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
War on Cancer: The Future of Cancer Treatment
By: Ross Keller, 4th year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program In this fifth and final post of the War on Cancer series, I will discuss the future of cancer treatment. I will also tie in my previous posts of the series, which include: How Can We Win the War on Cancer? Targeted Therapy … Continue reading War on Cancer: The Future of Cancer Treatment
The Scientific Conference Survival Guide
By: Amanda White, Research Technologist in the Department of Psychiatry Scientific conferences are an important way to learn about the latest developments in your field and to meet people who can help you advance your career. They are annual meetings organized by professional societies that include poster presentations, oral presentations, and social events. Conferences often … Continue reading The Scientific Conference Survival Guide
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.
Why You Should Care about Auditory Myosin
By: Lina Jamis, 2nd year student in the Anatomy Graduate Program As much as we may enjoy denying it, our hearing is slowly, but surely, leaving us. In fact, considering how we often may follow the adage “louder is better,” we’re probably headed for hearing aids sooner than we think. (That goes doubly for you, Skillrex fans). … Continue reading Why You Should Care about Auditory Myosin
Smells Ring Bells: How Smells Can Trigger Emotions and Memories
By: Amanda White, Research Technologist in the Department of Psychiatry Autumn has arrived, bringing with it some of my favorite scents: bonfire smoke, pumpkin spice (DON’T JUDGE!), and, most of all, crisp autumn air. Stepping outside on an October morning and breathing instantly transports me back in time. I’m at Penn State. It’s a cool, … Continue reading Smells Ring Bells: How Smells Can Trigger Emotions and Memories
War on Cancer: Tumors as Ecological Systems
By: Ross Keller, 4th year PhD candidate in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program The War on Cancer series has so far covered: How Can We Win?, Targeted Therapy, and Tumor Relapse. In this fourth part of the War on Cancer, I will discuss a phenomenon that has only recently been pushed to the forefront of cancer biology, and … Continue reading War on Cancer: Tumors as Ecological Systems
