Nathan Insel, Wilfrid Laurier University

Research

computational behaviour degu ethology movement neuron population neurophysiology oscillations prediction

Latest papers

Higher-order interactions between hippocampal CA1 neurons are disrupted in amnestic mice.
Nature neuroscience · 2024
Familiarity and social relationships in degus (Octodon degus).
Ethology : formerly Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie · 2024 · senior author
How the forebrain transitions to adulthood: developmental plasticity markers in a long-lived rodent reveal region diversity and the uniqueness of adolescence.
Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024

All 3 publications

Latest funding

Leveraging a diurnal, highly social rodent to understand the effects of sex and sex hormones on circadian health
CIHR · 2025 · Principal investigator
$956,250
Encoding of dynamic social behaviour in degu motor cortices
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$66,000
Encoding of dynamic social behaviour in degu motor cortices
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$12,500

All 3 grants and awards

3 publications.

01

Higher-order interactions between hippocampal CA1 neurons are disrupted in amnestic mice.

Yan C, Mercaldo V, Jacob AD, Kramer E, Mocle A, Ramsaran AI, Tran L, Rashid AJ, Park S, Insel N, Redish AD, Frankland PW, Josselyn SA

Nature neuroscience2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01713-4 PMID: 39030342

02

Familiarity and social relationships in degus (Octodon degus).

Thatcher A, Insel N

Ethology : formerly Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/eth.13487 PMID: 39309638

03

How the forebrain transitions to adulthood: developmental plasticity markers in a long-lived rodent reveal region diversity and the uniqueness of adolescence.

Garduño BM, Hanni P, Hays C, Cogram P, Insel N, Xu X

Frontiers in neuroscience2024

DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1365737 PMID: 38456144

Leveraging a diurnal, highly social rodent to understand the effects of sex and sex hormones on circadian health

Principal investigatorCIHR2025Project Grant

Principal investigators: Duarte Guterman, Paula; Insel, Nathan

Keywords: Circadian Disruption; Cytokines; Diurnal Rodent; Sex Differences; Sex Hormones; Sleep; Social Context; Stress

$956,250

Encoding of dynamic social behaviour in degu motor cortices

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Insel, Nathan

Keywords: social behaviour; neuron population; computational behaviour; ethology; movement; uncertainty; oscillations; neurophysiology; degu; prediction

$66,000

Encoding of dynamic social behaviour in degu motor cortices

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Insel, Nathan

$12,500

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: computational behaviour Dear Professor Insel, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Higher-order interactions between hippocampal CA1 neurons are disrupted in amnestic mice." (2024), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Leveraging a diurnal, highly social rodent to understand the effects of sex and sex hormones on circadian health" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]