Pericytes are cells with elaborate processes that adorn capillaries throughout the brain.

Inner speech refers to the silent production of language in one’s mind. As a purely mental action without obvious physical manifestations, inner speech has been notoriously difficult to quantify. Inner speech is thought to be closely related to overt speech. Overt speech has been consistently shown to elicit reduced auditory-evoked potentials compared to externally-generated speech (a phenomenon known as speaking-induced suppression), as well as changes in oscillatory activity in the gamma and theta frequency bands. Given the functional similarities between inner and overt speech, the present study used a novel experimental protocol to investigate whether these metrics can be used to distinguish the content of a person’s inner speech. Healthy control participants (n = 129) produced an inner syllable at a precisely specified time. An audible syllable was concurrently presented which either matched or mismatched the content of the inner syllable. The N1 component of the auditory evoked potential was suppress...

The prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate sophomores and juniors planning on research careers in natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering.

The anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) is a key brain region for orchestrating defensive behaviors. Using in vivo calcium imaging in mice, we observed that AHA neuronal activity increases during foot shock delivery and foot-shock associated auditory cues. We found that following shock-induced increases in AHA activity, a decrease in activity coincides with the onset of grooming behavior. Next, we optogenetically activated the projections from the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) to the AHA and observed that photoactivation of the VMH→AHA pathway drives avoidance. Interestingly, repetitive grooming behavior occurs following cessation of stimulation. To identify changes in brain-wide activity patterns that occur due to optogenetic VMH→AHA stimulation, we combined optogenetic stimulation with positron emission tomography (PET) based metabolic mapping. This approach revealed the amygdala as a downstream area activated by the stimulation of this pathway. Our findings show that the rise and fall of AHA neuronal act...

Ian Paul and Alan Sved share their best practices for assessing the quality of graduate school applicants besides the GRE.

The consumption of energy-dense foods dramatically increases in developed and developing countries.

James Geddes is the vice dean for research at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Here, he shares what his transition from pre-tenure to post-tenure was like, including responsibility and institutional culture shifts.

I. Memming Park, a faculty member part of Stony Brook University’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, shares how opening your lab to undergrads for the summer can lead to many positive impacts, such as bringing new energy that can move projects forward and helping undergrads to experience the joys of research. This Q&A is part of a series that explores how undergraduate summer research programs impact students and the labs who host them.

This is Lesson One in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses schemas, which are mental short-cuts that help us navigate the world around us.

Don’t be overwhelmed by writing your personal statement. By following these six tips, you can successfully tell your story and explain why you’re an excellent fit for the particular graduate school program.