Renzo Huber is a staff scientist at NIH. We talk about his work on layer-fMRI: what it is, how Renzo got into it, how to do it, when it makes sense to do it, what the future holds, and much more.

Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon

Timestamps
0:00:00: How Renzo got into high-resolution fMRI
0:11:28: The difference between 3T and 7T fMRI
0:22:46: Is a bigger fMRI scanner always better?
0:33:35: Layer-fMRI
0:56:28: For what types of research is layer-fMRI most useful?
1:02:35: How to do layer-fMRI and make it reproducible
1:19:21: The future of layer-fMRI
1:27:02: A book or paper more people should read
1:30:37: Something Renzo wishes he'd learnt sooner
1:33:11: Advice for PhD students/postdocs

Podcast links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt

Renzo's links

• Website: https://geni.us/huber-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/huber-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/huber-twt

Ben's links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt

References and links mentioned
Episode with Peter Bandettini: https://geni.us/bjks-bandettini
Episode with Emily Finn: https://geni.us/bjks-finn
Renzo's blog about layer fMRI: https://layerfmri.com/
YouTube channel on layer fMRI: https://www.youtube.com/@layerfmri/

Bastos, ... & Friston (2012). Canonical microcircuits for predictive coding. Neuron.
Bollmann & Barth (2021). New acquisition techniques and their prospects for the achievable resolution of fMRI. Progress in Neurobiology.
Boulant, ... & Le Bihan (2024). In vivo imaging of the human brain with the Iseult 11.7-T MRI scanner. Nature Methods.
Finn, ... & Bandettini (2019). Layer-dependent activity in human prefrontal cortex during working memory. Nature Neuroscience.
Feynman (1985). "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!": adventures of a curious character.
Haarsma, Kok & Browning (2022). The promise of layer-specific neuroimaging for testing predictive coding theories of psychosis. Schizophrenia Research.
Huber, ... & Bandettini (2017). High-resolution CBV-fMRI allows mapping of laminar activity and connectivity of cortical input and output in human M1. Neuron.
Huber, ... & Möller (2019). Non-BOLD contrast for laminar fMRI in humans: CBF, CBV, and CMRO2. Neuroimage.
Huber, ... & Bandettini (2020). Sub-millimeter fMRI reveals multiple topographical digit representations that form action maps in human motor cortex. Neuroimage.
Huber, ... & Kronbichler (2023). Evaluating the capabilities and challenges of layer-fMRI VASO at 3T. Aperture Neuro.
Huber, ... & Horovitz (2023). Laminar VASO fMRI in focal hand dystonia patients. Dystonia.
Persichetti, ... & Martin (2020). Layer-specific contributions to imagined and executed hand movements in human primary motor cortex. Current Biology.
Polimeni, ... & Wald (2010). Laminar analysis of 7 T BOLD using an imposed spatial activation pattern in human V1. Neuroimage.

Ella Marushchenko is a scientific illustrator who runs a studio of artists and scientists that creates cover art, scientific and illustrations, and more. We talk about her unlikely path from artist in Russia to scientific illustrator in the US, digital vs classic art, how to interact as scientists with illustrators, how to improve scientific figures, and much more.

BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith.

Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon

Timestamps
0:00:00: Ella's unlikely path to doing scientific illustrations
0:33:17: Running a studio for scientific illustrations
0:36:30: The process of commissioning a scientific figure
0:46:44: The changing landscape of scientific publications and communication
0:50:15: Unhelpful things to avoid when interacting with a science illustrator
0:59:06: Who are scientific illustrations for?
1:06:36: The purpose of illustrations in science
1:16:09: How to learn to improve scientific figures
1:22:30: How to become a scientific illustrator
1:26:10: A book or paper more people should read
1:27:48: Something Ella wishes she'd learnt sooner
1:29:10: Advice for PhD students/postdocs

Podcast links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt

Ella's links

• Website: https://geni.us/marushchenko-web
• Twitter: https://geni.us/marushchenko-twt

Ben's links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt

References and links

Some pictures by Sergey Krasnov: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sergey_krasnov/

Sergiy Minko: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TMotc_wAAAAJ

Science diagrams that look like shitposts: https://x.com/scienceshitpost

My photo of the elephant at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle: https://www.bjks.blog/nature/3n6ljuy6noa5470tdsbcuicltu48df

Episode about Cajal: https://geni.us/bjks-ehrlich

Bulgakov (1967). The Master and Margarita.

Roberto Bottini is an Associate Professor at the University of Trento. We talk about his recent work on unusual cognitive maps in blind people, image spaces, metaphors, and he gives me some advice for writing successful grant applications.

BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith.

Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon

Timestamps
0:00:00: Roberto's background
0:03:20: Start discussing Roberto's paper on altered grid cells in visually impaired people: theoretical background
0:16:28: Methods & results: walking on a clock face / altered grid cells: fourfold symmetry
0:47:48: Start discussing Roberto's paper on cognitive maps and image spaces (TiCS)
0:52:05: Egocentric and allocentric perspectives
0:55:27: Metaphors and analogies
1:00:08: Tips for grant applications
1:14:18: A book or paper that more people should read
1:18:38: Something Roberto wishes he'd learnt sooner
1:20:30: Advice for PhD students/postdocs

Podcast links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt

Roberto's links

• Website: https://geni.us/bottini-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bottini-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bottini-twt

Ben's links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt

References
Aronov, ... & Tank (2017). Mapping of a non-spatial dimension by the hippocampal–entorhinal circuit. Nature.
Bisiach & Luzzatti (1978). Unilateral neglect of representational space. Cortex.
Bottini & Doeller (2020). Knowledge across reference frames: Cognitive maps and image spaces. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
Casasanto (2009). Embodiment of abstract concepts: good and bad in right-and left-handers. Journal of experimental psychology: General.
Constantinescu, ... & Behrens (2016). Organizing conceptual knowledge in humans with a gridlike code. Science.
Derdikman, ... & Moser (2009). Fragmentation of grid cell maps in a multicompartment environment. Nature neuroscience.
Eichenbaum (2014). Time cells in the hippocampus: a new dimension for mapping memories. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
Gardenfors (2004). Conceptual spaces: The geometry of thought.
Gentner (1983). Structure-mapping: A theoretical framework for analogy. Cognitive science.
He & Brown (2019). Environmental barriers disrupt grid-like representations in humans during navigation. Current Biology.
Horner, ... & Burgess (2016). Grid-like processing of imagined navigation. Current Biology.
Jaynes (1976). The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.
Park, ... & Boorman (2021). Inferences on a multidimensional social hierarchy use a grid-like code. Nature Neuroscience.
Sigismondi, ... & Bottini (2024). Altered grid-like coding in early blind people. Nature Communications.
Stangl, ... & Wolbers (2018). Compromised grid-cell-like representations in old age as a key mechanism to explain age-related navigational deficits. Current Biology.
Tolman (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review.
Whittington, ... & Behrens (2022). How to build a cognitive map. Nature Neuroscience.