Sebastian H. Castedo

I am currently in my final year of a PhD in Statistical Physics under the supervision of Remi Monasson at the ENS in Paris.

My research focuses on understanding how physical and energetic constraints shape neural computation. I am particularly interested in the trade-offs between computational performance and energy consumption, and how neural circuits adapt to limited resources. To investigate these questions, I combine tools from statistical physics, theoretical models of neural networks, and collaborations with experimental neuroscientists.

During my PhD, I have worked on two main projects exploring the relationship between neural computation and energy. In collaboration with experimental groups, we used functional ultrasound imaging to investigate how vascular activity in the brain relates to locomotion speed during spatial navigation. Using continuous attractor neural networks, we developed a theoretical explanation linking the energetic demands of spatial navigation to the animal’s movement speed. This work was published in Cell Reports (2026).

In a second project, we investigated how neural circuits maintain reliable sensory computation under metabolic stress. Analysing recordings from the visual cortex of food-restricted mice, we found that neural activity becomes more correlated, yet the population largely preserves its ability to encode visual information. Combining data analysis with theoretical models, we showed how the geometry of neural population activity can protect task-relevant information from increased noise. This work is available as a bioRxiv preprint (2026).

My previous experience includes investigating generalised correlations in disordered systems, particularly Lotka-Volterra ecosystems using dynamical mean field theory under the supervision of Tobias Galla. This work has been published in Physical Review E. Additionally, I worked on a coupled magneto-mechanical model with Langevin dynamics during an internship at LPTHE in Paris with Leticia Cugliandolo. This work has been published in Physical Review B.

Beyond science, I have a running interest in radical politics, sociology, and political economy. I would like to better understand complex issues with real-life applications using the skills I have in mathematics and computation. I have contributed to a think tank’s work on deforestation in relation to COP 26, started up an educational charity and I am currently involved in setting up a cooperative housing project in Manchester.