Roy Hamilton of Penn Medicine (left) was part of a research team that studied whether a minimally invasive brain stimulation, similar to what he’s demonstrating in this photo, can reduce someone’s intent to commit a violent crime.
Brain stimulation decreases intent to commit assault
Research from Penn Medicine and the Criminology department shows that using minimally invasive electrical currents on the prefrontal cortex can reduce the desire to carry out such violence and increase the perception that it’s morally wrong.
Researchers from the Annenberg School for Communication at Penn discovered that “dehumanization” and “dislike” are processed by two completely separate brain regions, which suggests that they may be two different psychological processes.
In the brain, ‘dislike’ and ‘dehumanization’ are not the same thing
It has long been thought that characterizing people as less than human was an expression of extreme dislike. Annenberg neuroscientists now find that neurologically, these two viewpoints actually differ.
Phoebe Ho is a doctoral candidate in Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the sociology of education and family, specifically the experiences of minority and immigrant families. (Photo: Marcus Wright)
Teachers view immigrant and minority parents as less involved in their children’s education
A study from Penn Sociology revealed that such perspectives from educators can end up hampering the academic trajectory of the students.
Despite a recent executive order, serious questions remain regarding the 2,300 migrant children who have been separated from their families and detained in the U.S. Penn experts weigh in on many of the issues involved.
Doctoral candidate Caitlin Clements of Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences and CHOP’s Center for Autism Research lead research showing that that individuals with autism spectrum disorder respond differently to social and non-social rewards than typically developing children. The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.
New insight into autism and reward circuitry in the brain
New research reveals people with autism spectrum disorder respond differently to social and non-social cues than typically developing individuals, and might not respond to rewards for desired behavior.
The two-week summer intensive workshop run by mindCORE, which focused on social and behavioral sciences and on language science and technology, included excursions like a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary (above) and to Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Sharing the science behind what we do, what we say, and how we learn
Through mindCORE, a two-week undergrad program through Arts and Sciences, faculty from eight departments and five schools explore the mind and the brain via disciplines like behavioral science and language acquisition.
As part of a session led by Dot Porter, curator of digital research services (not pictured), conference participants visited the Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text & Image, a digitization lab located in Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Digital imaging specialist Chris Lippa (left) explained the process of digitizing materials like the book in his hand.
Digital humanities ‘summer camp’ comes to Penn
The Price Lab for Digital Humanities and the Penn Libraries hosted HILT, an annual national training institute that brings together professionals from a number of disciplines.
Michal Elovitz is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine and director of the Maternal and Child Health Research Center. (Photo: Christian Peacock)
Could a new blood test predict preterm labor?
Research that included Medicine’s Michal Elovitz reveals that a non-invasive blood test might have the ability to determine a baby’s gestational age in utero and predict preterm delivery.
Damon Centola is a professor in the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and director of the Network Dynamics Group.
(Image: Courtesy of Annenberg School for Communication)
Tipping point for large-scale social change? Just 25 percent
How many people need to take a stand before a behavior is no longer seen as normal? According to research from Annenberg’s Damon Centola, there’s now a quantifiable answer: roughly 25 percent.
Psychologist Alan Stocker, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Computational Perception and Cognition Laboratory.
Why do the choices made today affect those we make tomorrow?
It’s long been known that someone’s previous choices subconsciously affect those they make in the future. New research could pave the way for a deeper investigation into how such thought processes work.
