Rocking chair voters’ have limited access
Jason Karlawish questions why U.S. seniors continue to have limited voting access in a piece for United Press International (March 20, 2011: "'Rocking chair voters' have limited access")
Deciphering hidden code reveals brain activity
Geoffrey Aguirre has developed a new mathematcal approach for studying the inner workings of the brain. The research is published in the journal NeuroImage and covered in a recent Penn Medicine news release (March 28, 2011: "Deciphering hidden code reveals brain activity")
The Psychology of Cheating
Anjan Chatterjee speculates on the minds of "cheaters" in a New York Times article (April 16, 2011: "The Psychology of Cheating")
Adults who claim to have ADHD? 1 in 4 may be faking it
Anjan Chatterjee discusses the growing use of stimulant medication to enhance cognitive performance in an article on msnbc.com (April 25, 2011: "Adults who claim to have ADHD? 1 in 4 may be faking it")
After brain damage, the creative juices flow for some
Anjan Chatterjee explores the relationship between art and the brain in a piece for the Los Angeles Times (May 20, 2011: "After brain damage, the creative juices flow for some")
Advances in Neuroscience Raise Medical Hopes, Social Questions
Jonathan Moreno and Martha Farah discussed the advances in neuroscience and their societal impact as part of a briefing hosted by AAAS and the House Armed Services Committee, then summarized in Science (August 26, 2011: "Advances in Neuroscience Rais Medical Hopes, Social Questions")
21st Century Neuroscience: From Lab and Clinic to Home, School and Office
Martha Farah presented at the 47th annual Nobel Conference: The Brain and Being Human (October 5, 2011: "21st Century Neuroscience: From Lab and Clinic to Home, School and Office")
Diagnosing The ‘Personhood’ Problem: It’s In Your Brain
Jonathan Moreno referenced Martha Farah's research on personhood as he weighed in on the debate for The Huffington Post (November 20, 2011: "Diagnosing The 'Personhood' Problem: It's In Your Brain")
Caregivers Press for Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug
In a radio interview with NPR's Talk of the Nation, CNS faculty member, Jason Karlawish, discusses the implications of a recent study's findings that the skin cancer drug bexarotene (Targretin) can reduce Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice (February 20, 2012: , "Caregivers Press for Experimental Alzheimer's Drug")
Penn Bioethicist Jonathan Moreno Appointed to UNESCO International Bioethics Committee
CNS faculty member Jonathan Moreno has been invited to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's International Bioethics Committee(April 2, 2012: "Penn Bioethicist Jonathan Moreno Appointed to UNESCO International Bioethics Committee")
Childhood stimulation key to brain development: study finds
Martha Farah presented 20 years worth of data on childhood stimulation and brain development at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans, as covered in The Guardian (October 14, 2012: "Childhood stimulation key to brain development: study finds")
U.S. soldier accused of Iraq shooting “psychotic”: doctor
Robert Sadoff is cited as a forensic psychiatry expert by Reuters in an article on a U.S. soldier experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (November 20, 2012: "U.S. soldier accused of Iraq shooting "psychotic": doctor")
New York Times Reviews Raine’s ‘Anatomy of Violence’
The Anatomy of Violence, the latest book by CNS member Adrian Raine, has been praised for its important new insights into crime, the biology of human nature and the future of criminal justice. Read Paul Bloom's review in the New York Times Book Review Section here.
Preceptorials on Neuroscience & Society
Undergraduates can explore different aspects of neuroscience and society in short, noncredit seminars scheduled throughout the academic year. You can check back here for detailed information as it becomes available, including course numbers and date/time. If you have any questions about these Preceptorials, please email penncns@gmail.com. Brave Neuro [...]
Penn Neuroscience & Society Public Talk Series (2023-24)
Each year the CNS Public Talk Series highlights an issue or theme. The 2023-24 Public Talk series theme is the “Neuro” in Neuropsychiatry. Psychiatric diagnosis is still purely behavioral; many psychiatric drugs were accidental discoveries. So, what role has neuroscience actually played? How has it improved the practice of [...]
Neuroscience Boot Camp
Neuroscience Boot Camp is on hiatus. Please join our mailing list to receive information other Center for Neuroscience & Society programs. Neuroscience is increasingly relevant to a number of professions and academic disciplines beyond its traditional medical applications. The Penn Neuroscience Boot Camp is designed to give participants a basic [...]
Critical Acclaim for The Anatomy of Violence by Adrian Raine
Critical Acclaim for The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime by CNS Faculty Member Adrian Raine: “Lively, engaging. . . . A convincing case that violent criminals are biologically different from the rest of us. . . . [Raine] has the research at his fingertips—not surprising, since he carried out much [...]
Conference on the Work of CNS’s Stephen Morse
The work of CNS Associate Director Stephen Morse will be the focus of a neurolaw meeting this June in Florence, Italy. The two-day meeting will bring together scholars in law, philosophy and psychiatry to discuss and celebrate Stephen's influential work on responsibility and criminal law. For more information, see http://neurolawconference.com.
CNS and the School of Arts and Sciences introduce SCAN
Penn's new certificate program in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) will enable graduate and professional students preparing for a wide range of careers to work knowledgeably with neuroscience. Rather than training future neuroscientists, the program’s aim is to supplement the education of people with expertise in other areas, enabling [...]
Law & Brain Student Group
The Law and Brain Student Group was active between 2009 and 2012, led by Penn Law students Ben Bumann and Gabriel Lazaro with the participation of many others. The group’s main activity was hosting a monthly lecture series, which brought to campus leaders in the field of neuroscience and law. [...]
Festschrift for Bob Sadoff
For their Summer 2012 installment, The Journal of Psychiatry and Law has published a special tribute issue to CNS faculty member Bob Sadoff, leader in forensic psychiatry, teacher to many and inspiration to all! Articles address issues including forcible medication, capacity assessment and ethics, all key issues for neuroscience and [...]
Announcing Penn CNS’ new blog, “Mind the Gap”
Announcing Penn CNS' Student Blog, 'Mind the Gap' Written by CNS Research Assistant Elena Gooray, Mind the Gap adds to the conversation around neuroscience with weekly updates on CNS events, in-depth looks at relevant research, and article recommendations for anyone who wants to know more about the way brain science is changing [...]
The MacArthur Foundation establishes new Research Network on Law and Neuroscience
The MacArthur Foundation will continue its support of neurolaw by establishing a new Research Network on Law and Neuroscience. Penn CNS faculty Morse and Farah are among the 12 members including law professors, neuroscientists, a philosopher and a judge. The network's main goals are to help the legal system avoid misuse [...]
1st Annual GVR Khodadad Endowed Lecture: Prosocial Primates: Selfish and Unselfish Motives
1st Annual GVR Khodadad Endowed Lecture Prosocial Primates: Selfish and Unselfish Motives with Frans de Waal, PhD, Emory University and Director of Living Links Center at the Yerkes Primate Center Wednesday, October 24, 4:30 p.m. Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall (3417 Spruce St) Dr. de Waal will discuss how empathy comes naturally to [...]
MacArthur Stipends for Law Faculty to Neuroscience Bootcamp
The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience (www.lawneuro.org) is sponsoring a limited number of stipends for law faculty to attend the Penn Neuroscience Bootcamp.
Neuroscience on Capital Hill
CNS Director Martha Farah offers a neurological perspective on the effects of poverty on the developing brain at a recent Capitol Hill briefing co-sponsored by AAAS and the Dana Foundation. To read more about the event and watch the highlights of her presentation, follow this link.
Coming on Coursera: Neuroethics Taught by Jonathan Moreno
Coursera, the new online consortium that brings free education to hundreds of thousands of students worldwide, will offer a course on Neuroethics taught by Penn CNS's own Jonathan Moreno. Watch this course preview video, then sign up here.
Martha Farah presents to the National Institutes of Health Director’s Lecture Series
CNS Director Martha Farah presented "Twenty-first Century Neuroscience: From Lab and Clinic to Home, School and Office," for the NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series on May 2, 2012. To view the lecture, please visit http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?Live=10522
Biomarkers Unbound — The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Diagnostic-Test Patents
Jason Karlawish argues for the advantages of public ownership and public-private partnerships for the development of biomarkers in his new NEJM piece "Biomarkers Unbound." Penn faculty have been pioneers in the development of predictive biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease.
The International Neuroethics Society Announces Annual Meeting and Call for Abstracts
Abstract submission for the 2012 International Neuroethics Society meeting in New Orleans is now open. Abstracts should be up to 500 words (including title, author names and affiliations and references if applicable). At least one author must be an INS member and register for the Annual Meeting. Abstracts will be reviewed by the [...]