By: Jordan Gaines Lewis, 5th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program In March, I wrote about the terrible sleep habits of the characters in House of Cards. I disapproved of Frank Underwood’s late-night computer work in the Oval Office, his new midnight iPad gaming habit, and Claire taking her laptop to bed with her. But I … Continue reading Can Wearing Orange-Tinted Glasses before Bed Improve Sleep? Only One Way to Find Out…
Neuroscience
Where in the Brain Does Deception Lie?
By: Dan Hass, 2nd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program When my 8-year old niece asks me what Santa Claus’s favorite reindeer is, I do not tell her that Santa does not actually exist. I try to keep her as happy as possible, and I tell a white lie. Lying is not an uncommon phenomenon. … Continue reading Where in the Brain Does Deception Lie?
The Immersive World of Virtual Reality: Why VR is the Ultimate Neuroscience Experiment
By: Lina Jamis, 2nd year student in the Anatomy Graduate Program The promise of virtual reality has always been an enticing one—slip on this headset and escape to a new place, without ever stepping foot outside of the room. It’s an experience so unusual, and yet so familiar, as it hijacks our own senses to provide the … Continue reading The Immersive World of Virtual Reality: Why VR is the Ultimate Neuroscience Experiment
Hooked on Pills? There’s a Pill for That…
By: Andrew Huhn, 4th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program Americans are abusing prescription painkillers at an alarming rate. In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioid analgesics – that’s enough for every adult in the U.S. to have their own bottle of pills, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Opioid analgesics are a class … Continue reading Hooked on Pills? There’s a Pill for That…
When it Comes to Vision, Men and Women Really Aren’t Seeing Eye to Eye
By: Sadie Steffens, 4th year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program The paint color in our master bathroom has been a source of debate since we bought our house. While I am certain that the color is firmly in the purple part of the spectrum, my husband insists that the paint is blue. Period. Visiting … Continue reading When it Comes to Vision, Men and Women Really Aren’t Seeing Eye to Eye
Humans are Wired for Prejudice, but That Doesn’t Have to be the End of the Story
By: Caitlin Millett, 3rd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program Humans are highly social creatures. Our brains have evolved to allow us to survive and thrive in complex social environments. Accordingly, the behaviors and emotions that help us navigate our social sphere are entrenched in networks of neurons within our brains. Social motivations, such as … Continue reading Humans are Wired for Prejudice, but That Doesn’t Have to be the End of the Story
Paying Attention: Why You Want to Have a Filter
By: Daniel Hass, 2nd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program At any given moment, we are constantly bombarded by signals from at least four of the five senses. The visual system is constantly processing our surroundings. The auditory system is stimulated by all of the many miniscule sounds that compose our environment. We’re taking in … Continue reading Paying Attention: Why You Want to Have a Filter
How Fancy Labels Fool Us: The Neuroscience Behind Bias
By: Caitlin Millett, 3rd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program The holiday season is fast approaching, and that means it’s time for gift buying. With each passing season, finding the perfect gift for loved ones seems to become more and more difficult—a phenomenon not unrelated to the seemingly exponential growth in buying options each year. So … Continue reading How Fancy Labels Fool Us: The Neuroscience Behind Bias
Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: People who get SAD in the Summer
By: Lina Jamis, 2nd year student in the Anatomy Graduate Program Snow-lovers rejoice—winter is coming! And no, this isn’t an allusion to Game of Thrones. With the end of Daylight Savings, the days are becoming darker earlier, which for some can mean the onset of the winter blues. The medical term for this is Seasonal Affective Disorder … Continue reading Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: People who get SAD in the Summer
Why Does Hershey’s New Logo Look Like the Poo Emoji? Neuroscience Explains.
By: Jordan Gaines Lewis, 4th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program Penn State College of Medicine is located in Hershey, the "Sweetest Place on Earth." We're surrounded by references to chocolate everyday—from the smell of it in the air to Kiss-shaped streetlamps to chocolate-brown paved roads. It’s a pretty sweet life. So when The Hershey … Continue reading Why Does Hershey’s New Logo Look Like the Poo Emoji? Neuroscience Explains.
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