Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Intelligenz

To welcome the new year together, we had a small gathering on the frozen lake at our Seewiesen campus today. We hope you also had a good start into the new year and wish you all a happy, healthy and successful 2025! 

Eine Ausbildung voller spannender Einblicke in die Welt der Wissenschaft: Auf unserem Campus in Martinsried bist du als Azubi von Anfang an in unsere Spitzenforschung eingebunden und leistest einen wichtigen Beitrag. Bewirb dich jetzt für eine unserer vielfältigen Ausbildungsstellen ab Herbst2025! Zusammen mit dem Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry bieten wir Ausbildungsplätze in folgenden Bereichen an: 🔬 Biologielaborant*in  💼 Büromanagement  💻 Fachinformatik  🔧 Feinwerkmechanik  🐾 Tierpflege Klingt das spannend für dich oder jemanden, den du kennst? Dann teile diesen Beitrag und lass es andere wissen! Weitere Informationen zu unseren Ausbildungsberufen sowie zum Bewerbungsprozess findest du hier:  https://lnkd.in/eHyfDenj  https://lnkd.in/gknAUG2 Martin Wied

Have you heard about the Munich Neuroscience Lectures? With invited experts from various fields, the joint event in Martinsried is a must for all neuroscience enthusiasts in the Munich area! Check out the 2025 program: https://lnkd.in/dsexkrxd Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Center (BMC) LMU Munich

#pictureofthemonth: Amelie Heuer-Jungemann and her team use #DNA origami nanostructures to arrange #proteins. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ekV-i9K January – institute calendar of Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Intelligenz Image by Anna Baptist & Amelie Heuer-Jungemann

🌟 Exciting Announcement from #MaxPlanckPostdocNet! 🌟 We had the privilege of interviewing the President of the Max Planck Society to discuss the future of postdocs within the MPG. From career development to supporting cutting-edge research, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating the postdoc journey. 🎥 Catch the full interview on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gF8V8n5S

We wish you a joyous holiday season and a great year 2025, filled with exciting science! 🎄❄️✨ Art by Julia Kuhl

Visualizing the complexity of neural networks is important for a wide range of studies at our Institute. Multi-photon microscopy is a powerful technique for doing this, allowing researchers to dive deep into living tissue and image large volumes of the brain. Featured here is a custom-built 2-photon microscope used to investigate neuronal activity in zebrafish.  In a recent review, the head of our Imaging Facility Claudio Polisseni explores the principles of multi-photon microscopy, from its foundation to the latest advancements: https://lnkd.in/dUi5hxVS

I’m thrilled to share our paper in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology, titled “From Silence to Song: Testosterone Triggers Extensive Transcriptional Changes in the Female Canary HVC.” In this study, we explore how testosterone induces profound gene expression changes in the song-controlling brain area (HVC) of female canaries, transforming non-singers into vocal performers. Our findings reveal the dynamic transcriptional landscape underpinning this remarkable behavioral shift, shedding light on the neural mechanisms of hormone-driven plasticity. 🔬 Key Highlights: - Over 9,900 genes (~64% of the genome) showed differential expression, with 98% being transiently regulated during the first 2 weeks of song development.  - Early transcriptional changes laid the foundation for cellular adaptations, leading to gradual structural changes in the HVC and the emergence of male-like singing behaviors. - This work enhances our understanding of how hormonal cues drive neural and behavioral patterns. Grateful to my collaborators and mentors—Manfred Gahr, Carolina Frankl-Vilches, Antje Bakker, and Pepe Alcami—for their invaluable contributions, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence for their support, and the anonymous reviewers along the way, whose thoughtful feedback throughout the process greatly improved this work—this marks the final work from my PhD journey. Interested in the details? Dive into the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/dmSBqirC Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! #neuroendocrinology #sciencecommunication #songbirds #neurobiology 

Blue-throated macaws are not only critically endangered, but also especially intelligent! They are now the first animal to be observed to display the imitation of goal-less gestures, a phenomenon previously only known in humans. In a new study led by Auguste von Bayern, researchers trained parrots to perform two actions: lifting a leg and spreading their wings. Parrots that were rewarded for imitating the action of the demonstrator, learned the task easily. However, parrots that were rewarded for performing the opposite action to what they saw, they struggled to suppress the automatic tendency to imitate the demonstrator. The researchers conclude that such automatic imitation may serve group cohesion and bonding in those birds living in highly dynamic and complex social groups. The results also imply that 'mirror neurons' may be present in parrots. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dtn8saN4  Video by Adrian Azcárate / Loro Parque  

#pictureofthemonth: Astrocytes (green) are supporting cells in the mammalian central nervous system. They help to supply nerve cells with nutrients and regulate their household of signaling molecules. Image from the Bonhoeffer Lab that studies synaptic plasticity. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g7h4FXjz December - institute calendar of Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence and Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Image by Sandra Reinert & Volker Staiger