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Neuroscience
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
The specialized field of neuroscience, optogenetics, shows clinical promise for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s. But before human trials can get fully underway, the field must better understand a crucial intermediate step, aided by 45 labs in nine countries sharing information.
Localizing epilepsy ‘hotspots’
Localizing epilepsy ‘hotspots’
Student interns worked this summer with the Davis Lab in the Penn Epilepsy Center to research improvements to epilepsy diagnosis using the tools of machine learning and network analysis.
Researchers discover a rare genetic form of dementia
Researchers discover a rare genetic form of dementia
A buildup of tau protein in parts of the brain helped Edward Lee, an assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, and other Penn scientists uncover this new form of dementia.
MTL deterioration can lead to impulsive decisions
MTL deterioration can lead to impulsive decisions
A study highlighting episodic memory and decision making finds that individual differences in decision making are driven by episodic memory function, and that a deteriorating medial temporal lobe may impact the ability to delay gratification.
Tips for easing back pain during isolation
Tips for easing back pain during isolation
In a Q&A, Penn Medicine's Jang Won Yoon, a neurosurgeon, offers advice on managing back pain during the pandemic.
Uncovering the neurological connections to COVID-19
Uncovering the neurological connections to COVID-19
A variety of research efforts across Penn are working to uncover the neurological implications of COVID-19, including stroke, neuroinflammation, and loss of smell.
New genetic cause of an inherited neuropathy discovered
New genetic cause of an inherited neuropathy discovered
A discovery by Penn researchers in siblings may hold answers to new gene therapies for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Rooting out systemic bias in neuroscience publishing
Rooting out systemic bias in neuroscience publishing
An interdisciplinary research team has found statistical evidence of women being undercited in academic literature. They are now studying similar effects along racial lines.
Sensory neurons outside the brain drive autistic social behaviors
Sensory neurons outside the brain drive autistic social behaviors
A new study from Penn Medicine lends further evidence that the social behaviors tied to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) emerge from abnormal function of sensory neurons outside the brain.
New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier
New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier
A five-minute online session will allow neural health to be tracked across time, so that doctors can make an earlier diagnosis and researchers can evaluate medications and other treatments.
In the News
BBC News
Elon Musk to show off working brain-hacking device
Ari Benjamin, a doctoral student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said the biggest stumbling block for brain-to-machine interface technology is the complexity of the human brain. "Once they have the recordings, Neuralink will need to decode them and will someday hit the barrier that is our lack of basic understanding of how the brain works, no matter how many neurons they record from,” he said. "Decoding goals and movement plans is hard when you don't understand the neural code in which those things are communicated."
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Philadelphia Inquirer
After retired Black NFL players file lawsuit, experts weigh in on race and diagnosing dementia
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the complex process of diagnosing someone with dementia and about racial disparities in cognitive-impairment diagnoses.
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Wired
A radical new model of the brain illuminates its wiring
Danielle Bassett of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about how neuroscience has led to a greater understanding of the brain’s networks and how to treat a variety of conditions. “Hopefully, with an understanding of the individual differences in the brain, we will have a better lever on how to predict human responses to a particular intervention,” she says, “and then not have to have people go for a year through different kinds of medication before we find one that works for them.”
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Forbes
Your eyes may betray what decision you are about to make
Michael Louis Platt and Feng Sheng of the Wharton School comment on their research on the sight-brain connection when making decisions.
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U.S. News & World Report
Antarctic study shows isolation, monotony may change the human brain
Alexander Stahn of the Perelman School of Medicine led a study that found a volume decrease in the hippocampi of explorers who spent 14 months at a research station in Antarctica. “It was an average of about 7%, which is really big in terms of brain changes,” he said.
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The Washington Post
Women are more than twice as likely as men to suffer from PTSD. Studies are underway to find out why
Edna Foa of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about her research on the effects of estrogen on fear extinction, a process of “unlearning” fear related to recovery from PTSD.
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