WEEK until #RLDM2025 ☘️ We can’t wait to welcome brilliant minds from AI, neuroscience, psychology & beyond for cutting-edge talks on reinforcement learning & decision making. Spaces are disappearing quickly so grab your spot before it’s gone! Register now 👉 rldm.org

RLDM | The Multi-disciplinary Conference on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making

rldm.org

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Jun 3

Perceptual decision making/dot direction has told us a lot about how evidence can be accumulated in neural circuits but if the field only goes bottom up looking for these kind of circuits for all types of dm we'd miss unique aspects, which can be prevented by a combo of bottom up and higher level.

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Jun 3

The question is, can you simply add up all the elements or whether you are missing something in the process. I would argue that if you only do dot direction=dm, you will ignore important problems that only emerge with different kind of choices, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting!

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Jun 3

I suspect part of answer is that emotions always had more focus on "holistic" subjective experience as simple physiological elements are often shared between emotions but they feel very different. However, there are also those that critize dot direction = dm, which is why I am commenting unsolicited

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Jun 3

except sometimes there are also single breakthroughs like vaccines but because they are preventative we tend to forget how awesome they are!
Of course lots of research is incremental, sometimes boring and expensive, but accumulatively it saves so many lives it is hard to not see how amazing it is!

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Reposted by Nils Kolling

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · May 26

Large-scale projects run the risk of stifling scientific independence. Instead, let’s explore alternative mechanisms of collaboration, writes @neuralreckoning.bsky.social.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...

Neuroscience needs to empower early-career researchers, not fund moon shots

Large-scale projects run the risk of stifling scientific independence. Instead, let’s explore alternative mechanisms of collaboration.

www.thetransmitter.org

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · May 21

Be glad that we are not at the stage yet at which you need to watch the AI generated video interpretation of the paper instead ;)

Reposted by Nils Kolling

Leonie Koban @leoniekoban.bsky.social · May 9

Reminder to register for the Symposium on the Biology of Decision-Making (SBDM), 16-18 June 2025 in Lyon!

Please check out our exciting program and register until next week for early registration rates! (please retweet / share)

sbdm2025.github.io

12th Symposium on The Biology of Decision Making 2025 - Lyon

SBDM-2025

sbdm2025.github.io

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · May 6

That being said, more money for EU science is never a bad thing. I think the more important announcement was the idea to have a 3% GDP pledge for EU nations on research. That would be a big deal! the direct funds like the 500 million they announced are more symbolic than substantial in comparison

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · May 6

and who knows, maybe other poles will emerge, if the brain drain to the US is reduced.

Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · May 6

I don't think it is exclusively about spending money to become a science superpower. We will likely live in a multi-polar world with each pole having distinct strengths and weaknesses. European salaries don't compete with US ones, but europe has other things going for it and same compared to China.

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · May 5

To accommodate for the fact we started official registrations late and the early bird deadline was during school holidays for many, we have extended our early bird registration deadline to the 15th of May! The main website can guide you through registration : sbdm2025.github.io

12th Symposium on The Biology of Decision Making 2025 - Lyon

SBDM-2025

sbdm2025.github.io

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 17

Being able to completely change how somebody else thinks with some "inside knowledge" for better is the most precious thing you can give young scientists and is something we should all aspire to as it means you are advancing the field (but system of competitive funding and papers work against this!)

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Reposted by Nils Kolling

Leonie Koban @leoniekoban.bsky.social · Apr 17

Registrations are now open for the Symposium on the Biology of Decision-Making (SBDM), 16-18 June 2025 in Lyon!

Please check out our exciting program and register until May 1st for early registration rates!

sbdm2025.github.io

12th Symposium on Biology of Decision Making 2025 - Lyon

SBDM-2025

sbdm2025.github.io

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 17

I am equally bothered by the fact that we made science, which should be collaborative and community driven, into an extremely individualistic and competitive pursuit. I would have naively thought giving away "secrets" is the whole point of scientific exchange as long as people credit properly

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 14

Early registrations for SBDM are closing soon (1st of May!). Make sure to pay before then if you want the reduced rates!
sbdm2025.github.io

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 11

proper citation practices are undervalued and journals send the wrong message by enforcing tight citation limits! Most of my papers normally hit the limit and I have to remove important citations. Massively biases citation measures to winner takes all in a system that is already biased that way!

Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 11

You cannot use the phrase "you know who you are" with a bunch of paranoid academics. Everyone will feel like you are talking to them! I just checked two of my own papers for your information sampling paper citation (cited!)!

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Nils Kolling @nilskolling.bsky.social · Apr 8

Registrations for the Symposium for the Biology of decision making (SBDM) in Lyon 2025 are finally open! sbdm2025.github.io Please spread the message!

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