by michaelhalassa | Jun 15, 2025 | Cognitive flexibility, Halassa Lab, Michael Halassa, Neural circuits, NeuroAI, Neuroscience, Thalamocortical circuits
ChatGPT can write poetry, solve complex mathematical proofs, and engage in surprisingly sophisticated conversations about philosophy. Yet it can’t figure out how to walk across an unfamiliar room without detailed instructions, navigate to the kitchen when...
by michaelhalassa | Jun 12, 2025 | Cognitive flexibility, Cognitive Processing, Michael Halassa, Neural circuits, NeuroAI
An Elegant Natural Experiment The study by Mackenzie et al. (2025, bioRxiv) represents a particularly clever approach to understanding human thalamic function. Rather than relying on correlational neuroimaging, the researchers capitalized on an unintended consequence...
by michaelhalassa | Apr 13, 2025 | Cognitive flexibility, Computational neuroscience, Halassa Lab, Mediodorsal thalamus, Neural circuits, NeuroAI, Prefrontal cortex, Schizophrenia research, Thalamocortical circuits, Working memory
In our ongoing quest to understand how the brain enables flexible cognition, the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus and its dialogue with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have emerged as central players. Following a series of modeling papers from our lab—including Wei-Long Zheng’s...
by michaelhalassa | Mar 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
This past November, I had the privilege of directing the 13th Annual Tufts Neuroscience Symposium—a day filled with inspiring talks, lively discussions, and deep engagement across the neuroscience community. This year’s symposium centered around Systems,...
by michaelhalassa | Dec 5, 2024 | Uncategorized
The brain’s ability to adapt to a constantly changing world is one of its most remarkable features. Cognitive flexibility—the capacity to shift strategies and update decision-making when circumstances change—is essential for navigating everyday life. This a...
