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Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research

Driving mental health research with neural technology 

Our mission is to establish a financially sustainable research center that stands at the forefront of mental health research by leveraging advanced interdisciplinary neuroscience and neural engineering technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetics, and chemogenetics at Penn State University. The center also aims to facilitate the translation from preclinical research to clinical research in mental health.

News

$2M NIH grant to support study of how the brain and body acclimate to stress

Experiencing stress leads to a suite of rapid physiological changes, and over time, the body can acclimate to the stress, eventually changing an individual’s baseline brain state. To improve understanding of the changes in the brain and body during acclimation to stress using a mouse model, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded a five-year, $2 million grant to Grayson Sipe, assistant professor of biology in the Penn State Eberly College of Science.

3D-printed brain sensors may unlock personalized neural monitoring

Soft electrodes designed to perfectly match a person’s brain surface may help advance neural interfaces for neurodegenerative disease monitoring and treatment, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. Neural interfaces are powered by tiny sensors capable of tracking biophysical signals, known as bioelectrodes.

It’s not just in your head: Stress may lead to altered blood flow in the brain

Researchers at Penn State find a rare, stress-sensitive neuron appears to help regulate blood flow in the brain of mice.

Genes associated with obesity shared across ancestries, researchers find

A new study from Penn State involving nearly 850,000 adults across six continental ancestries has identified 13 genes linked to obesity, including five never before connected to the condition. The findings provide new insight into how genetics influence obesity and related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart failure.