Avoiding stuffy language: "Therefore", "Thus"

In my thesis, I'm using "thus" and "therefore" a lot. This is repetitive and it sounds stuffy. Is there any alternative which sounds a bit more relaxed but is acceptable in scientific writing? "So" would be too colloquial, I suppose.

Example for "thus:"

Later in life, neural responses to sensory input become highly differentiated, as do overt reactions. Thus, it can be assumed that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

The neural responses used by the SC to localize stimuli are stochastic. Thus, the SC’s task can be described as a statistical inference problem: ...

(Sorry, I didn't find any examples for "therefore" which would make sense outside of the thesis.)

Solution 1:

In addition to the methods presented in RegDwigнt's answer — using synonyms and simply removing the words — two other techniques for avoiding such repetition come to mind.

Replacing "thus" or "therefore" in the conclusion with "since" or "because" in the clause presenting the evidence is perhaps the most straightforward. This technique works better with shorter statements of evidence.

Since neural responses to sensory input, as well as overt reactions, become highly differentiated later in life, it can be assumed that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

Because the neural responses used by the SC to localize stimuli are stochastic, the SC’s task can be described as a statistical inference problem: ...

The second technique would be to use a verb that includes the logical inference such as "indicate", "imply", "show", "demonstrate", or even "allows". Using a participle avoids the need for an explicit subject, but "this" or "such evidence" are adequate subjects. (In fact, "such evidence" might be preferred when the evidence is extensive.)

Neural responses to sensory input become highly differentiated later in life, as do overt reactions, indicating that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

The neural responses used by the SC to localize stimuli are stochastic. This allows the SC’s task to be described as a statistical inference problem: ...

This can include reversing the order of evidence and conclusion.

That neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience can be concluded from the fact that neural responses to sensory input, as well as overt reactions, become highly differentiated later in life.

The SC's task can be treated as a statistical inference problem by recognizing the stochastic nature of the neural responses used by the SC to localize stimuli: ...

(The latter rephrasing is clearly problematic since the colon indicates that a stronger binding to "statistical inference problem" is desired. However, it provides the useful example of "recognize" replacing "show", changing the subject from the evidence to the observer allows further variety in verbs.)

Solution 2:

There are many synonyms that a thesaurus of your choice will be quick to provide. However, consider this:

There is no reason to have the thuses in there in the first place. Remove them completely, and you're still conveying the same information. It is quite obvious that each of the sentences logically flows from the previous one.

Later in life, neural responses to sensory input become highly differentiated, as do overt reactions. It can be assumed that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

The neural responses used by the SC to localize stimuli are stochastic. The SC’s task can be described as a statistical inference problem: ...

You don't need to expressly connect each and every sentence with its predecessor — it already is connected simply by means of being the next sentence in the same paragraph.

Generally speaking, whenever you wish to avoid using any particular word, start by simply not using it and then see what it gets you. More often than not, it will be enough.

Solution 3:

Later in life, neural responses to sensory input become highly differentiated, as do overt reactions. Because of this increased differentiation, it can be assumed that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

Or

Later in life, neural responses to sensory input become highly differentiated, as do overt reactions. This increased differentiation suggests that neurons adapt their responses mediated by experience...

That is, summarize the first sentence, or its essence, and express it as part of the second sentence.