Genetics began in the garden — Mendel’s pea experiments revolutionized and developed the field and principles we know and study today. Similarly, my scientific journey began with plants. In college, I studied the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is unique in its ability to thrive in total darkness, whereas most plants rely on photosynthesis. My(...)
Brain
Uncovering a Food Preference Signal in an Overlooked Brain Region
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThis October marks the publication of my first lead author scientific article, the culmination of my thesis work thus far. Simply put, I found a previously unknown brain signal in the ventral pallidum that reports how good a food outcome was relative to the other available options. What does this signal mean, and why might(...)
Recent Study Reveals How the Brain Learns from Others’ Mistakes
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchLast month, my friend came back from Mount Kosciuszko with stunning photos and a seriously painful-looking sunburn. As I prepared to undertake the same hike based upon his enthusiastic recommendation, I decided to pack some SPF 50 and planned to reapply every 30 minutes. Without experiencing a sunburn firsthand, I knew to stay sun-safe, thanks(...)
Why Winners Keep Winning
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchYou are on a roll. In the morning, you delivered a compelling business proposal. You were the center of attention at lunch and your colleagues loved your witty remarks. In the afternoon meeting, you stood your ground and brilliantly defended your case with irrefutable arguments. When it’s your day, you feel invincible. What gives you(...)
Drowning in Data: New Challenges in Modern Biology
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchBiology is a vast and rapidly evolving field. The science of life ranges from studying the physical and chemical interactions of molecules to mapping a network of billions of brain cells. How can we make sense of an entity as complicated as an organism? A prevailing attitude in biomedical research has been that if we(...)
How the Brain Makes Sense with Mental Maps
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThe Johns Hopkins Hospital can be a labyrinth to anyone unaccustomed to its many hallways, towers and tunnels. To navigate through such a complex space, special neural networks are activated to help us find our way. Specifically, a cortical map of neurons, made up of so-called grid cells, fire in specific regions of the brain(...)
Blocking Signals Between Brain Cells May Boost Brain Repair in MS
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchMultiple sclerosis afflicts millions but defies most clinical treatments. For reasons we do not clearly understand, the immune system of an individual with MS attacks myelin, the insulating tubing that envelopes neurons and speeds up brain communication. When myelin is degraded in MS, the brain cells that make myelin, called oligodendrocytes, die. Moreover, for some(...)
How the Brain Processes Different Types of Sensory Information
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchImagine feeling touch sensations, such as pressure and tingling, in response to everyday noises, like the sounds of running liquid, laughter and computer beeps. Though it may seems strange, this is the case for a woman who suffered damage to a part of her thalamus, an area of the brain. We often think of humans(...)
Carolina Montano: From Political Asylum to Johns Hopkins M.D./Ph.D.
Posted by | A Day in the LifeI remember the day I first met Carolina Montano, a fellow student in the Johns Hopkins M.D./Ph.D. program. It was toward the beginning of my first year in medical school. We were both at a dinner for M.D./Ph.D. interviewees, and, as with many conversations between medical students, we inevitably began to discuss our classes. Carolina(...)
Neuroscience Graduate Student Driven by How the Brain ‘Sees’
Posted by | A Day in the LifeTalking with Chanel Matney, a neuroscience graduate student in the Brown Lab, can send your mind racing in many different directions as she discusses her passions and interests and gives sage advice. A native Marylander from a family with diverse career paths ranging from medicine to performance art, Chanel is the sole basic science researcher.(...)
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