Cognitive Neuroendocrinology Lab

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked thoughtful questions, shared personal experiences, and challenged common myths. 💟 Events like this remind us why science communication matters — and why creating space for conversations about women’s health is so important.

Some of the highlights at our info booth:
✨ Rating and discussing taboos in women’s health
🧠 Testing your knowledge with our Women’s Health Facts Quiz
💬 Honest exchanges about topics that still don’t get enough attention

Last week, we had the pleasure of taking part in the Women in Science Day at Leipzig University 💜🔬

At our info booth, we shared insights into our research and had many inspiring conversations with curious visitors.😇

#WomenInScience #ScienceCommunication #WomensHealth #Neuroendocrinology

In the second part, Livia also talks about the unique structure of her graduate program, the @mps-cognition.bsky.social 🎓.
Thank you @irtg2804.bsky.social for inviting Livia and your great work and science communication!🌻❤️

They talk about Livia‘s First PhD paper - the systematic review on Estrogens and Brain Networks - and her ongoing data analysis of hippocampal functional connectivity throughout the densely sampled menstrual cycle. 🧠〰️

Let's Talk With Young Researchers: Livia Ruehr

Our PhD student @liviaruehr.bsky.social is featured in the new episode of „Let’s talk about women“! With podcast host @franziweinmar.bsky.social, she talks about her PhD project & shares insights into her doctoral journey. 🧠🤩 open.spotify.com/episode/4ALM...

Please feel invited to fill out the short, anonymous survey with just two questions on your experience with taboos. Whether you are a clinician, researcher, or bring lived experience, your contribution will directly inform ongoing research in this area!

Despite scientific and medical advancements, women's health continues to be affected by stigmatization, misinformation, and political underrepresentation. We firmly believe: "Women and gender diverse people’s health is more than reproductive health."

Reminder: We want to hear *your voice* on taboos in women's and gender diverse health! 💬🧠Your perspective will directly inform priorities in research and a women's health resource platform. Find survey link at our website: www.cbs.mpg.de/cbs/en/resea...

Despite scientific and medical advancements, women's health continues to be affected by stigmatization, misinformation, and political underrepresentation. We firmly believe: "Women and gender diverse people’s health is more than reproductive health."

Please feel invited to fill out the short, anonymous survey with just two questions on your experience with taboos. Whether you are a clinician, researcher, or bring lived experience, your contribution will directly inform ongoing research in this area!

Despite scientific and medical advancements, women's health continues to be affected by stigmatization, misinformation, and political under-representation. We firmly believe: "Women and gender diverse people’s health is more than reproductive health."

Cognitive Neuroendocrinology - Get Involved!

We want to hear *your voice* on taboos in women's and gender diverse health! 💬🧠Your perspective will directly inform priorities in research and a women's health resource platform. Find survey link at our website: www.cbs.mpg.de/cbs/en/resea...

Cognitive Neuroendocrinology At the interesection of brain, behavior & hormones, the Cognitive Neuroendocrinology group explores how neuroendocrine systems influence cognitive processes and mental health.

We’ll tackle taboos in menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, and (peri)menopause—connecting science, clinical work + lived experience. Awardees get full travel funding to engage in collective learning + spark future collaborations.

👉 Application link on our website: www.cbs.mpg.de/departments/...

🚨 Open Call Alert 🚨

Are you an early-career researcher passionate about advancing women’s health? 🧠✨

Apply now for the inaugural Gertrud Jungblut Award to join the workshop “My Body, My Brain, My Choices” (Sept 17–19, Hanover, Germany)! (see below)

Exciting insights into how hormones drive neural plasticity and influence risk and resilience across the lifespan! 🧠✨

During today's Department Presentation at @mpicbs.bsky.social, @liviaruehr.bsky.social presented how ovarian hormone fluctuations shape brain structure, function & connectivity - in puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause, as well as under exogenous hormone administration.

In this week’s lab meeting we had guests from @mpicbs.bsky.social‘s Biophysics group, headed by Evgeniya Kirilina.💪🏻 With Felix Buettner & Anne Schmieder, she shared recent data from quantitative MRI of the primate & human subcortex, stimulating discussion on the role of sex in brain aging. Thanks 🧠

Her dissertation explored:
"Attentional-emotional interaction in healthy female participants on oral contraceptives during on-week escitalopram intake" 🧠💊

We’re so proud of you, Dr. Drygalla! 💐
#Neuroscience #Neuroendocrinology #WomenInScience

🎓 Big congratulations to our lab member Nathalie, who has successfully defended her medical doctorate — with summa cum laude! 🥳👏
@mpicbs.bsky.social @unileipzig.bsky.social

🏅 Livia Ruehr & Charlotte Koch’s poster:
“Sex differences in the associations between visceral adipose tissue, brain aging and cognition”
🏅 Kim Hoffmann’s poster:
“The cortisol awakening response in premenstrual dysphoric disorder and health across the menstrual cycle”

We're proud to share that 2 members of our CogNeuroEndo group brought home awards from the poster session. 🏆
🎉 Congrats to @liviaruehr.bsky.social and @kimhoffmann.bsky.social! Shoutout to Charlotte Koch from @veronicawitte.bsky.social's @omegalab.bsky.social who shares 1st place with Livia 👏

We were part of the annual retreat of the Department of Neurology at @mpicbs.bsky.social at beautiful Kloster Nimbschen this week 🧠🌿 A fantastic few days of science, discussion, and connection in an inspiring setting – and with exciting awards for our group!

Freuen Sie sich auf praxisnahe Impulse zu aktuelle Studien & neuen Therapien direkt aus @UKL_Leipzig, u.a. zu Themen #VerhütungnachKrebserkrankung #Endometrumkarzinom

Kommen Sie vorbei, tauschen Sie sich aus, bringen Sie frische Ideen in Ihren Praxisalltag mit!

Let’s talk Gyn-Onkologie!
Fortbildung: 9. April: Aktuelle Trends in der gynäkologischen Onkologie

📍 URBN JUNGLE Leipzig
🕔 17:00–19:15
🎟️ Eintritt frei, keine Anmeldung nötig
@DKFZ @LaekSachsen @StadtLeipzig
www.uniklinikum-leipzig.de/veranstaltun...
#Frauengesundheit #Leipzig #GynOnkologie #Medizin

Find the full text of our systematic review here: doi.org/10.1016/j.yf... 🧠❤️🌟

6) Full text available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.yf... ❤️🧠🌟

5) 🔜By acknowledging endocrine fluctuations, human neuroendocrine research, in reciprocal influence with #animalresearch and #clinicaltrials, offers the chance to substantially improve #womenshealth, and to move towards a more #personalizedmedicine approach for everyone. ⚧️

4) 🔜 While advancements in sampling (e.g.#densesampling) and neuroimaging (ultra-high field #MRI!) methodology have contributed to our understanding of these effects, future #neuroendocrine research should strive to routinely distinguish endogenous and exogenous estrogen levels.

3) 🟰Our results show that both endogenous fluctuations and administration of estrogens can affect brain activity, connectivity, and gray/ white matter microstructure. Estrogens thus contribute to observed #neuroplasticity across the lifespan, especially in the #femalebrain.