Neuroscience | Penn Today

Notes of jasmine? Hints of citrus? Computers can be trained to smell like a human, say scientists at Philly’s Monell Center

A study by Joel Mainland of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues used an artificial intelligence tool to predict the smells of new, lab-made chemicals by mapping the smells of known chemical substances.

Traumatic brain injuries linked to cognitive decline later in life

Holly Elser of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the results of a twin study demonstrating a relationship between head injuries and cognitive impairment or dementia later in life.

People looking at modern art in a museum or gallery setting.

A summer studying the aesthetic brain

For third-year Olivia Kim, a PURM research experience with Penn neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee allowed her to combine her love of neuroscience and art in a working lab.

Mitch McConnell may be experiencing small seizures, doctors suggest

Sami Khella of the Perelman School of Medicine says that one or two seizures can beget more seizures and need to be treated.

The race to link our brains to computers is heating up

PIK Professor Michael Platt says that the brain’s immune system will generally attack foreign additions like implants.

Playing football may increase risk for Parkinson’s disease, study says

Andrea Schneider of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the results of a study suggesting an association between prior football participation and Parkinson’s disease.

When a brain injury impairs memory, a pulse of electricity may help

A study by Ramon Diaz-Arrastia of the Perelman School of Medicine and Michael Kahana of the School of Arts & Sciences suggests that a precisely timed pulse of electricity to the brain can improve recall and halve memory deficit in patients with traumatic brain injuries.

After COVID placed her in spotlight, scientist behind mRNA vaccines, in Hong Kong for award, voices hope technology can treat other conditions

A profile on Katalin Karikó of the Perelman School of Medicine examines her tumultuous research journey, her accomplishments with mRNA vaccines, and her view on Hong Kong’s bid to become a biotech hub.

Microscopic rendering of tau proteins disintegrating microtubuli in a neuron axon.

Protein identified as a target for Alzheimer’s treatment

New Penn Medicine research finds that a tau-regulating protein suppresses deterioration, and suggests replenishing the protein may improve cognitive and motor function.

Could psychedelics simultaneously treat chronic pain and depression?

This summer, Ahmad Hammo, a rising third-year student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, is conducting a pilot study to explore psilocybin’s potential as a therapy for chronic pain and the depression that often accompanies it.

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