Maria Shujah

Ph.D. student at the Brain and Sound lab (@tania_barkat) at @unibasel_en. Interested in how the brain learns. Avid reader.

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Preprint alert! 🚨 Our latest study from the Brain&Sound lab (@tania_barkat) on Curriculum Learning(CL) is now live. We investigated how sequential acquisition of increasingly complex tasks (Easy → Difficult) enhances learning efficiency. 🐁 🧠
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[bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv_neursci]

Curriculum Learning: sequential acquisition of task complexity enhances neuronal discriminability https://t.co/fFK7MKERyr #biorxiv_neursci

[Jeff Johnston @wjeffjohnston]

When does modular structure emerge in neural networks?
What are the consequences of this structure for learning and behavior?

New work with @StefanoFusi2 answers these questions and more: https://t.co/IyEZoSR7Gb

see 🧵below (1/11)

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

By analyzing neural activity, we uncovered how relevant task features are abstracted across stages, providing key insights into the neural correlates of CL. We are so excited for the community’s feedback on this project!
Lots more on this subject coming up. Stay tuned. 🙌🏽
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[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Preprint alert! 🚨 Our latest study from the Brain&Sound lab (@tania_barkat) on Curriculum Learning(CL) is now live. We investigated how sequential acquisition of increasingly complex tasks (Easy → Difficult) enhances learning efficiency. 🐁 🧠
1/2

[bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv_neursci]

Curriculum Learning: sequential acquisition of task complexity enhances neuronal discriminability https://t.co/fFK7MKERyr #biorxiv_neursci

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Also, this year’s cohort had a mind-blowing experience of sighting orcas from FHL. This definitely makes it to the workshop’s highlights!

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Just got back from the @AllenInstitute ‘s SWDB’24. It was intense, challenging & absolutely worth it! Truly amazed by how much can be uncovered when brilliant minds come together. Cracking the brain’s code was never a solo gig. A big thanks to the incredible organizers & TAs! 🧠

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@FlaviaSousaSci @univgroningen Congratulations, Flavia! Wishing you all the best! 😊

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@AttardoAlessio Haha, thanks for thinking of me! You’ll be the first to know when I am ready for an upgrade in my career. 😁

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Let’s face it, science is tough. So it’s important to join a lab that has an incredibly supportive team AND is stocked with (mostly) top-notch jokes. You’ll find both at the A-lab. I did my masters thesis with Alessio and I can’t recommend working with him enough! 😊

[The A-Lab @AttardoAlessio]

Hello! Are you highly motivated to investigate hippocampal spatial codes using "miniscopes" in mice (how cliché)? Then, join us as a Postdoc 🥼 ! We are a small lab @LIN_Magdeburg with a ton of experience in very hard experiments that rarely work... 👇

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@HansolLim1 All the best for the big day! 😊

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@zaynanou Thank you very much, Zayna. Sadly, I couldn’t stay until the end of the event but let’s catch up sometime in Basel. Would love to hear your thoughts on the work. I’ll drop you a dm. 😊

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

A moment from my talk on Curriculum Learning at the Basel Neuroscience Workshop yesterday. Grateful for the opportunity to exchange insights with the dynamic neuroscience community in Basel. Such a great place to brew science!

[Tania Barkat @tania_barkat]

Excellent new study led by Sebastian Reinartz: primary sensory cortices do not merely relay stimulus information, but contribute to the perception of elapsed time.
https://t.co/J9gGvUJtrf

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@KiraHoeffler Wishing you a fast recovery, Kira! ❤️‍🩹

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Officially at the halfway mark of my Ph.D. journey. So much learned, so much more to discover. Year 3, I am diving deep(er) into the learning conundrum. Hoping for a year with more eureka moments and less ‘why won’t this code run’! 🧠

#phdlife

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Fascinating work @PValerio_
Congratulations! 👏🏽

[Patrícia Valério @PValerio_]

Happy to share that a study developed during my #PhD has just been published in @ScienceAdvances!

We shed a light on how the brain develops an understanding of surprising sounds and how experience can influence such development 🧠👇
https://t.co/N8OKta61sI

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Recently, the brain & sound lab went for a retreat in the black forest where we discussed fallacies in neuroscience and machine learning tools we could explore in the coming academic year. All this with the backdrop of breathtaking views and knee-deep snow. ❄️ ⛄️
@tania_barkat

[nature @Nature]

ChatGPT use shows that the grant-application system is broken https://t.co/GlEjsNZbcl

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@KiraHoeffler Good luck, Kira! 🍀

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Just concluded a fantastic Ph.D. retreat in the Swiss mountains with the DBM fellows. The intellectual exchange, the stunning landscape and the honour of winning the Golden Pipette award for the best talk all have me feeling reengerized for the exciting challenges ahead🥇🏔️🧬

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

@HansolLim1 You should definitely, Hansol! I am sure you will enjoy it. 🤩

[Maria Shujah @MariaShujah]

Presenting our new lab member - a high pitched, sometimes aggressive, face recognizing robot that is oddly attracted towards images of Elon. Never imagined we would be making robots but here we are. Thanks to Neurokit by @Cajal_Training. We had SO much fun building this! 🤖