Food for thought: How the brain reacts to food may be linked to overeating
The reason why some people find it so hard to resist finishing an entire bag of chips or bowl of candy may lie with how their brain responds to food rewards, leaving them more vulnerable to overeating.
In a study with children, researchers found that when certain regions of the brain reacted more…
CTSI StudyFinder survey
CTSI is conducting a survey to improve Studyfinder, their online recruitment platform.
This summary explains information about this research. You are urged to ask questions about anything that is unclear to you.
The purpose of this research is to learn about who is currently using the Penn State…
Eating iron-fortified grain improves students’ attention, memory
Adolescent students in a rural school in India who consumed an iron-biofortified version of the grain pearl millet exhibited improved attention and memory compared to those who consumed conventional pearl millet, according to Penn State researchers.
The results were published July 17 in the…
Opioids and non-opioid analgesics affect different types of stress
Mu-opioids and non-opioid analgesics appear to differentially affect the psychological and physiological components of psychosocial stress, according to a recent study funded by NIDA, NIGMS, and NIMH.
In a between-subject design, healthy young adults (18-40 y) were randomly assigned to receive…
Arthur Lupia to Lead NSF's Social Science Directorate
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that it has selected Dr. Arthur "Skip" Lupia to serve as the next head of its Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE), following the expiration of Dr. Fay Lomax Cook's term. Dr. Lupia is currently the Hal R. Varian…
New report provides valuable insights into the ethical dilemmas in bringing prevention programs into community settings
The process of transitioning from a research study with promising results to community ownership and implementation of an effective prevention practice is fraught with ethical challenges that warrant discussion in order to ensure that we "do no harm" while simultaneously providing society with the…
$500,000 grant to focus on how rural innovation happens, how to inspire more
A Penn State economist will receive $500,000 over three years to study innovation in rural communities and find ways for communities to support rural entrepreneurs.
The grant from the United States Department of Agriculture is aimed at better understanding and inspiring innovation in rural areas,…
Working together for global good: Penn State, Oxfam join forces
Developing lasting solutions to the problems of poverty, hunger and social injustice is the cornerstone of a new partnership between Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Oxfam America, the U.S. affiliate of Oxfam,…
Suppressing negative emotions during health scare may whip up spiral of fear
Trying to suppress worries during a health scare, like the recent Zika outbreak, may lead to an ever-intensifying cycle of emotional suppression and fear, according to a team of researchers.
In a study of pregnant women in areas of the United States vulnerable to the Zika virus, the researchers…
Study of Appalachian adults reveals willingness to participate in research
The Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved has accepted a new study examining health disparities of Appalachian residents. It was conducted by public health professionals from Penn State College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and the…
'Share Your Opioid Story' website bringing awareness, buzz of opioid epidemic
Watch the WJAC-TV news coverage of the "Shair Your Opioid Story" website, featuring SSRI Director Susan McHale and Justice Center for Research's Glenn Sterner.
Sending a 'We Are!' to these Penn Staters
As part of our regular "We Are!" feature, we recognize seven Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what's asked of them in their work at the University. Do you know someone who deserves a shout-out? If you do, consider taking a minute to nominate that person by filling out a short online…
Four faculty join Social Science Research Institute
Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) recently announced four new co-funded faculty members who will join the institute in the 2018-19 academic year: Maithreyi Gopalan, Alexis Santos, Kenneth Shores, and Ericka Weathers.
Maithreyi Gopalan, assistant professor of education in the…
Expecting a stressful day may lower cognitive abilities throughout the day
There may be some truth to the saying “getting up on the wrong side of the bed,” according to Penn State researchers who say starting your morning by focusing on how stressful your day will be may be harmful to your mindset throughout the day.
The researchers found that when participants woke up…
Open source software valuable resource to Penn State researchers
OpenMx, a free and open source software that allows researchers to perform their analysis quickly and easily, has recently undergone several upgrades along with the addition of a new YouTube channel.
According to Tim Brick, a member of the OpenMx development team and assistant professor of human…
New website helps parents talk to kids about inclusivity
Children model their behavior after their parents and other adults in their lives. This means that they also adopt and reflect the mindsets and attitudes towards inclusivity that are displayed by these adults.
To help parents teach tolerance and acceptance to their children, Penn State’s…
Intervention program targets gestational weight gain
Being overweight or obese during pregnancy can have major health impacts for both mother and baby. Penn State researchers are evaluating an intervention program for women who need help managing their weight during pregnancy.
Danielle Symons Downs, professor of kinesiology, and obstetrics and…
Noll to participate in NICHD's Strategic Planning Working Group
Jennie Noll, director of the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, has been invited to serve as a member of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Strategic Planning Working…
Faculty edit, contribute to book on tourism, health and protected lands
Penn State faculty members edited and contributed to the newly published book, “Tourism, Health, Wellbeing and Protected Areas,” which focuses on global evidence that shows parks and other protected areas contribute to a healthy society and therefore increase the importance of cultural and nature-…
Biases may stoke victim blaming, or reduce it, no matter what the crime
General biases may be at work when people blame or criticize victims of crimes, including rape and robbery victims, according to criminologists. These biases may lead them to criticize, or avoid the criticism of victims of rape and other crimes, they added.
In two studies on the role biases play in…
Childhood sibling dynamics may predict differences in college education
The effects of sibling relationships may go beyond childhood bickering and bonding, according to Penn State researchers who found that these relationships may predict similarities and differences in siblings’ education later in life.
In a study spanning about 15 years, the researchers found that…
Penn State researchers hope website humanizes, helps others affected by opioids
Stories can speak as loudly as statistics.
That is the purpose behind “Share Your Opioid Story,” an initiative designed to raise public awareness of the impact of the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and empower Pennsylvanians affected by the epidemic to talk openly about the effects of opioid…
Contributions of social and behavioral research in addressing the opioid crisis
OBSSR in collaboration with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and the NIH…
Nutritional sciences faculty member recognized for outstanding mentorship
Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, is the recipient of the 2018 Dannon Institute Mentorship Award from the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and its foundation.
This award is given for outstanding mentorship in the development of successful nutritional…
Opioid crisis funding opportunities
Funding opportunities to address the opioid crisis are available from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation…