Neuro et al.https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/neuro-et-al--7465624enScienceCopyright Ayça Ercanhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/050cf0a818e2509d3e2c813af962e799.jpgNeuro et al.https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/neuro-et-al--7465624Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:29:34 +0000Ayça ErcanAyça Ercanayercan134@gmail.comEver read a neuroscience paper and wondered what it actually means? Neuro et al. takes a peer-to-peer approach to untangling the field's toughest topics — each episode is built around real scientific articles, explained the way you'd want a fellow...false54fbcef7-53b1-5415-8608-fb2c6e1ad1fbepisodic005 - Basal Ganglia, Cybersickness & Connectivityhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/005-basal-ganglia-cybersickness-connectivity--75968623script is now available on Substack!Neuralink has a fly playing Doom, and it all traces back to one big idea: the connectome. This week, we go back to the principles behind it with a review of how the brain’s connections, not just its regions, give rise to language, memory, and who we are. Let's talk connectivity.Before that, two fresh research papers:
  • Why the basal ganglia help us learn new movements but step aside once a skill is mastered.
  • How EEG can detect vection, the “my train is moving” illusion, in virtual reality, and what a new brain marker could mean for cybersickness.
We close with recommendations: a podcast on how other animals experience the world, and a Proustian memory.
Act I:
  1. Leblois A, Boraud T, Hansel D. Reward-driven adaptation of movements requires strong recurrent basal ganglia-cortical loops. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Dec 16;122(50):e2515994122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2515994122. Epub 2025 Dec 11. PMID: 41379994; PMCID: PMC12718356.
  2. G. Van der Lee, A. Lécuyer, M. Naud, R. Scherer, F. Cabestaing and H. Si-Mohammed, "Toward the Automatic Detection of Vection in Virtual Reality Using EEG," in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 5871-5881, July 2026, doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2026.3675421.
Act IIThiebaut de Schotten M, Forkel SJ. The emergent properties of the connected brain. Science. 2022 Nov 4;378(6619):505-510. doi: 10.1126/science.abq2591. Epub 2022 Nov 3. PMID: 36378968.Act IIIThe Psychosphere by Melanie Challengerhttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-psychosphere--5842291Proust, Marcel. Swann's Way. Translated by C. K. Scott Moncrieff, Modern Library, 1998.]]>84d93f96-ffc2-4f91-9b06-2d0f828396deSat, 24 Oct 2026 18:48:11 +0000Ayça ErcanEpisode https://unautrebuch.substack.com/p/005-basal-ganglia-cybersickness-and?r=3n8yfc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueNeuralink has a fly playing Doom, and it all traces back to one big idea: the connectome. This...script is now available on Substack!Neuralink has a fly playing Doom, and it all traces back to one big idea: the connectome. This week, we go back to the principles behind it with a review of how the brain’s connections, not just its regions, give rise to language, memory, and who we are. Let's talk connectivity.Before that, two fresh research papers:
  • Why the basal ganglia help us learn new movements but step aside once a skill is mastered.
  • How EEG can detect vection, the “my train is moving” illusion, in virtual reality, and what a new brain marker could mean for cybersickness.
We close with recommendations: a podcast on how other animals experience the world, and a Proustian memory.
Act I:
  1. Leblois A, Boraud T, Hansel D. Reward-driven adaptation of movements requires strong recurrent basal ganglia-cortical loops. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Dec 16;122(50):e2515994122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2515994122. Epub 2025 Dec 11. PMID: 41379994; PMCID: PMC12718356.
  2. G. Van der Lee, A. Lécuyer, M. Naud, R. Scherer, F. Cabestaing and H. Si-Mohammed, "Toward the Automatic Detection of Vection in Virtual Reality Using EEG," in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 5871-5881, July 2026, doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2026.3675421.
Act IIThiebaut de Schotten M, Forkel SJ. The emergent properties of the connected brain. Science. 2022 Nov 4;378(6619):505-510. doi: 10.1126/science.abq2591. Epub 2022 Nov 3. PMID: 36378968.Act IIIThe Psychosphere by Melanie Challengerhttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-psychosphere--5842291Proust, Marcel. Swann's Way. Translated by C. K. Scott Moncrieff, Modern Library, 1998.]]>2003false15fullThe Acoustoelectric Effect, Learning Biases & The Internal States of D. Melanogasterhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-acoustoelectric-effect-learning-biases-the-internal-states-of-d-melanogaster--75804717References:ACT I
  1. Rintoul, J. L., Butler, C., Cleveland, R. O., & Grossman, N. (2026). Non-invasive in vivo acoustoelectric neuromodulation and its contribution to ultrasound stimulation. Nature Communications, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2
  2. Koutsoumpari N, Algermissen J, Yaakub SN, den Ouden HE, Bault N, Fouragnan E (2026) Ultrasound neuromodulation reveals distinct roles of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula in learning. PLoS Biol 24(5): e3003767. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003767
ACT II
  1. Sayin, S., Boehm, A. C., Kobler, J. M., De Backer, J., & Kadow, I. C. G. (2018). Internal State Dependent Odor Processing and Perception—The role of neuromodulation in the fly olfactory system. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 12, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2018.00011
ACT III
  1. Lindsay, G. (2021). Models of the mind. In Bloomsbury Sigma eBooks. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472966445
  2. Eagleman, D. M., & Downar, J. (2015). Brain and Behavior: A Cognitive Neuroscience Medical Entomology and Zoology. https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB20577817
]]>675fd6a9-f160-4a80-886d-5cb16e23f049Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:44:49 +0000Ayça ErcanCan sound wake up the brain with pinpoint precision? Why do some of our decisions feel almost hardwired, and what can ultrasound reveal about them? And why does a hungry fruit fly smell the world differently than a fed one? In episode 004, we dive...References:ACT I
  1. Rintoul, J. L., Butler, C., Cleveland, R. O., & Grossman, N. (2026). Non-invasive in vivo acoustoelectric neuromodulation and its contribution to ultrasound stimulation. Nature Communications, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73826-2
  2. Koutsoumpari N, Algermissen J, Yaakub SN, den Ouden HE, Bault N, Fouragnan E (2026) Ultrasound neuromodulation reveals distinct roles of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula in learning. PLoS Biol 24(5): e3003767. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003767
ACT II
  1. Sayin, S., Boehm, A. C., Kobler, J. M., De Backer, J., & Kadow, I. C. G. (2018). Internal State Dependent Odor Processing and Perception—The role of neuromodulation in the fly olfactory system. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 12, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2018.00011
ACT III
  1. Lindsay, G. (2021). Models of the mind. In Bloomsbury Sigma eBooks. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472966445
  2. Eagleman, D. M., & Downar, J. (2015). Brain and Behavior: A Cognitive Neuroscience Medical Entomology and Zoology. https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB20577817
]]>2471false14fullHead Direction, tTIS & Olfactionhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/head-direction-ttis-olfaction--75804722ReferencesACT IMarcel E. Sayre, Ajay Narendra, Stanley Heinze, Andrew B. Barron, Head direction and the evolutionary origins of spatial representation, Trends in Neurosciences, Volume 49, Issue 6, 2026, Pages 423-432, ISSN 0166-2236,https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016622362600072XACT IIVassiliadis, P., Beanato, E., Wessel, M.J. et al. Temporal interference stimulation for deep brain neuromodulation in humans. Nat. Biomed. Eng  10, 1279–1294 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-026-01665-zGrossman N, Bono D, Dedic N, Kodandaramaiah SB, Rudenko A, Suk HJ, Cassara AM, Neufeld E, Kuster N, Tsai LH, Pascual-Leone A, Boyden ES. Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Temporally Interfering Electric Fields. Cell. 2017 Jun 1;169(6):1029-1041.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.024. PMID: 28575667; PMCID: PMC5520675.ACT IIIOlofsson, J. (2025).The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell—and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose. Mariner Bookshttps://www.youtube.com/@gerstnerlab
]]>7d297214-ecc9-4138-890d-1b11d7db7d82Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:35:15 +0000Ayça ErcanHow and when did your ability to perceive your surroundings and situate yourself accordingly evolve? Hint: It might have something to do with head direction. Also, how are scientists using a new neuromodulation technique by working around the...ReferencesACT IMarcel E. Sayre, Ajay Narendra, Stanley Heinze, Andrew B. Barron, Head direction and the evolutionary origins of spatial representation, Trends in Neurosciences, Volume 49, Issue 6, 2026, Pages 423-432, ISSN 0166-2236,https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016622362600072XACT IIVassiliadis, P., Beanato, E., Wessel, M.J. et al. Temporal interference stimulation for deep brain neuromodulation in humans. Nat. Biomed. Eng  10, 1279–1294 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-026-01665-zGrossman N, Bono D, Dedic N, Kodandaramaiah SB, Rudenko A, Suk HJ, Cassara AM, Neufeld E, Kuster N, Tsai LH, Pascual-Leone A, Boyden ES. Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Temporally Interfering Electric Fields. Cell. 2017 Jun 1;169(6):1029-1041.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.024. PMID: 28575667; PMCID: PMC5520675.ACT IIIOlofsson, J. (2025).The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell—and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose. Mariner Bookshttps://www.youtube.com/@gerstnerlab
]]>2039falsefull002 - Spare Parts & Second Thoughtshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/002-spare-parts-second-thoughts--75804723Act I:Shi, W., Meisner, O. C., Jadi, M. P., Chang, S. W., & Nandy, A. S. (2026). Canonical decision computations underlie behavioral and neural signatures of cooperation in primates. Neuron, 114(14), 2657-2667.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.04.022
Menétrey, M. Q., Herzog, M. H., & Pascucci, D. (2026). Sequential neural dynamics underlie unconscious integration and conscious perception of visual stimuli. PLoS Biology, 24(7), e3003894. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003894Act II:Frizzi, B., Barbosa Correia, A.M., Faravelli, I. et al. Using human 3D organoid models to gain mechanistic insight in motor neuron diseases. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-026-01057-x
Act III:https://www.nature.com/briefing/translational-research?brieferEntryPoint=TransResBriefingBanner


]]>e36a051c-5a87-4c31-9010-7362016325c0Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:52:15 +0000Ayça ErcanYour brain builds what you "see" almost half a second before you're aware of it (kind of), and in labs all around the world, researchers are building working pieces of human spinal cord and muscle from scratch to understand motor neuron diseases. This...Act I:Shi, W., Meisner, O. C., Jadi, M. P., Chang, S. W., & Nandy, A. S. (2026). Canonical decision computations underlie behavioral and neural signatures of cooperation in primates. Neuron, 114(14), 2657-2667.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.04.022
Menétrey, M. Q., Herzog, M. H., & Pascucci, D. (2026). Sequential neural dynamics underlie unconscious integration and conscious perception of visual stimuli. PLoS Biology, 24(7), e3003894. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003894Act II:Frizzi, B., Barbosa Correia, A.M., Faravelli, I. et al. Using human 3D organoid models to gain mechanistic insight in motor neuron diseases. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-026-01057-x
Act III:https://www.nature.com/briefing/translational-research?brieferEntryPoint=TransResBriefingBanner


]]>2526false12full001 - Mitochondria is the Powerhouse of Behaviorhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/001-mitochondria-is-the-powerhouse-of-behavior--75804725
  • Thompson, E. J., Rollik, L. B., Waked, B., Mills, G., Pati, S., Kaur, J., Geva, B., Li, H., Carrasco-Davis, R., George, T., Domine, C., Dorrell, W., & Stephenson-Jones, M. (2026). Replay of procedural memory is independent of the hippocampus. Nature Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02362-5
  • Tsuda, B., Pate, S. C., Tye, K. M., Siegelmann, H. T., & Sejnowski, T. J. (2026). Neuromodulators generate multiple Context-Relevant behaviors in recurrent neural networks. Neural Computation, 38(3), 292–327. https://doi.org/10.1162/neco.a.1489
  • Collins, A. G. E. (2025). A habit and working memory model as an alternative account of human reward-based learning. Nature Human Behaviour, 10(2), 357–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02340-0

    • Act II
    1. Sandi, C., Lobo, M.K., Hollis, F. et al. Brain mitochondria as key drivers of cognition and behaviour. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-026-01061-1

    1. Lane, N. (2005). Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press
    2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzxlKUNNLxmEvjCSUAurMReJBZxaLdD1_


    ]]>    287b8240-bd68-4b02-983a-aeda65bc49d7Sat, 01 Aug 2026 18:23:08 +0000Ayça ErcanEver wondered if your brain is really running on reinforcement learning? Or if psychiatric drugs hitting people so differently might be explained through computational neuroscience? This episode looks at 3 articles that researched these questions and...
  • Thompson, E. J., Rollik, L. B., Waked, B., Mills, G., Pati, S., Kaur, J., Geva, B., Li, H., Carrasco-Davis, R., George, T., Domine, C., Dorrell, W., & Stephenson-Jones, M. (2026). Replay of procedural memory is independent of the hippocampus. Nature Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02362-5
  • Tsuda, B., Pate, S. C., Tye, K. M., Siegelmann, H. T., & Sejnowski, T. J. (2026). Neuromodulators generate multiple Context-Relevant behaviors in recurrent neural networks. Neural Computation, 38(3), 292–327. https://doi.org/10.1162/neco.a.1489
  • Collins, A. G. E. (2025). A habit and working memory model as an alternative account of human reward-based learning. Nature Human Behaviour, 10(2), 357–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02340-0

    • Act II
    1. Sandi, C., Lobo, M.K., Hollis, F. et al. Brain mitochondria as key drivers of cognition and behaviour. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-026-01061-1

    1. Lane, N. (2005). Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press
    2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzxlKUNNLxmEvjCSUAurMReJBZxaLdD1_


    ]]>    1865false11full    Neuro et al. — Trailerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/neuro-et-al-trailer--75804720The cover art is made by me, Ayça Ercan, through Canva. The illustration is attributed to @reallygreatsite.]]>73ebdc52-a68d-43bd-a067-97f8e511f494Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:39:36 +0000Ayça ErcanNeuro et al. is a weekly podcast about everything neuroscience, explained through research & review articles. The podcast takes a peer-to-peer approach. The cover art is made by me, Ayça Ercan, through Canva. The illustration is attributed to...The cover art is made by me, Ayça Ercan, through Canva. The illustration is attributed to @reallygreatsite.]]>150falsetrailer