Morgan (AskANeuroscientist)

Also stress deregulated the estrous cycle, which has interesting implications for future research. Some rats would become “stuck” in a particular estrous phase, while others would continue cycling normally. Why and how this happens is yet to be discovered. (3/3)

This has real-world implications, as humans with menstrual cycles often experience multiple stressors in their lives. So in humans, it’s likely that the impact of stress is not regulated by the menstrual cycle. I’m obviously biased but I think that’s pretty cool! (2/3)

🧪We found that stress can have different effects on learning depending on the estrous cycle (rodent equivalent of the menstrual cycle)! BUT only if it’s a single stress. Repeated stressful experiences were not estrous dependent. (1/3)
#brains #stress #sexdifferences

Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning Neuropsychopharmacology - Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning

Ever wonder how stress and the estrous cycle affects reward learning? Well we have answers for you in our paper led by @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social published in
@npp-journal.bsky.social

And huge thanks to the NIH and NSF who supported this research.

Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning Neuropsychopharmacology - Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning

5 years of my life are finally available to read thanks to @npp-journal.bsky.social! Check out my first first-author paper here: rdcu.be/ewtDQ.

Shout out to @mattjwanat.bsky.social for all of his incredible mentorship and making sure this was something I could be proud of, which I absolutely am!

This is not good. Organ on a chip models are NOT where they need to be in order to for scientists to test things prior to human clinical trials. This has been a concern for a while. 🧵

Hey I just heard some wild news about the NIH so hopped on the #Science🧪 feed to see if anyone was talking about it… not seeing much, unsure if that’s a good or bad sign👀

Trying to think of a good shirt to make for the no kings protest but all I can come up with is “fuuuuuuuuuuuuck”

spongebob and patrick are standing in front of a chalkboard with good noodles written on it Alt: spongebob and patrick are standing in front of a chalkboard with good noodles written on it and gold stars next to people’s names

I need to start carrying gold stars, I have the most supportive and helpful study group in my class and they all deserve some stars

a man in an orange sweater is smiling and saying it 's great Alt: Pete Davidson in an orange sweater is smiling and saying it 's great

Been at my big girl professor job for 1 week and just had a student tell me I make learning fun…. I think this is what drugs feel like

I love graduation season on campus, what do you mean there’s a whole ass line dance session happening in a random classroom? Good for yall😂

Two people, the person receiving the Ph.D. And her mentor, in doctoral robes taking a selfie

Selfie of Morgan, the poster, in her doctoral robes with her partner

Photo of Morgan in her doctoral robes looking very cool

Photo of Morgan in her doctoral robes with a huge smile

It was floppy hat and silly robes day at school😜✌🏼 @mattwanat.bsky.social #PHD #PHDONE #MyPronounsAreDoctorNow

a baby is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop computer Alt: a baby is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop computer looking like it has no clue when it’s doing

Something about the transition from grad student to professor feels a lot like the transition from high school senior to college freshman.

Like I’m simultaneously growing up and becoming a baby again.

#academia #gradschool

I didn’t take a pic so idk if anyone will believe me, but I just saw the funniest combo of 2 magazines next to each other.

One: secrets you’ll never believe pope Francis took to the grave!

The other: a coloring book of “cat farts”

I stg the writers of Lost think every woman is always pregnant at all times🙄

(and I say woman instead of person with a uterus because the show is from the early 2000’s and therefore painfully cis/het normative)

Photo of the back of a shawl around a dress form, shawl reaches about halfway down the back. It’s an ombré grey to black

Photo of the front of a dress form with shawl draped over the shoulders. Shawl will not close, is barely hanging on for dear life around the shoulders

Sideways view of the shawl on a dress form. Shawl does not really cover any of the front of the dress form

Here’s photos! Yes the dye job was intentional lol the dress form is approximately my measurements.

Can’t decide if I should frog it or just wear it as a cape, what do y’all think?
#knitsky #lace #fashion?
2/2

Learned the importance of gauge swatches the hard way… been working on this shawl for 3 months, thought it looked a bit small but there’s also a big lace portion so I hoped blocking would fix it… ended up with a child size shawl but it also kinda looks like a cape? #knitsky
1/2

You’re my hero😂

And I thought the people who complain about “chemicals” in things were bad…. Can’t wait for someone to inform him that he also has hella dna particles😂

Hey, fellow adhd folks, may I humbly recommend going to a cattle auction. Went to my first one today and it was a perfect level of stimulation. There was so much going on, I felt like I was in a sensory deprivation tank. I think that was the first time my mind has truly been empty, it was meditative

Just got reviewer comments back! Seems like the published version will look quite a bit different than this one, but the results remain the same. TBH, it feels nice to have something to do again. My life got too easy after defending😂

I might have a phd now but apparently I still cannot spell… it’s fine, I’m fine😂😂😂

The temptation to change all of my social media handles to Dr.AskANeuroscientist is so strong…..

NOW ANOUNCING DR ASK A NEUROSCIENT, PH.D.!!! #gradschool #research #phd

😭😭😭

Huge congrats goes out to Dr. Morgan Johnston (@askaneuroscientist.bsky.social) for nailing her dissertation defense today! Stay tuned for her papers that will be coming out soon!

a man in a hooded jacket is being touched by another man Alt: Gif of a man with a hood over his head. The hood is slowly removed to reveal Bane, from the dark knight rises

Ok I’m officially no longer listening to anyone’s movie opinions. Bane is the best Batman villain

a man is saying the batman in a pixelated video Alt: Gif of a man with a wild look in his eyes (it’s crane from Batman begins) saying the Batman

Ok I get why everyone hates on DC, but also, Batman begins is an actual masterpiece (especially if you watch it at 2am)

a person says fine i 'll do it myself in a dark room Alt: Gif of Thanos from the marvel movies saying quote fine I’ll do it myself end quote

When you realize no one has made a graph/diagram that you desperately want to make explaining your point easier

a man sits on a bed with his legs crossed and says rise and shine sammy ! Alt: Gif of Dean from Supernatural sitting on a bed and putting on his shoes saying quote rise and shine Sammy! End quote

Currently trying not to read into HEB playing Heat of the Moment on a Tuesday……..
#supernatural