Grey Matters Journal

Our Grey Matters Journal Club event, "A probabilistic Framework Linking Aneurysm Hemodynamics to 12 month Prognosis", is on Tuesday 6/2/26 from 5:30-6:20 PM in HSEB 411!

We are excited to invite our head of operations Richard Li to present a topic on his research! He will be presenting on his project that investigates whether aneurysm hemodynamic features can be coupled with stochastic modeling to forecast patient-specific functional outcomes after intracranial aneurysm rupture and surgical intervention. He generated a conditional Continuous Time Markov Chain (CTMC) from a synthetic cohort of 1,000 patients with various hemodynamic parameters extracted via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), then compared the performance of this biomechanics-based model to traditional qualitative predictions on 12-month prognosis. His discussion will focus on exploring probabilistic models, preliminary findings, and future directions.

Please RSVP via this form to confirm your attendance!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduI5PUwCBhC30OZIjAIEsApY0ncaZ1oGNObYOq4u2q05cOZA/viewform?usp=dialog

ISSUE 34: Ischemic Preconditioning

Ischemic conditions arise from a lack of blood supply, leading to severe neurological consequences that make them the second leading cause of death worldwide. These conditions can result in paralysis, difficulty speaking, and vision loss. Ischemic preconditioning is a protective mechanism that helps the brain resist damage from ischemic events.

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www.greymattersjournal.org

Author: Rasika Bhardwaj
Artist: Jackie Bai

ISSUE 34: A Walking Co**se:

Cotard’s Syndrome, also known as the Walking Co**se Syndrome, is when the patient has the unwavering belief that they are deceased, decomposed, or nonexistent. It is a rare and complex neuropsychiatric disorder that challenges our understanding of self-perception, consciousness, and reality. Characterized by delusions of nonexistence or immortality, it often arrives in conjunction with severe depression, schizophrenia, and other neurological conditions.

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www.greymattersjournal.org

Author: Allison Pflanz

ISSUE 34: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

The improper behaviors of a college student, such as insufficient sleep and sedentary lifestyle, result in his exhaustion and inability to concentrate and achieve good academic performance. One possible explanation for these cognitive difficulties is lowered levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein involved in the development and survival of neurons and the ability of neurons to communicate with each other. Since BDNF has been associated with memory formation and synaptic plasticity, behavioral routines like physical activity and adequate sleep can promote increased BDNF synthesis in the body.

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www.greymattersjournal.org

Author: Pavan Pervaje
Artist: Rachel Liu

ISSUE 34 is out! Learn more about Ischemic Preconditioning, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Cotard’s Syndrome

Read on our website: www.greymattersjournal.org

Our Grey Matters Journal Club event, "Linking an OCD-associated gene to ventral striatum granule cells controlling compulsive behavior", is on Wednesday 5/20/26 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM in HSEB 427!

We are very excited to invite a PhD candidate Samantha Lee from the Ting Lab. to give us a talk!

She will be presenting on linking an OCD-associated gene to ventral striatum granule cells controlling compulsive behavior, which investigates how a specialized population of neurons in the striatum contributes to compulsive behaviors. By identifying the molecular and physiological signatures of these cells, her work aims to reveal how their dysfunction leads to repetitive actions and define the biological basis for future OCD treatments.

Please RSVP via this form to confirm your attendance and spread the word to other neuroscience enthusiasts!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXdExk0lGg3KER3vA8CuKVvUtXlxR0y26_1uNBgM6EebBEww/viewform?usp=header

ISSUE 33: Too Human: The Uncanny Valley Hypothesis

Imagine a life-sized mannequin—the kind you’d pass by during a casual shopping spree. Now, picture it with hair, teeth, and empty eyes that sink deep into their sockets. It looks almost human, but not quite. Creepy, right? You’re not alone in this feeling. There’s a reason people react this way, and it’s part of a phenomenon known as the Uncanny Valley Hypothesis.

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Author: Shirin Choi
Artist: Mitch Saccone

ISSUE 33: Mushrooms for the Mind: Psilocybin’s Potential as an Antidepressant

..other-world mystical experiences caused by “Magic Mushrooms” have been known and documented for hundreds of years [3]. They are now making their way into modern medicine. Due to its abilities to increase neuroplasticity and act in a prolonged and effective manner, psilocybin is being researched as an alternative for treatment-resistant depression in conjunction with talking therapy.

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Author: Mannat Srivastava
Artist: Nuoyang Jia

ISSUE 33: Alien Hand Syndrome - Neurological Explanation and Medical Cause

A 77-year-old woman is watching TV feeling relaxed after a long day. Suddenly, she is startled by a hand stroking her hair and face. The catch? It was her hand. This woman is suffering from a disease with a name straight out of a science fiction novel: Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS). AHS is a neurological disorder in which a person experiences goal-oriented movement of the hand without conscious control.

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Author: Allison Pflanz
Artist: Haein Jung

ISSUE 33: The Missing Piece: Solving Neuroimaging Puzzles through Generative Adversarial Networks

Visualizing the brain in clinical settings have been pivotal in clinical settings in many ways, from catching brain tumors to identifying the effects of a stroke. However, with the surging amount of brain scans flooding the hospital environment, the radiologist’s workload has nearly quadrupled in 15 years, potentially compromising the quality and safety of radiological care.

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Author: Victoria Pang
Artist: Divyashree Venkatesan