Deniz Vatansever

Thanks a lot Rod!

Read the full paper (open access): doi.org/10.1038/s414...

Code & task available on GitHub: github.com/cognizelab/S...

Huge thanks to the team, STI-2030 funding (aka China Brain Project), collaborators and #FudanUniversity! 🙏

#Neuroscience #Hippocampus #Navigation #OpenScience

Our findings reveal that the brain does not just detect "novel or familiar", it represents spatial novelty as continuous gradients, which may be a fundamental organisational principle for spatial cognition 🌍🧭 (and potentially other structured knowledge - to be continued…)

Figure 4: Hippocampal-cortical coupling reflects shared novelty preferences

Using rest-fMRI, we found that hippocampal voxels and cortical vertices with matching novelty preferences showed STRONGER intrinsic connectivity.

This suggests the gradients are functionally coupled!

Figure 3: Two streams of cortical processing for spatial novelty

🔴 Visual + frontoparietal networks → responded to NOVELTY
🔵 Default mode + motor + ventral attention → responded to FAMILIARITY

Importantly, we found a centre-surround gradient in posterior medial cortex!

Figure 2: A novelty-to-familiarity gradient along the hippocampal long axis

🔴 Posterior hippocampus → preferred NOVEL spaces
🔵 Anterior hippocampus → preferred FAMILIAR spaces

Though this division wasn't binary: we found a smooth, continuous gradient!

Figure 1: How we quantified spatial novelty during free exploration

During 7T fMRI, participants navigated a VR arena collecting objects while we tracked their every move. We divided the arena into sectors and calculated novelty based on visit frequency + time between visits.

🧠 New paper alert (the 1st one from our new lab)!
Led by 1st author & VR wizard @jaquent.bsky.social

@natcomms.nature.com

How do our brains distinguish novel from familiar places as we explore our environments, e.g., a new city?

🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s414...

🧵 Thread below with key findings ⬇️

Thanks a lot! Happy to discuss anytime :)

Massive congrats to @neocosmliang.bsky.social for receiving the #OHBM Merit Award for his work on “the domain general neural signature of perceived object beauty”🌹 #ECR @ohbmtrainees.bsky.social
@cognizelab.bsky.social

Three amazing ECR talks from our lab members 🤩 #OHBM2025

- Dual-process framework of human navigation (Zhili Li)
- Global compressibility of conceptual knowledge (Kaixiang Zhuang)
- Precision mapping of recognition memory @jaquent.bsky.social

Well done to you all! #ECR
@ohbmtrainees.bsky.social

Powerful and inspiring insights on “How to deal with academic burnout and how to break through it” 🔥 🔥 🔥
@ohbmofficial.bsky.social #OHBM2025

@neocosmliang.bsky.social demonstrating a domain general neural signature that predicts perceived beauty of objects 🌹🥀 in collab with the amazing @martinhebart.bsky.social and @dkaiserlab.bsky.social #THINGS

@ozvardal.bsky.social modeling decision states and their neural representation during gameplay #PacMan 👾👾👾

Zhili Li showing how anterior hipp flexibility connects to the default or action mode depending on whether you are a memory or tool-based navigator 🧭🧑‍✈️

Yueting Su illustrating how ventral striatal connectivity (shell, not the core) predicts patience in delayed gratification 💰🤑 #thepatientbrain

@jaquent.bsky.social precisely mapping out the group and individual level recognition memory effects 🧠💭

Liangyue Song quantifying the emergence of grid-like activity patterns during spatial learning #virtual-reality 🗺️📍🧠

Kaixiang Zhuang mapping out how different brain regions contribute to the global compression of conceptual knowledge 🗜️🧠🗜️
#precision-mapping

Big year for our lab at #OHBM2025!

Thrilled to present an exciting mix of posters, talks, and lots of brainy fun 🧠🤓

Come check us out! We’d love to connect!

@cognizelab.bsky.social
@ohbmofficial.bsky.social
#OHBM #OHBM2025 #Neuroimaging

🎉 Join us in extending a big congratulations to our 2025 #OHBM Awardees! Your outstanding contributions to the field of human brain mapping continue to inspire and push the boundaries of neuroscience. We’re honored to celebrate your achievements at this year’s Annual Meeting! 👏🧠 #OHBM2025

✈️ Off to #OHBM2025!
@cognizelab.bsky.social is en route and ready to dive into an exciting week of brain science, inspiring talks, and catching up with the neuroimaging community.

If you’re in Brisbane and want to connect, come find us or drop a message! 🧠💬 #OHBM2025
@ohbmofficial.bsky.social

✨ Thrilled to Host PREMIER's Inaugural Seminar! ✨

What an honor to welcome @choongwanwoo.bsky.social Ben Becker, Zhou Feng and their brilliant teams for the very first PREMIER: Predictive Modeling in Emotion & Cognition Research seminar at ISTBI, Fudan University! 🧠💡

@cognizelab.bsky.social