Heather Richardson
Andrea Silva-Gotay
One of the outstanding questions in neurodevelopment research has been identifying how connections in the brain change to improve neural function during childhood and adolescence. Now, results from a study in rats just reported by Heather Richardson, faculty member in psychological and brain sciences, Geng-Lin Li, biology, and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggest that as animals transition into adolescence, specific physical changes to axons speed up neural transmission, which may lead to higher cognitive abilities.
Contact theory is a social psychology idea that suggests that contact between social groups (such as racial and ethnic groups) can be an effective strategy for reducing intergroup prejudice. This theory maintains that contact, under certain conditions, between two or more social groups can promote tolerance. If groups are allowed to communicate with one another, they may start to appreciate each other's viewpoints. 
Özden Melis Uluğ, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program, received a new grant from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). The title of her project is "Turning non-allies into allies: The role of inclusive victimhood narratives in achieving justice and peace." 
Nilanjana Dasgupta part of interdisciplinary team building new paths for equity and inclusion in STEM fields.
A team of UMass scientists has been awarded a four-year, $953,300 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop miniature, implantable hardware that can record complex brain activity in animals and analyze it in real time. This new technical capability will allow the researchers to trace the origin of complex brain activity down to cellular levels, they say. 
Linda Tropp has been elected a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP). This fellowship "identifies SPSP members with extraordinary and longstanding contribution to SPSP and the field of Personality and Social Psychology." 
We invite you to read the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Fall Newsletter! Featuring:
As a double-major in psychology and theater, Joshua Mauro ’12 identified with several communities within UMass that were a great source of motivation and guidance. Now an admissions coordinator for Signet Education, his team guides students through the college application process and prepares them for a successful academic career.