Reviewer Spotlight: Emil Wärnberg

The quality of eNeuro depends on the effort that is generously contributed by our reviewers, who lend their expertise and time helping to ensure we publish great science. This Reviewer Recognition series introduces the research of selected reviewers, as well as their strategies for approaching peer review of a paper. Dr. Emil Wärnberg is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Prof. Bence Ölveczky's lab at Harvard University. Wärnberg’s research uses bio-mechanical modeling and deep reinforcement learning to understand how neural activity in various brain areas relates to eventual motor control.

"I try to make it clear what I have understood to be the main points of the manuscript and what methodological tradeoffs have been made before I offer my opinion or any criticisms."

Emil Wärnberg, PhD

Tell us about your work. 

I'm currently working on a project in which we use deep reinforcement learning to train neural networks to control a simulated rat body, and make it walk, run, rear, and groom. We can then compare the activity in the artificial neural networks to that of real neural data recorded from motor areas of real rats doing the exact same behavior.

How did you become interested in this line of research?

I come from a background in physics and computer science, and I'm interested in how the mammalian brain can solve very difficult motor control tasks so effortlessly. By comparing simulated and real neural activity, I hope to find which features of biological networks (architecture, synaptic plasticity, spiking communication, etc) are most promising to reverse engineer in robotics. And vice versa, if there are similarities in network representations that can help us understand open questions in motor neuroscience, such as how multiple brain areas (motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, brain stem) efficiently share control of a single body.

What do you do when not in the lab?

I like discussing and debating scientific and philosophical questions, especially around neuroscience and artificial intelligence. But I also enjoy reading about other topics, anything from natural history to geopolitics. In the summer, I like to hike and sail.

What advice would you share with new reviewers?

I try to make it clear what I have understood to be the main points of the manuscript and what methodological tradeoffs have been made before I offer my opinion or any criticisms. I also always aim to evaluate the paper on its own claims and whether they are supported by the results, and to avoid requesting the authors to answer additional, follow-up research questions if not necessary to substantiate the claims.

What do you do when not in the lab?

Outside of research, I enjoy hiking, photography, and playing the violin (which certainly helps in my music-related neuroscience work!). I am also passionate about science communication and mentoring students in computational neuroscience.

What advice would you share with new reviewers?

I recommend reading the paper holistically first to understand its key contributions before diving into detailed critiques. Focus on clarity, methodology, and scientific rigor, ensuring the study properly builds on existing literature and employs appropriate analysis. Always provide constructive feedback, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement to help authors refine their work. Finally, consider the broader impact of the study and whether its conclusions are well-supported by the data.

What is your experience as a reviewer with eNeuro's consultation review process?

I think the consultation step was a very good add-on to the review process.

Emil Wärnberg, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard University
Prof. Bence Ölveczky's lab

 

Learn more:

eNeuro offers authors the choice to receive double-blind review.  Additionally, the Reviewing Editor and two reviewers will consult to reach a consensus on the decision and to draft a synthesis of the reviewers' comments explaining the decision. These review syntheses are published alongside each accepted paper.  Learn more about eNeuro's Review Process.