In this new review, published in the journal Neuron, Dr. Farah explains the concept of socioeconomic status and its possible neural and behavioral correlates in the brain. After summarizing the substantial body of work that has shown evidence for associations between SES and brain structure and function, Dr. Farah discusses [...]
Part of NIH’s support for the BRAIN initiative has been devoted to working on the ethical, legal and social implications of neuroscience. For the coming year, they have announced RFA-MH-18-500, aimed at supporting research on the ethics of brain science and neurotechnology, which will be "both complementary and integrative with the [...]
Joe Kable, Caryn Lerman and colleagues report the first randomized, controlled trial test of Lumosity brain training. They found neither improved cognition nor enhanced brain activity. Read their J of Neurosci article here and a good open access write-up at UPI here.
The Center for Neuroscience & Society at Penn is seeking applications from rising Penn sophomores, juniors and seniors for its first class of CNS Undergraduate Fellows for 2017-18! Selected fellows will participate in a series of seminars, projects, and activities exploring the intersection of neuroscience and society, such as the [...]
Penn’s own Stephen Morse helped develop a novel method for discriminating criminal acts committed with knowledge versus recklessly, in collaboration with a team from the MacArthur Network on Law and Neuroscience. Read it here: http://www.pnas.org/content/114/12/3222.full
PIK Professor Michael Platt, a social neuroscientist who has just joined the faculty of the CNS, spoke recently on the neuroscience of political forecasting with another Penn PIK professor, Barbara Mellers. See and hear more here.
Each year, the CNS hosts a half-day retreat for all current and past students in the SCAN program. The 3rd Annual SCAN Retreat took place earlier this February. Students and alumni came together for lunch, followed by a series of student presentations in which a few students gave brief overviews of [...]
Penn CNS faculty member Jason writes a blog for Forbes magazine – see his essays on aging, dementia, medicine and health policy here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonkarlawish/#1271e9856154
PSYC 557-301 Neuroscience, Ethics & Law, taught by Martha Farah, will explore how the neuroscience of decision-making and emotion impacts our understanding of ethics and the law. PSYC 449-301 Neuroscience for PolicyMakers, taught by Hilary Gerstein, will discuss the neuroscience behind some of the most relevant issues in public science [...]
Penn’s own Mike Kaplan will provide the neuroscience, brilliant jazz guitarist Pat Martino and others the music… According to Mike, Martino had "an impressive career in the sixties and seventies, almost died in 1980 when a hemorrhage necessitated the removal of most of his left temporal lobe. He went on to [...]
We are thrilled to announce a new position at the CNS, and a new person to fill it: Dr. Hilary Gerstein comes to us from the Society for Neuroscience in DC, where she worked to inform the public, including lawmakers and their Capitol Hill staff, about neuroscience. Her own neuroscience [...]
CNS Visiting Scholar Anna Wexler explained the phenomenon of DIY brain stimulation in Sunday’s New York Times. Her piece, called “Zapping Their Brains at Home,” also corrected the widespread assumption that DIY users are all foolhardy and reckless, describing the ways in which they have sought guidance from the scientific [...]
The CNS has hosted visitors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a year. Would you like to visit us too? Starting in January of 2017 we will have beautiful new light-filled office space for up to 3 visitors in the National Historic Landmark Goddard Labs building, designed by [...]
In June, the Penn Center for Neuroscience and Society (CNS) and the Penn Center for Interaction of Animals and Society (CIAS) are hosting a two day workshop examining the unique ethical issues that arise in neuroscience research on nonhuman animals. Topics to be discussed include animal models for pain and psychiatric [...]
A neurite is part of a neuron. NeuWrite is a group of serious amateur and professional science writers who work together developing their skills. Penn postdoc Anna Leshinskaya was a member of Boston’s NeuWrite community (http://www.neuwriteboston.org/about) and is bringing the group to Philadelphia. For more information: anna.leshinskaya@gmail.com.
Professor Wes Hutchinson will teach "Consumer Neuroscience" this spring! According to the syllabus, neuroscience and its applications to marketing and the development of brain-enhancing games and tools have undergone "explosive growth" and "been met with both excitement and skepticism." The course will provide an overview of these developments and attempt to "separate 'neuro-reality' from 'neuro-hype'."
In this week's Science, CNS Director Farah points out how little we know about the safety and efficacy of drugs and devices for cognitive enhancement, and asks whether science and policy can catch up with ongoing practice in this area. http://www.sciencemag.org/content/350/6259/379.summary
The Center for Neuroscience and Society at the University of Pennsylvania is Seeking a PhD neuroscientist with teaching experience to join us as a full-time Lecturer and Associate Director of the graduate certificate program in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN). Details: Teaching load of 2 and 2, including one [...]
The International Neuroethics Society meets in Chicago Oct 15-16. We'll be there! Roy Hamilton, Adam Shriver, Anna Wexler and Rachel Wurzman will be presenting. Martha will be there soaking up all the interesting neuroethics news - check it out! http://www.neuroethicssociety.org/2015-annual-meeting-program
See the video here: http://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/events/details/visible-solutions
For more information and to apply, visit https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/9988
The Dept of the History and Sociology of Science will host a two-day meeting on neuroscience and its understanding of minds, brains and people, 1890-2015. Participants are invited to address the social, philosophical, political, and ethical commitments associated with neuroscience over time, as well as how the histories of these sciences can help us understand both [...]
CNS faculty member Anjan Chatterjee will deliver the 2015 Keynote Address at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in San Francisco on Saturday, March 28th. This talk will be free and open to the public, so you need not be registered for the meeting. Here is what Anjan says he will cover [...]
The Center for Neuroscience and Society at the University of Pennsylvania is Seeking a PhD neuroscientist with teaching experience to join us as a full-time Lecturer and Associate Director of the graduate certificate program in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN). Details: Teaching load of 2 and 2, including one [...]
CNS faculty member Roy Hamilton explains the technology of transcranial direct current stimulation, and how it is being used to improve cognition and mood, on The Pulse: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/thepulse/item/76074-with-batteries-included-brain-stimulation-devices-prepare-to-go-mainstream
CNS faculty member Joe Kable's recent article in the Journal of Neuroscience, on predicting impulsive decision-making from structural MRI, inspired this provocative thought piece in Harvard Business Review.
PSYC 449-301 will focus on the neuroscience of human motivation and behavior as it relates to a broad range of applied settings, such as neuromarketing, public health, and criminal law. Students will acquire foundational knowledge about the neuroscience of emotion, reward, and decision-making while learning how to critically evaluate current [...]
The 16th international art-science juried exhibition organized by Art & Science Collaborations, Inc. is the result of Art & Science Collaborations' international Open Call for stunning visual images documenting original art executed in any media that was inspired or informed by the various aspects of the brain and new discoveries in [...]
The Franklin Institute will open its new permanent exhibit, Your Brain, on June 14th. We saw it, and helped with it, in development. But even we were stunned when we finally stepped inside. It is not just fascinating and comprehensive, it is gorgeous! Take your friends and family and go [...]
Penn Neuroscience grad student Samantha White is leading an AAAS-sponsored program, Emerging Leaders in Science and Society (ELISS), and invites you to apply for an exciting fellowship opportunity on campus next year! See the national website, http://www.aaas.org/page/eliss-overview, and contact Sam with your questions: swhite@elissfellows.org.