Category: Health

General Neuroscience, Health, Neuroscience

Do Signals in the Brain Control Our Taste Preferences?

Kang Lai, Class of 2026 Our perception of taste profoundly influences our calorie intake and food preferences, and even serves as a defense mechanism from harmful substances. The gustatory insular cortex, a key brain region associated with taste, is closely linked to eating patterns and disorders. While neuronal circuits in this region have been studied, its neurochemical signaling remains obscure.  The Maffei lab at Stony … Continue reading Do Signals in the Brain Control Our Taste Preferences?

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Health, Health and Medicine, well-being

Sizzling Steak On The Perfect Iron-Cast Pan: A Meat Lover’s and Anemic’s Dream Meal

Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Scrolling through TikTok and finding mukbangs and cooking vlogs of young adults making steak and eggs has now become the norm. Everyone loves a good steak, especially if they’re iron-deficient and love meat. Research reveals that using iron cast pans can increase the amount of iron people consume from their foods, leading to positive impacts on iron supplementation. Led by … Continue reading Sizzling Steak On The Perfect Iron-Cast Pan: A Meat Lover’s and Anemic’s Dream Meal

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Health, Health and Medicine, Medicine and Physiology, well-being

Are Low-Income Consumers Informed about the Health Risks of Processed Foods?

Eimaan Bilal, Class of 2028 The amount of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in developed countries has been rising, contributing to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. The World Health Organization suggests limiting UPF consumption, due to their high concentrations of fat, salt, and sugar. However, past studies have shown that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals with lower income and education are likely to adhere … Continue reading Are Low-Income Consumers Informed about the Health Risks of Processed Foods?

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Biology, Health

Food Fairness: The Impacts of Nutritional Health Disparities on Pregnant Populations

Jaenai Tercius, Class of 2028 Access to healthy food is important for maintaining good health. Among pregnant women, this helps ensure proper fetal development. Health issues from poor nutrition during pregnancy can also have long-term consequences for the baby’s health. For example, malnutrition during pregnancy can lead to complications such as low birth weight. In 2024, a study conducted by researcher Jamie Murkey and his … Continue reading Food Fairness: The Impacts of Nutritional Health Disparities on Pregnant Populations

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Health, mental health, Psychology, Sociology, Technology

Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

Author: Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Figure 1. A person playing Fortnite on a Nintendo Switch. Online gaming, an activity played with others via the internet, is popular across all ages, abilities, and genders. Recently, research has been delving into the positive effects of gaming, such as the correlation of online gaming with social well-being. Researchers from NTNU Social Research, the University of Agder, and … Continue reading Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Biology, Genetics, Health

Unraveling Chronological Age: Epigenetic Modifications as Indicators of Cognitive Decline

Author: Tiffany Ang, Class of 2025 Figure 1: A visualization of epigenetic modifications that shape gene expression without changing the genetic code. DNA methylation-derived epigenetic clocks are powerful tools for assessing biological aging and age acceleration–the difference between biological and chronological age. Unlike chronological age, which fails to capture the impact of biological and environmental influences, age acceleration explains individual differences in cognitive functions such … Continue reading Unraveling Chronological Age: Epigenetic Modifications as Indicators of Cognitive Decline

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Cancer, Exercise, Health, Neuroscience

Can Exercise Improve Chemotherapy Side-Effects?

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Figure 1. Woman lifting two dumbbells at the gym Certain types of chemotherapy, a widely used treatment for cancers, can lead to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a side-effect that causes pain, numbness, tingling, balance difficulties, and an increased risk of falls. Up to 68% of patients undergoing chemotherapy develop CIPN during or immediately after treatment, and 30-40% of patients … Continue reading Can Exercise Improve Chemotherapy Side-Effects?

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Cognition, General Neuroscience, General Psychology, Health, Health and Medicine, Psychology

Disease Rarity Doesn’t Cause Increased Loneliness

Author: Farzad Hoque, Class of 2028 Loneliness is something all have experienced, but it is especially present for people living with chronic illnesses. One might think that individuals with rare chronic conditions would feel lonelier than those with more common diseases, but when looked into it, the reality was surprising.  Dr. Lobel and Dr. Nicoloro-SantaBarbara at Stony Brook University gathered data via an anonymous online … Continue reading Disease Rarity Doesn’t Cause Increased Loneliness

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, General Neuroscience, Health, Health and Medicine, Medicine and Physiology, mental health, Technology

Algae Consumption: An Unexpected Boost to Video Game Performance

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Image depicting various marine algae species, namely Chorda filum and Cladophora glomerata. Video games have always been considered by many as just a trivial hobby. Yet, in recent years, there has been a rise in the popularity of video game streaming, especially in competitive settings. Consequently, in such competitions, players need to prioritize factors like attentiveness and … Continue reading Algae Consumption: An Unexpected Boost to Video Game Performance

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Cancer, Cellular and Molecular Science, Chemistry, discovery, Health, Health and Medicine, Medicine and Physiology

Utilizing the Principle of Pro-Cancer Properties of Antioxidants to Treat Prostate Cancer

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Depiction of various foods that are commonly associated with having antioxidant properties.Prostate cancer (PC) has become a growing concern for men as its rate of incidence has been steadily increasing by more than 3% per year for the past decade. As a result, many have been searching for various treatments and interventions during PC progression to help … Continue reading Utilizing the Principle of Pro-Cancer Properties of Antioxidants to Treat Prostate Cancer

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Brain, General Psychology, Health, mental health, Psychology, Technology

Duty Calls: Video Games as an Outlet for Reflection and Fulfilling Desires

Author: Ishmam Khan, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Social media is a common outsource for video game discussion; Reddit is the most popular source for these discussion topicsCall of Duty is an iconic first-person shooter video game published by Activision Studios. The game is known for its dynamic gunplay, innovative realistic graphics, and its gritty portrayal of war. However, Call of Duty has a contentious … Continue reading Duty Calls: Video Games as an Outlet for Reflection and Fulfilling Desires

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
2024-25, Biology, Brain, General Neuroscience, Health, Health and Medicine

Innovations in our Understanding of Glaucoma

Author: Ishmam Khan, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Research into glaucoma yields promising insights into the future of optics and disease at Stony Brook University Glaucoma, a condition characterized by optic nerve degeneration and the cell death of retinal ganglion neurons, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The retina’s health is critical for vision, and understanding the blood flow (BF) of many regions … Continue reading Innovations in our Understanding of Glaucoma

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment