By Vanshika A. Patel Have you ever wondered how a favorite song can lift you up when you're down or transport you back in time? Music has a remarkable power to engage emotions, evoke memories, and even affect our well-being. Recent studies in neuroscience investigate the complex relationship between music and the brain, showing how … Continue reading How does music affect your brain? The neuroscience of your favorite tunes.
Mental health
Misfolded proteins love company: the prion-like nature of neurodegenerative disease
By Makenzie Nolt While watching the news or reading about current events, you may have heard of Mad Cow or Chronic Wasting Disease in deer. Although these are two different conditions, they both result from misfolded proteins called prions1. Prion diseases are not exclusive to livestock; humans can also be affected by prion diseases such … Continue reading Misfolded proteins love company: the prion-like nature of neurodegenerative disease
Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
By Victoria Vernail We are nearing the arrival of springtime. Flowers blooming, birds chirping, and – wait – one less hour of sleep? Thanks, Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the period from March to November where most of the United States turns the clocks forward one hour ahead of Standard Time (ST). … Continue reading Does springing forward hold us back? The debate surrounding Daylight Saving Time
OMG! What’s with all these OTCs?
By: Elise M. Rizzi We’ve all been there - you wake up with a pounding headache, stuffy nose, body aches, chills, the whole nine yards. You head to the store to see what meds you might be able to find to help. The pharmacy aisle (Figure 1) is so overwhelming, with bright labels and long … Continue reading OMG! What’s with all these OTCs?
Heartbeat: One Researcher’s Advocacy Journey from the Lab to Human Impact
By Zari McCullers At a forum I attended in early October, I sat in a room filled with fellow researchers – primarily in the basic and biomedical sciences – ready to hear about the power of patient advocacy. This event was meant to remind us not just why we do our work, but for whom. … Continue reading Heartbeat: One Researcher’s Advocacy Journey from the Lab to Human Impact
A Lullaby DOES Lead to a Good Night: The Effects of Music on Sleep in Adults
By Anthony Habib Rahawi Introduction Sleep is a dynamic process that is crucial for multidimensional health,1 as impaired sleep increases the risk of developing cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and psychological disorders. Insufficient sleep affects approximately one third of adults in the US, while approximately one fifth of the US population are diagnosed with sleep disorders.2 Due … Continue reading A Lullaby DOES Lead to a Good Night: The Effects of Music on Sleep in Adults
Sense and Sensitivity: How the Nervous System Transforms the Environment into Experience
By Zekiel Factor Setting the agenda Sensation is the bridge between the internal and external world. Examining the elements of processing that our senses have in common allows us to understand how the nervous system gives rise to sensory perception, which is a fundamental component of conscious experience. But what does it mean to go … Continue reading Sense and Sensitivity: How the Nervous System Transforms the Environment into Experience
The Challenge of Mental Health in Graduate School
By Bailey Keller and Angela Snyder Declining mental health among graduate students is a silent epidemic. According to a recent Nature survey of 6,300 PhD students worldwide, ~36% report seeking help for anxiety or depression due to their PhD studies1. Commonly cited reasons for the PhD environment contributing to poor mental health were bullying and … Continue reading The Challenge of Mental Health in Graduate School
What is Going On in Your Brain When You’re Stressed
By Mariam Melkumyan While certain levels of stress present in our lives is a good thing, sometimes it can be too much. Now is a very stressful time for graduate students; in addition to qualifying and comprehensive exams and dissertations, we are constantly reminded of threats to our health and normal lives due to the … Continue reading What is Going On in Your Brain When You’re Stressed
Burn Out
Burn out.It’s a common phrase heard in the hallways of many academic institutions. Burn out has become a major contributor to mental health issues among graduate schools across the country. Driving yourself intensely for an extended period of time can lead to graduate school burn out, and it can last for weeks, sometimes even months. … Continue reading Burn Out
Lions Talk Science 