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Neuroscience

Probe the complexities of the nervous system from the standpoint of molecular research to clinical practice

News

Printable hydrogel enables wearable health sensors that multitask

A team of researchers led by Penn State developed an ultrasoft, adhesive and printable hydrogel — a soft, water-rich material that mimics the flexibility of living tissue — designed to conform to dry, wet, moving and hairy skin. In proof-of-concept experiments, the material simultaneously recorded different combinations of heart, eye, brain and muscle activity, changes in sweating and body movement, demonstrating its potential as a platform for future wearable health-monitoring technologies.

NSF CAREER Award: Understanding how the brain learns complex skills

Tarkeshwar Singh, associate professor of kinesiology in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The five-year, $775,450 CAREER award will support Singh’s research on the interaction between cognition, decision-making and motor control to plan and coordinate complex movement sequences and skills.

Industrial noise may alter bluebird behavior but not cognitive ability

Scientists have long wondered whether loud, human-caused noise interferes with wild animals’ cognition — their ability to think and learn — by causing stress, distraction or making it harder for them to focus. The results of a novel study of Eastern bluebirds conducted by a team of researchers at Penn State suggests that, at least in some cases, short-term noise doesn’t affect them much.

News

Printable hydrogel enables wearable health sensors that multitask

A team of researchers led by Penn State developed an ultrasoft, adhesive and printable hydrogel — a soft, water-rich material that mimics the flexibility of living tissue — designed to conform to dry, wet, moving and hairy skin. In proof-of-concept experiments, the material simultaneously recorded different combinations of heart, eye, brain and muscle activity, changes in sweating and body movement, demonstrating its potential as a platform for future wearable health-monitoring technologies.

NSF CAREER Award: Understanding how the brain learns complex skills

Tarkeshwar Singh, associate professor of kinesiology in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The five-year, $775,450 CAREER award will support Singh’s research on the interaction between cognition, decision-making and motor control to plan and coordinate complex movement sequences and skills.

Industrial noise may alter bluebird behavior but not cognitive ability

Scientists have long wondered whether loud, human-caused noise interferes with wild animals’ cognition — their ability to think and learn — by causing stress, distraction or making it harder for them to focus. The results of a novel study of Eastern bluebirds conducted by a team of researchers at Penn State suggests that, at least in some cases, short-term noise doesn’t affect them much.

Huck Institutes announces recipients of nine interdisciplinary seed grants

Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has awarded nine research teams seed funding for 2026-27. These grants support high-impact, innovative research projects that align with the Huck’s strategic research priorities and have the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and generate significant return on investment.