Behavioral Health | Penn Today

A project spearheaded by the Ortner Center updated 50 Wikipedia entries about domestic violence and assault.

To improve online information about violence and abuse, one group turned to Wikipedia

Three undergrads and a recent alum, working with the Ortner Center’s Susan B. Sorenson, added the latest scientific research to more than 50 entries.

Techly Explains: Why Do I Feel More Awake as Soon as I Get into Bed?

Philip Gehrman of the Perelman School of Medicine explained the psychology behind “learned arousal,” saying that if one spends “night after night tossing and turning not being able to fall asleep, then your body associates that with your bed instead.”

Doctoral candidate Caitlin Clements lead research showing that that individuals with autism spectrum disorder respond differently to social and non-social rewards than typically developing children.

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.

Workplace Noise in Daytime Linked to Sleep Problems at Night

The Perelman School of Medicine’s Mathias Basner weighed in on the effects of noise environments on stress levels.

1 in 4 Americans develops insomnia each year, according to new research from Penn Medicine.

One in four Americans develops insomnia each year

About 25 percent of Americans experience acute insomnia each year, but about 75 percent of these individuals recover without developing persistent poor sleep or chronic insomnia.

Penn study reveals that microRNAs predict differences in cognitive impairment in memory and attention after sleep deprivation

Why does sleep deprivation affect cognitive function of some more than others?

The key may be microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that help regulate gene expression, according to a study from Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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.

9 Things to Do This Morning to Make Your Whole Day More Productive

The Perelman School of Medicine’s Namni Goel discussed steps one can take to jump start the day, including planning ahead of time, creating healthy sleep patterns, staying well-hydrated, and more.

Penn Integrates Knowledge professor Michael Platt

Hormones flatten social hierarchy and synchronize behaviors

Findings from a study of male rhesus macaques from PIK professor Michael Platt and postdoc Yaoguang Jiang could lead to treatment options for social impairments in disorders like autism and schizophrenia.

A new book from Nursing professor Cynthia Connolly looks at “candy aspirin” and other case studies surrounding development, use, and marketing of children’s meds in the 20th century.

‘Candy aspirin,’ safety caps, and the history of children’s drugs

When St. Joseph Aspirin for Children was introduced in the 1940s, it was formulated to be attractive in taste and color to its young audience. Dubbed “candy aspirin,” the product became popular—fast. As a consequence, aspirin poisonings of children under five skyrocketed.

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