There’s a lot of talk about vaccines and autism, but what does the science say? This week @pennngg.bsky.social student Nita Rome unpacks the history behind these concerns and how modern studies have debunked this misconception. pennneuroknow.com/2025/11/11/v... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦🧪

Sophie Rogers of the Corder @flybottleescape.bsky.social lab studies how a psychedelic drug with growing therapeutic promise can alter the brain in ways that help overcome traumatic fear memories. Read more in this brief by fellow NGG student Jafar Bhatti! www.upennglia.com/briefs/bib-p...

Why is it so hard to turn good climate intentions into real habits? Read @pennngg.bsky.social student Margaret Gardner’s post to learn how neuroscience could help bridge the gap between our values and our actions. pennneuroknow.com/2025/11/04/h... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦🧪

The billions of neurons in our brain work together like an orchestra. Now tools let scientists listen to the whole performance across different parts of the brain. Read @pennngg.bsky.social student Abby Lieberman’s post to learn how: pennneuroknow.com/2025/10/28/r... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Your brain is more than a thinking machine. Even when you rest, your brain is busy monitoring, adjusting, and fine-tuning your existence. Read @pennngg.bsky.social student Serena Chen’s post to learn how your brain keeps you balanced pennneuroknow.com/2025/10/21/t... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Mitochondria, the “powerhouse of the cell,” fuel your brain’s energy-hungry neurons. But that's not all they do! Read @pennngg.bsky.social student Julia Riley's post to learn how mitochondria safeguard neurons and earn their moniker. pennneuroknow.com/2025/10/14/m... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Ever wonder why conspiracy theories seem to spread faster than facts? In our latest article, @pennngg.bsky.social student Emma Noel explains how our brain’s reward systems and social nature fuel belief in conspiracy theories. pennneuroknow.com/2025/10/07/w... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Artificial sweeteners are supposed to be a guilt-free way to get your sweet fix, but are they? This week Stephen Wisser explores a recent study suggesting that artificial sweeteners are associated with faster cognitive decline: pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/30/s... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

That urge to pee? It’s not so simple. Behind it is a complex brain-bladder conversation that decides when to hold and when to go. Learn how your brain controls your bladder in this week's post by Andrew Nguyen: pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/23/t... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

That urge to pee? It’s not so simple. Behind it is a complex brain-bladder conversation that decides when to hold and when to go. Learn how your brain controls your bladder in this week's post by Andrew Nguyen: pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/23/t... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Is That Right?! Dr. Prateekshit "Kanu" Pandey & Cara Hammer Friday, Sept 19 show features Penn Biology Prof Marc Schmidt! Is That Right?! is a science comedy show hosted at CSz Philly at 2030 Sansom St. Show starts at 7 PM. Tickets start at $5 buy here or on site: phillyfringe.org/events/is-th...

Viruses are experts at getting new DNA into cells. Every day, neuroscientists take advantage of this ability to help us understand the brain. Learn how neuroscientists go viral in this week's post by Omer Zeliger: pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/16/g... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Did you know that our eyes spontaneously move 3–5 times per second? While seemingly simple and mostly unconscious, these eye movements can tell us a lot about how our brains work. Dig into the fascinating world of eye movements! pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/09/e... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Even though it is a myth that people are either “left-brained” or “right-brained,” certain complex functions, such as spoken language, are primarily found on one side of the human brain. Learn when and why the brain picks a side: pennneuroknow.com/2025/09/02/t... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Have you ever wondered why some people need total silence and darkness to fall asleep, while others prefer to listen to white noise or watch their favorite TV show? Is there a “best” way to fall asleep? Learn more in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/08/26/c... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

THIS Thursday, Aug 21, 5:30-7:30 PM Be a Brain and Language Scientist for an Evening Pennovation 3401 Grays Ferry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19146 US Free for ages 12+ Registration required: actionnetwork.org/events/be-a-... Please share. @standupforscience.bsky.social @ninaahmadphl.bsky.social

This week, Joseph Stucynski dives into the exciting world of a new and powerful treatment for neurological diseases: electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve. Learn more: pennneuroknow.com/2025/08/19/v... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

What do worms, mice, and leafcutter ants have in common? They're helping to uncover the power of neuropeptides — brain messengers that shape behavior and may hold the key to future drug discovery. @kara-mcgaughey.bsky.social explains: pennneuroknow.com/2025/08/12/y... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪

Whether it’s on paper, screen or audio, there are more ways than ever to enjoy a good book. But do different formats engage the brain in the same way? Co-editor @catrinahacker.bsky.social explores in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/08/05/t... #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧠🟦 🧪 📖

From doing the dishes to playing an instrument, a special connection between your brain and the muscles is key to keep us moving the way we want. Learn more in this week's post by Carris Borland: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/29/m... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Do plants feel pain? From Venus flytraps snapping shut to stressed plants releasing ultrasonic "screams," @neuromelody.bsky.social explains how plants react to touch and damage in surprisingly similar ways to us. pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/22/d... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

We may think our memory is set in stone, but it’s more like wet clay. From false childhood memories to wrongful convictions, explore the science behind how our memories can deceive us: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/15/c... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

We may think our memory is set in stone, but it’s more like wet clay. From false childhood memories to wrongful convictions, explore the science behind how our memories can deceive us: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/15/c... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Many pet owners will tell you that time with their pets improves their mental health. How? Learn how emotional support animals help manage symptoms of mental illnesses and and how the brain reacts to this connection: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/08/e... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Many pet owners will tell you that time with their pets improves their mental health. How? Learn how emotional support animals help manage symptoms of mental illnesses and and how the brain reacts to this connection: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/08/e... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Humans are the only species that display tearful, emotional crying. Does it benefit us? And if so, why don’t we cry more? Learn about the unique human ability to cry in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/01/t... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Humans are the only species that display tearful, emotional crying. Does it benefit us? And if so, why don’t we cry more? Learn about the unique human ability to cry in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/07/01/t... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Biomedical research funding in the United States is still in danger. Check out this video describing how this funding process works made by PNK Co-Editor & @pennngg.bsky.social student @neuromelody.bsky.social pennneuroknow.com/2025/06/24/v... #scicomm #researchfunding #neuroskyence #academicsky

You may have heard about patriarchy, but how about matriarchy? Bees, elephants, & bonobos show us females can be the ones running the show in the wild. Learn about matriarchal animal societies in this week's piece, written by @pennngg.bsky.social student Nita Rome. pennneuroknow.com/2025/06/17/a...

How does climate change impact the brain? Spoiler alert: it’s not looking good.. Check out this week's piece where @pennngg.bsky.social student Margaret Gardner dives into this chilling topic: pennneuroknow.com/2025/06/10/c... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm

How can studying bats help us understand how the brain processes and sorts sounds into categories? Abby Lieberman breaks down a fascinating new study in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/06/03/h... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

What happens to your brain after a brain injury? NGG graduate Rebecca Somach explores how mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) alters sleep-related neurons differently in males and females! Read more about it here! www.upennglia.com/briefs/bib-o... #NGG #neuroskyence #SciComm

Your neighbors can significantly affect how peacefully you go about your everyday life. The cells in your nervous system are no different, and what they can do for you ultimately depends on who lives next door. pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/27/t... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

There's no doubt about it, curiosity-driven research is important. This week, @joulesriley.bsky.social shares how years of curiosity-driven research led to two of the biggest clinical breakthroughs of the modern era: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/20/b... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Explore the path to becoming a neuroscientist, and let students consider if it’s for them. vist.ly/3n4t8by

There's no doubt about it, curiosity-driven research is important. This week, @joulesriley.bsky.social shares how years of curiosity-driven research led to two of the biggest clinical breakthroughs of the modern era: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/20/b... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Whether it's punk rock or Puccini, everyone has music that they love. Why is music so compelling? And what’s going on in your brain when you’re jamming to your favorite song? Lisa Wooldridge explores your brain on music: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/13/m... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Whether it's punk rock or Puccini, everyone has music that they love. Why is music so compelling? And what’s going on in your brain when you’re jamming to your favorite song? Lisa Wooldridge explores your brain on music: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/13/m... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Philadelphia friends! We SO NEED to celebrate science. Let's raise a glass to brains. Join us Wed, 5/21 for Pint of Science. I'll be opening for headliners Dimitris Boufidis, @audreydrotos.bsky.social, & Jacqui Barker. 😊 Tickets (to support the org, $2): pintofscience.us/events/phila...

Hangovers have been around as long as alcohol. What do we know about them and is there any truth behind popular hangover "cures"? Stephen Wisser breaks it down in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/06/a... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Hangovers have been around as long as alcohol. What do we know about them and is there any truth behind popular hangover "cures"? Stephen Wisser breaks it down in this week's post: pennneuroknow.com/2025/05/06/a... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Our award-winning news team is seeking an enthusiastic science reporting intern to join our lively newsroom in New York City. For more information or to apply, please visit: simonsfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/simons... #neuroskyence #jobs

What if we had Google Maps for the brain? Scientists recently built that map by charting every connection in a fruit fly’s brain. Six months later, the discoveries are still just getting started! Andrew Nguyen explains: pennneuroknow.com/2025/04/29/n... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

What if we had Google Maps for the brain? Scientists recently built that map by charting every connection in a fruit fly’s brain. Six months later, the discoveries are still just getting started! Andrew Nguyen explains: pennneuroknow.com/2025/04/29/n... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

The Neural Script: New Tools on Genes in Brain Function and Disease Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 - 9 PM Philadelphia Ethical Society 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Recent @pennngg.bsky.social grad Evan Gallagher identified a new molecule that might track the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. PNK writer @kara-mcgaughey.bsky.social explains: www.upennglia.com/briefs/bib-p... Follow @brainsinbriefs.bsky.social for more! #neuroskyence #SciComm 🧪

For thousands of years, parents have been warning each other against drinking alcohol when pregnant Omer Zeliger explores the neuroscience of how alcohol impacts development and can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: pennneuroknow.com/2025/04/22/b... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

For thousands of years, parents have been warning each other against drinking alcohol when pregnant Omer Zeliger explores the neuroscience of how alcohol impacts development and can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: pennneuroknow.com/2025/04/22/b... #neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪

Hello world! Welcome to the new account for the Brains in Briefs science communications blog. Run by PhD students in the University of Pennsylvania’s Neuroscience Graduate Group (NGG), we break down first author publications from current and former NGG students and try to make them more accessible.

First up we have NGG graduate Mara Cowen @maracowen.bsky.social who used microscopic worms to study how genes that control neuronal connectivity are involved in social behavior. Current NGG student Jafar Bhatti breaks it down in this piece here! www.upennglia.com/briefs/bib-a...