Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Also 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) 140
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/07/2025This 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) 130
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/07/2025🧪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 291
Reposted by Morgan (AskANeuroscientist)Matt Wanat @mattjwanat.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Ever 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.nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.comEstrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learningNeuropsychopharmacology - Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning 87119
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/07/20255 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!rdcu.beEstrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learningNeuropsychopharmacology - Estrous cycle stage gates the effect of stress on reward learning 0111
Reposted by Morgan (AskANeuroscientist)Alt-NIHscience4ALL @alt-nihscience4all.altgov.info · 08/07/2025This 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. 🧵 65320
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 08/07/2025Hey 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👀 360
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 14/06/2025Trying to think of a good shirt to make for the no kings protest but all I can come up with is “fuuuuuuuuuuuuck” 020
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 12/06/2025I need to start carrying gold stars, I have the most supportive and helpful study group in my class and they all deserve some starsmedia.tenor.comspongebob and patrick are standing in front of a chalkboard with good noodles written on itAlt: spongebob and patrick are standing in front of a chalkboard with good noodles written on it and gold stars next to people’s names 150
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 05/06/2025Been 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 likemedia.tenor.coma man in an orange sweater is smiling and saying it 's greatAlt: Pete Davidson in an orange sweater is smiling and saying it 's great 030
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/05/2025I 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😂 010
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/05/2025It was floppy hat and silly robes day at school😜✌🏼 @mattwanat.bsky.social #PHD #PHDONE #MyPronounsAreDoctorNow 080
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 09/05/2025Something 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 #gradschoolmedia.tenor.coma baby is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop computerAlt: a baby is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop computer looking like it has no clue when it’s doing 030
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 09/05/2025I 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” 020
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 07/05/2025I 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) 130
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Here’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? 2/2 140
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Learned 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 1110
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 04/05/2025And 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😂 010
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 04/05/2025Hey, 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 030
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 24/04/2025Just 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😂 180
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/04/2025I might have a phd now but apparently I still cannot spell… it’s fine, I’m fine😂😂😂 020
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/04/2025The temptation to change all of my social media handles to Dr.AskANeuroscientist is so strong….. 230
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 16/04/2025NOW ANOUNCING DR ASK A NEUROSCIENT, PH.D.!!! #gradschool #research #phd 150
Reposted by Morgan (AskANeuroscientist)Matt Wanat @mattjwanat.bsky.social · 15/04/2025Huge 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! 0151
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 12/04/2025Ok I’m officially no longer listening to anyone’s movie opinions. Bane is the best Batman villainmedia.tenor.coma man in a hooded jacket is being touched by another manAlt: Gif of a man with a hood over his head. The hood is slowly removed to reveal Bane, from the dark knight rises 020
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 12/04/2025Ok I get why everyone hates on DC, but also, Batman begins is an actual masterpiece (especially if you watch it at 2am)media.tenor.coma man is saying the batman in a pixelated videoAlt: Gif of a man with a wild look in his eyes (it’s crane from Batman begins) saying the Batman 000
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 09/04/2025When you realize no one has made a graph/diagram that you desperately want to make explaining your point easiermedia.tenor.coma person says fine i 'll do it myself in a dark roomAlt: Gif of Thanos from the marvel movies saying quote fine I’ll do it myself end quote 010
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 08/04/2025Currently trying not to read into HEB playing Heat of the Moment on a Tuesday…….. #supernaturalmedia.tenor.coma 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 020
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 05/04/2025No one should be hitting anyone, pretty sure they were supposed to learn that in kindergarten lol 120
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 05/04/2025I hate working in the same field as my arch enemy. I'll just be casually reading a paper and all of sudden, there's their name. Great, now my whole day is ruined. They shouldn't be cited out of pure pettiness, I guarantee there's more robust papers demonstrating the same thing...media.tenor.coma man in a sweater is standing in front of a gumball machine and saying ummAlt: gif of David from schitts creek saying quote ummmm what are you, what are you doing here question mark end quote 080
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025I hope at least one of those comments informed him that he also does not have to fight to other men, that’s a choice😬 120
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025So I've been stuck in a cave writing my thesis all day..... what's everyone else's day been like???? wtf 031
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025currently wildly fluctuating between being extremely proud to be on the forefront of science and incredibly freaking annoyed no one has the answer to my super simple question that has only take five years of my life (sarcasm) to answer 030
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025So when I said “the menstrual cycle”, I meant all of it, not just periods! Just like the circadian rhythm involves both the times when you’re awake and when you’re asleep. And the hunger cycle actually means times when you’re hungry and when you’re full. Because these cycles are cyclical! (3/3) 0120
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025The menstrual cycle is a 28ish day long cycle that’s made up of multiple phases. One of those phases is menses (or periods). Another is ovulation. The follicular stage is when a new uterine lining develops. And some other steps are in there. #themoreyouknow🌈 🧪 (2/3) 1132
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Ohhhh I just realized some people are a bit confused under this thread because american sex ed has failed us all! So here’s your #FunFact for today: people with menstrual cycles are ALWAYS in their menstrual cycle, until it ends around age 50. (1/3)🧪 1335
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Obviously ovulation and menstruation would only happen if the person had the equipment for it, and they wouldn’t experience cramping because that’s caused by contractions of the uterus. But they could experience the changes in mood and attention associated with the menstrual cycle. (2/2) 120
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Good question! I’d have to do a bit more research into it, but if you had a month long hormone treatment cycle that follows the same fluctuation people with a menstrual cycle have, I don’t see why it wouldn’t cause the same effects. (1/2) 120
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Fair, I guess I made the assumption that people with penises would also have balls, but that might not be the case in everyone so thanks for the correction!😂 010
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Hi! Could you clarify your question? All of these beautiful cycles are going all of the time, that’s why they’re called cycles! So for example, the circadian rhythm is always going, just sometimes you’re in the sleep part and sometimes you’re in the awake part. Does that help? 140
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 03/04/2025When I was in highschool, I called periods dots because I was terrified to even say the word. Now I just sent my advisor a thesis introduction that said “menses”, “menstruation”, “vaginal canal”, and “uterine lining” a total of 36 times. That’s growth (and the normalization of normal things)👏👏👏 090
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Can you tell me, cause I did not understand the show like at all😂 110
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The hunger cycle. To be totally honest, calling this one a hormonal cycle is a bit of a stretch, but it is mainly driven by hormones! Specifically ghrelin and leptin!media.tenor.coma cat is playing with a bowl on the floorAlt: Gif of a cat on the floor playing with its food bowl and looking grumpy because the food bowl is empty 2373
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The testosterone cycles! This is a particularly fun one because it’s highly debated. Various researchers argue that those with penises experience a daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly testosterone cycle! This can affect things like mood, energy, and sex drive.media.tenor.coma woman in a suit says it gets lonely here in the sea of testosterone .Alt: a woman in a suit says it gets lonely here in the sea of testosterone . 1333
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The circadian rhythm is the common name for a cycle of melatonin, cortisol, thyroid hormone, and a bunch of other things! It guides your sleep/wake cycle😴media.tenor.coma cartoon character is laying in bed with a blue blanketAlt: Gif of Donald Duck snuggling into bed 1301
Morgan (AskANeuroscientist) @askaneuroscientist.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Extremely disappointed that when I googled “human hormonal cycles” the only thing that came up was the menstrual cycle. Did you know that humans (which includes those born with a penis) experience a lot of hormonal cycles that can influence our behavior? Here’s a thread of some I think are neat🧪 611716