𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
Excellent paper about purposiveness in biology. Important critique of the dynamical systems approach as a "simple" solution to the computationalism approach.
Highly relevant to the enactive approach too.
doi.org/10.1177/1059...

⬇️⬇️⬇️👈

"Science is often slow, repetitive, and unpredictable, but engaging with it from a different angle can restore perspective and motivation. For me, stepping outside the lab did not take me away from science. It helped me rediscover why I cared about it" www.science.org/content/arti...

Nominate yourself or someone else for my favourite award -

✨✨ Preclinical null findings ✨✨

Deadline May 9

Rapid concerted switching of the neural code in the inferotemporal cortex - Nature Face cells in the macaque inferotemporal cortex are initially able to detect faces and then rapidly switch to a face-specific neural code to discriminate between different face identities.

"Rapid concerted switching of the neural code in the inferotemporal cortex" 🧠😊

Exciting new work in Nature led by Yuelin Shi with Doris Tsao

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

#neuroskyence #faces

The supply of blood to brain tissue is thought to depend on the overall neural activity in that tissue, and this dependence is thought to differ across brain regions and across brain states. However, studies supporting these views have measured neural activity as a bulk quantity and related it to blood supply following disparate events in different regions. Here we measure fluctuations in neuronal activity and blood volume across the mouse brain, and find that their relationship is consistent across brain states and brain regions but differs in two opposing brainwide neural populations. Functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) revealed that whisking, a marker of arousal, is associated with brainwide fluctuations in blood volume. Simultaneous fUSI and Neuropixels recordings showed that neurons that increase activity with whisking have distinct haemodynamic response functions compared with those that decrease activity. Their summed contributions predicted blood volume across states.Brainwide Neuropixels recordings revealed that these opposing populations coexist in the entire brain. Their differing contributions to blood volume largely explain the apparent differences in blood volume fluctuations across regions. The mouse brain thus contains two neural populations with opposite relations to brain state and distinct relationships to blood supply, which together account for brainwide fluctuations in blood volume.

How does blood flow relate to brain activity? We discovered that it reflects two neural populations affected oppositely by arousal. Together, they explain neurovascular coupling in all brain regions and brain states!

Out today in Nature: rdcu.be/fdC2A

@uclbrainscience.bsky.social

Line chart of the share of total electricity generation from nuclear power where France’s share remains far above the European and global averages across 1985 to 2025. France stays roughly 70 to 80 percent in earlier years and trends down toward about 65 to 70 percent by 2025, while Europe is around 20 to 30 percent and the global average about 10 to 15 percent. Data source: Ember (2026) and EI — Statistical Review of World Energy (2025). License: CC BY.

France’s nuclear fleet gives it one of the world’s lowest-carbon electricity grids—

France generates two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, making it the country’s dominant power source.

HAI Fellow Colin Garvey: A Zen Buddhist Monk’s Approach to Democratizing AI | Stanford HAI The social scientist discusses AI’s problematic narrative and what we stand to lose in a China/U.S. AI arms race.

That reminds me of this that I found interesting some years ago.

HAI Fellow Colin Garvey: A Zen Buddhist Monk’s Approach to Democratizing AI

Language models transmit behavioural traits through hidden signals in data Nature - During model distillation, large language models can subtly transmit traits unrelated to the training data.

"As AI systems are increasingly trained on the outputs of one another, they may inherit properties not visible in the data. Safety evaluations may therefore need to examine not just behaviour, but the origins of models and training data and the processes used to create them." rdcu.be/fdGNd

The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for Airborne genetic material can be used to paint a picture of ecosystem health, watch for invasive species and even identify humans.

DNA can also travel through the air... wow! www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Boycott of major AI conference exposes a growing US–China divide China-based researchers make up more than half of all lead authors at NeurIPS.

Boycott of major AI conference exposes a growing US–China divide www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Researchers: here’s how to audit your fragmented digital identity Services that track researcher profiles can splinter people’s online identities — but there are ways to keep them consistent.

"Your digital identity will outlast your CV. Giving it occasional attention helps to ensure that the story that others see is the one you intended to tell." www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Poster on the Buddhism and AI meeting - check out the website for full information

I am excited to be part of this workshop on Buddhism and AI in Gomde, Austria from July 9-12th. For more information check out www.buddhismandai.com

Dozens of AI disease-prediction models were trained on dubious data The models are designed to predict someone’s risk of diabetes or stroke. A few might already have been used on patients.

Worrisome: Dozens of AI disease-prediction models were trained on dubious data www.nature.com/articles/d41...

14 things our PhD supervisors got right and why it mattered PhD students reflect on how their supervisors made a meaningful difference — from quiet acts of kindness to career-shaping guidance.

14 things PhD supervisors can do to help their students www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Is Claude Mythos “Terrifying” or Just Hype? - Cal Newport Last week, millions of New York Times readers were subjected to ​an alarming column​ by Thomas Friedman. “Normally right now I would be writing about ... Read more

"I think we’ve entered a stage where we need to almost entirely discount any claims made by the AI companies themselves until we can independently verify what’s actually going on." calnewport.com/is-claude-my...

Ten simple rules for organising an effective student-led writing retreat

How to organize a writing retreat dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

The dominance of large-scale phase dynamics in human cortex, from delta to gamma The phase of cortical activity, measured in the gray matter, is organized at multiple spatial scales, with the largest scales explaining most variance in phase at a given temporal frequency.

Cortex is rhythmic: Brain rhythms coordinate over large distances. The strongest phase organization spans up to 8–16 cm of cortex.
The dominance of large-scale phase dynamics in human cortex, from delta to gamma
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
#neuroscience

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

UCL Anthropology is looking for an Associate Lecturer in Evolutionary Anthropology (fixed term) covering Evolutionary Medicine and Statistics teaching. Please circulate with colleagues & ECRs who may be interested. Deadline 30th April. www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

OPEN POSTDOC position (part of @erc.europa.eu Consolidator DYNALANG)

We build math&comp models of neural dynamics using insights from formal linguistics + ML

Seeking theory-driven researchers w/ interests in language, neural dynamics, & math/comp neuroscience.

Apply here: tinyurl.com/55exdpse

Home This satellite meeting showcases the latest research on metacognition, in the form of both keynotes and short oral presentations.

🚨 Announcing another edition of the Metacognitive Science satellite in NYC, August 2nd 2026 (day before CCN) 🧠 🧪

Abstract submission is now open and closes May 15th!

metacognitivescience.org

Co-organised with @meganakpeters.bsky.social @luciecharlesneuro.bsky.social @dobyrahnev.bsky.social

I’ll forever struggle with this:

There are ideas that I want to understand but have a frustrated emotional reaction to b/c it purports to go back to the basics (like Aristotle) but it’s so full of jargon that I know it’s deeply steeped in unstated assumptions. Why can’t we just say what we mean?!

A couple weeks ago, Nicholas Keung at the Toronto Star reported on how generative AI is being used to assess immigration applications in Canada...and how it's led to refusals because of stuff the AI tool added in, that humans (clearly) failed to check.

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

As I prepare a talk for mid-career academics about my 'leadership journey' I contemplate the potential pitfalls of chairing committees #edusky occamstypewriter.org/athenedonald...

As war escalates, Iran’s universities face increasing fire Attacks have destroyed or damaged a wide range of academic and commercial research centers

As war escalates, Iran’s universities face increasing fire | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

I just signed this letter calling for the safe-guarding of academic, cultural, and civilian institutions in the Iran conflict sites.google.com/view/protect... Please consider signing it too if you're an academic!

Only a few more days to apply for the @mindandlifeeu.bsky.social summer research institute, this year focused on the idea of time, and the associated retreat. Both take place in Gomde Austria in July mindandlife-europe.org/events/europ...

Join us at our upcoming MLE Retreat at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, Austria as we explore how to integrate a contemplative dimension into more aspects of daily life, and to develop habits that can be sustained through life’s busyness and challenges.

Learn more and apply now: https://ow.ly/j69q50YAPTF

Another example of the striking importance of Artificial Integrity as a key concept in the development and deployment of AI solutions.

Yet another example of how the unreflective use of AI can jeopardize our scientific integrity