Wellness | Penn Today

People gathered around artifacts pointing

Multidisciplinary panel highlights role of the arts in human flourishing

At a panel event held Saturday, Oct. 22, Penn leaders from the arts and humanities, nursing, psychology, and neuroscience gathered to discuss the role of the arts in healing and flourishing.

Colorful image of an illustrated brain with neural networks in the back shown by lines and bursts of color.

During sleep, one brain region teaches another, converting novel data into enduring memories

Using a neural network model, Penn neuroscientist Anna Schapiro and colleagues found that as the body moves between REM and slow-wave sleep cycles, the hippocampus and neocortex interact in ways that are key to memory formation.

A person seated at a dining table with their elbows on the table, with one single carrot on the plate before them.

The allure of fad diets, and why they fail

In a new book, Penn nutritional anthropologist Janet Chrzan and Kima Cargill of the University of Washington, Tacoma, explain the cultural, social, and psychological fixation on fad diets and why they don’t typically succeed.

Two hands holding a cotton swab in an X formation.

Quit removing wax from your ears

For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there’s no need to remove it—not only do cotton swabs not remove ear wax, but they can pose a risk of hearing loss.

Person getting their blood pressure checked.

Biometric screenings for wellness return to campus

Be in the Know, Penn’s faculty and staff wellness campaign, begins a new year and is bringing back on-campus biometric screenings.

Cat Hammer named head sports dietitian at Penn Athletics

Hammer served as part-time sports nutritionist at Penn Athletics and oversaw the nutritional strategies and approach for 16 of the University’s intercollegiate teams.

An older sibling helps a younger sibling put on a mask outside of school.

Adjusting to back to school while prioritizing family well-being

Penn Medicine experts offer tips on how to manage anxiety over COVID-19 variants, monkeypox, and other stressors as the new school year begins.

Two people standing in front of a wall of art. One of them is holding up a second piece of art in gloved hands. The other gestures toward the art, holding a computer or clipboard in the other hand.

Do art museums prioritize visitor well-being enough?

Research from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project in Penn’s Positive Psychology Center reveals that the people working in these institutions want to see greater emphasis on human flourishing, but they feel ill-equipped to make it happen.

Illustration resembling a cosmic square with stars.

‘In These Times’ explores the intricate riddles of life through art

Episodes 6 and 7 of the latest season of the OMNIA podcast explore how art like music and dance have been the pulse of social movements, and how individual artistic experiences impact mental health and well-being.

People walking on campus, some with face coverings, some without.

Five things to know about COVID-19 protocols for the fall semester

In an effort to keep everyone within the Penn community healthy, Benoit Dubé, Penn’s chief wellness officer, says it is critical that University students, staff, and faculty adhere to the recommended public health guidelines.

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