This is an image of the mouse nasal cavity taken using confocal microscopy. Pictured are the nasal turbinates, cribiform plate and olfactory sensory neurons. Olfactory sensory neurons are labeled in cyan.

Neuroscience Institute

Facilitating scientific excellence, collaboration, education, and networking between neuroscientists at Penn State

Learn more about our newly launched undergraduate degree programs in neuroscience here


The Penn State Neuroscience Institute (PSNI) provides oversight and coordination for neuroscience-related activities in education, research, patient care, and outreach while promoting an intellectual environment that enhances the interdisciplinary neuroscience educational experience from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.

PSNI at University Park is comprised of over 100 faculty, and over 50 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff. Faculty in the institute provide immersive research experiences to over 350 undergraduate students.

Click here to learn more about the recent BIG10 Neuroscience Annual Meeting July 21-22, 2025 at the University Park campus.

Learn more about how your support of the Institute can help accelerate the speed at which we solve the brain and the mind

Faculty

Education

Resources

Events

Newsletter

Give

News

Skeleton ‘gatekeeper’ lining brain cells could guard against Alzheimer’s

Brain cells are constantly swallowing material from the fluid that surrounds them — signaling molecules, nutrients, even pieces of their own surfaces — in a process known as endocytosis that is essential for learning, memory and basic neural upkeep. New research by Penn State scientists has revealed this vital process may be governed by a previously unknown molecular gatekeeper: a lattice‑like structure just beneath the surface of neurons called the membrane‑associated periodic skeleton.

Targeting the 'good' arm after stroke leads to better motor skills

Traditional stroke rehabilitation therapy focuses on restoring strength and movement to the more impaired side of the body, but a new randomized clinical trial has revealed that targeted therapy for the less-impaired arm significantly improved movement and control for stroke survivors. The trial, led by researchers from Penn State and the University of Southern California (USC), compared the new approach to the standard best-practice therapy currently in use.

Penn State Neuroscience Institute announces spring 2026 speakers

Hosted in conjunction with the Neuroscience Intercollege Graduate Degree Program, the spring 2026 seminar series brings together an international slate of leading experts in neuroscience, biodevices and brain research.

News

Skeleton ‘gatekeeper’ lining brain cells could guard against Alzheimer’s

Brain cells are constantly swallowing material from the fluid that surrounds them — signaling molecules, nutrients, even pieces of their own surfaces — in a process known as endocytosis that is essential for learning, memory and basic neural upkeep. New research by Penn State scientists has revealed this vital process may be governed by a previously unknown molecular gatekeeper: a lattice‑like structure just beneath the surface of neurons called the membrane‑associated periodic skeleton.

Targeting the 'good' arm after stroke leads to better motor skills

Traditional stroke rehabilitation therapy focuses on restoring strength and movement to the more impaired side of the body, but a new randomized clinical trial has revealed that targeted therapy for the less-impaired arm significantly improved movement and control for stroke survivors. The trial, led by researchers from Penn State and the University of Southern California (USC), compared the new approach to the standard best-practice therapy currently in use.

Penn State Neuroscience Institute announces spring 2026 speakers

Hosted in conjunction with the Neuroscience Intercollege Graduate Degree Program, the spring 2026 seminar series brings together an international slate of leading experts in neuroscience, biodevices and brain research.

Medical, doctoral student earns NIH fellowship

Victoria Nudell, a doctoral and medical student in the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program and the Medical Scientist Training Program at the College of Medicine, has received a highly competitive fellowship from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Events

Monday Feb

16

Neuroscience Seminar

Thursday Feb

26

Soft Intelligent Bioelectronics for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Health Monitoring
Neuroscience Seminar Series

Thursday Mar

05

Balancing Fear and Safety: Corticohippocampal circuits for affective regulation
Neuroscience Seminar Series

Events

Monday Feb

16


Neuroscience Seminar

Thursday Feb

26


Soft Intelligent Bioelectronics for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Health Monitoring
Neuroscience Seminar Series

Thursday Mar

05


Balancing Fear and Safety: Corticohippocampal circuits for affective regulation
Neuroscience Seminar Series

Friday Mar

06


Neurobiology Journal Club