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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Join us for the 16th Annual Psychology Department Research Day! In the morning, graduate students will be holding research talks, followed by poster sessions from Honours students! 📅 April 10th, 2026, starting at 9AM 📍 Health Sciences Building (H2815 & H2808) We look forward to seeing you there!

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Congratulations to the Psych and Beh. Neuro students who presented at the WISE Conference! Many of our students took home awards. Congrats to Kaitlyn Miller, Madi LaSaga, Lucas Fowler, Ashlinn Pennell, Lauren Ringer, Tenika Grandy, Gillian Cook, and Arafa Hossain!

Four photos of students next to their research posters

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Career Night is cancelled due to forecasted weather conditions. Keep an eye out for a rescheduled date!

Career Night poster with stamp on it reading: “Postponed due to weather”

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

📢 Reminder! Nomination deadline is March 27th for the Rennie Gaulton Award for Excellence in Teaching! 📢 If you’ve had a professor who you think deserves this award, now is the time to nominate them! 🏆 Fill out the form and e-mail to psych@mun.ca w/ subject line: GAULTON AWARD NOMINATION.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Join us for Career Night on March 23rd! This is a great opportunity to network and learn from professionals in the community about their education, jobs, and career trajectories. All are welcome!

Blue poster titled "Career Night Presented by PsyCentral". The event is taking place on March 23, 2026 from 7pm-9pm in CSF-1302 at MUN. This is an opportunity to connect with professionals who have leveraged their psychology or behavioural neuroscience undergraduate degrees into successful careers. Speakers include: clinical psychologists, a professor, a psychometrist, a lawyer, a medical doctor, an epidemiologist, a speech language pathologist, a research officer, a behaviour management specialist, a supportive housing worker, a research assistant, and more!

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Insomnia harms the health and quality of life of cancer survivors. Although CBT-I is effective, access is limited. This study examines how digital tools can enhance treatment delivery. Learn more here: shorturl.at/G9MEu

The study, titled “Development of a Mobile App (iCANSleep) to Treat Insomnia in Cancer Survivors: User-Centered Design Study,” is authored by Dr. Sheila Garland, Samlau Kutana, Katherine-Ann Piedalue, Rachel Lee, Dr. Joshua Rash, and Gregory Cerallo.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Emily Winters and colleagues published a new systematic review evaluating the measurement properties and quality of evidence of observational pain assessment tools for older adults with dementia. They identified 30 tools and 5 met criteria for a strong recommendation. shorturl.at/xgVQ0

Screenshot of the article titled "Pain in dementia: A systematic review of the measurement properties of observational assessment tools"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

New paper from the Swift-Gallant Lab in Translational Psychiatry! 🎉 Using rodent models, the team found that prenatal androgens and maternal immune activation both produce autism-relevant changes via distinct biological pathways. Read here: nature.com/articles/s41398-026-03821-0

Screenshot of the article titled: "Perinatal hyperandrogenization and immune activation in rodents model subtypes of autism"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

A study by Dr. Sheila Garland + colleagues found that, for AYAs w/ cancer: representation in research is empowering, person-centred approaches foster trust, & systemic barriers still shape who gets heard. The study calls for inclusive, community-based research. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Psychology researchers at MUN evaluated online training for mental health providers on stepped care 2.0 and one-at-a-time services. They found that the training was generally acceptable, affordable, and feasible. Providers also gave suggestions for improvement. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

A new study by Dr. Garland and colleagues examined how socially connected adolescent and young adult cancer survivors are, both on and offline. Check out the results below! doi.org/10.3390/curr...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Congrats to CABE’s Sydney Collins, Dr. Montevecchi & Dr. Bitton on their recent paper! 🐦🧫 Led by Ishraq Rahman, the study found avian flu active in NL seabirds in 2022 (but not 2023), with antibodies persisting into 2023. Findings offer critical insight into exposure trends! doi.org/10.1139/cjm-...

Screenshot of the article titled: "Surveillance of live birds for active and past infections reveals the impact of highly pathogenic H5N1 on seabird populations in Atlantic Canada"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Congrats to Quinn Morris, Chelsea Lahey, Olivia Bishop, Concordia co-authors & Drs. Josh Rash, Jacqueline Carter, Jonathan Fawcett & Emily Fawcett on a new meta-analysis! They found that ~70% of people with OCD report aggressive obsessions in their lifetime. shorturl.at/tJS4n

Screenshot of the article titled "The prevalence and predictors of aggressive obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A meta-analytic review"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Congrats to Sarita Pellowe & the Canine Research Unit on their Scientific Reports publication linking gut microbiota (especially Blautia) to canine anxiety & aggression. Important insight into the gut–brain axis in canines! 🐶🧠 Read here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Screenshot of the article titled "Gut microbiota composition is related to anxiety and aggression scores in companion dogs"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Congrats to Sarita Pellowe & Dr. Carolyn Walsh on their new Animals publication! 🐕 They highlight a key validity issue in a canine aggression questionnaire used for familiar dog aggression. Kudos to the Canine Research Unit! 📝 Read here: doi.org/10.3390/ani1...

Screenshot of article titled "Dog Guardian Interpretation of Familiar Dog Aggression Questions in the C-BARQ: Do We Need to Redefine “Familiar”?"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Congratulations to Ashlee Coles and colleagues on their recent publication highlighting important findings related to the prevalence of comorbid cannabis use disorder in veterans with PTSD and the adult general population with anxiety and related disorders. Read more: shorturl.at/6e128

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Congrats to Jenna Perry and Adam Brown on their Dean's Awards recognitions!

Picture of Jenna and Adam holding their awards.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Calling prospective Honours students! Come hear from current and former psychology and behavioural neuroscience students at MUN about their experiences in the Honours program! This event will be student-led, and there will be opportunities to ask questions. We hope to see you there!

Poster that reads: "Thinking about doing a psyc/bn honours degree? Hear from students! Join us for an informal session where current and former honours students share their experiences of the program. Hear about what they found rewarding, what they found challenging, and what they wish they had known before starting. This is a relaxed, student-only event with plenty of time for questions. WHEN: Feb 11th and March 4th at 1-1:50PM. WHERE: A1046. Questions? Contact the Honours Coordinator, Dr. Cheryll Fitzpatrick, cheryllf@mun.ca."

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Dr. Garland and colleagues' new study examines what helps and hinders setting up interventions for FCR. Facilitators: strong leadership, staff who value the intervention, and culture of support. Barriers: lack of training, limited resources (funding/staff), and uncertainty. doi.org/10.1002/pon....

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

A new study by Dr. Nick Harris’ research team found that people often view fathers as responsible for their adolescent’s cannabis use disorder, which may deter families from seeking help. Challenging these harmful views is crucial to improve treatment outcomes for youth. surl.li/yzwans

The study “The Role of Fathers in Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorder: Public Perceptions of Paternal Shame and Responsibility” is authored by Olivia C. Bishop, Jenna K. Perry, Bhavya Sehgal, Molly K. Downey, Ashlee R. L. Coles, and Dr. Nick Harris.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Congrats to Lucas Fowler & the Swift-Gallant Lab on their new Hormones and Behavior paper!. They show that larger cages & enrichment shape maternal approach and brain development in mice, with male pups showing greater benefits from enriched environments 🐭🧬🏠. Read more: rb.gy/m94e6p

Screenshot of the article "Growing up in comfort: Enivronmental enrichment shapes maternal approach and sex differences in offspring neuroendocrine profiles in laboratory mice"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

📢 Nominations Open for the Rennie Gaulton Award for Excellence in Teaching! 📢 If you’ve had a professor who you think deserves this award, now is the time to nominate them! 🏆 Fill out the form and e-mail to psych@mun.ca w/ subject line: GAULTON AWARD NOMINATION. 🗓 Nominations close Fri, Mar 27, 2026

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Dr. Sheila Garland and colleagues compared acupuncture and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in a clinical trial. Both treatments eased anxiety and improved sleep, and the benefits lasted for weeks after therapy ended. Learn more here! doi.org/10.1016/j.im...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The Honours Mixer will be taking place in CSF-1302 on Monday, January 19th from 6-8PM. This is a great event for prospective honours students to network and hear from professors about the research they conduct!

Poster outlining the date, time, and location for the MUN Psychology and Behavioural Neuroscience Honours Mixer. January 19th, 6-8PM in CSF-1302.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Memorial University's Department of Psychology is hiring! Be a part of a vibrant and engaged academic community in beautiful St. John's, NL. 🌊 Details below! www.mun.ca/academic-car...

mun.ca

Academic Search | Academic Careers

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Check out our Facebook page and follow along for the 12 days of MythMas! We will be posting and debunking one myth per day related to psychology. www.facebook.com/mun.psychology

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Happening tomorrow! Next up in the Sex and Gender Science Speaker Series: Dr. Ashley Balsom will examine the psychological burden of infertility through a sex- and gender-informed lens. Tuesday November 25, 1 pm, CSF-1302

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

A new study by Molly Downey, Olivia Bishop, Taylor Anthony, Brooke Hiscock, Isobel McMahon, Ashlee Coles, and Dr. Nick Harris explores how the public perceives mothers of adolescents with cannabis use disorder. Read more here: tinyurl.com/54ywyy2e

Screenshot of article titled "Mothers of Adolescents With Cannabis Use Disorder: Exploring Public Perceptions of Maternal Responsibility"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

New research from Drs. Jonathan Fawcett and Kathleen Hourihan, alumni Hannah Willoughby and Jenny Tiller, and team found that reading aloud triggers larger pupil dilation than reading silently, suggesting that speaking aloud enhances attention and encoding. See full article: shorturl.at/MRQRA

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Congrats to PhD student Lucas Fowler & co-authors. Their new study shows that plastic exposure disrupts fetal neuroendocrine-immune systems in mice. Such disruptions overlap with those linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0018506X25001448 🧠🐁

A diagram showing that pregnant female mice exposed to plastics in gestation have fetuses with sex-specific neuroendocrine-immune system disruptions

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

A meta-analytic review of 16 studies found that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms were significantly more strongly correlated with symptoms of social media addiction than with the number of hours spent on social media per day. Read more: doi.org/10.1080/1521...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

A new study found that Canadians still have significant misconceptions about FASD—how common it is, and how it affects people’s lives. That shows us where education and awareness efforts are most needed. Want to learn more? Click here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

New study on cancer in adolescents and young adults shows depression and anxiety are the biggest predictors of quality of life. Almost 50% of AYA still experience QOL issues after a cancer diagnosis. www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

A new study finds that despite what previous research suggests, problematic cannabis use and internet gaming are only weakly connected. Additionally, problematic gaming is linked most to escape & competition motivations for playing. Learn more: doi.org/10.1016/j.ps...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Sex and Gender Seminar Series continued this Thursday! Thursday October 23, 1 pm, CSF-1302 Dr. Amanda Bittner (Political Science) will answer the question "What happens to political attitudes when women make more money than their husbands?"

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

A new Canadian study by Dr. Sheila Garland and colleagues reports that 1 in 5 Canadians have used a wearable to track sleep. Sleep wearables are popular—but their effects vary. For some, they aid awareness; for others, they might fuel anxiety about sleep. www.jmir.org/2025/1/e68816/

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Chemo often brings insomnia + fatigue. A new trial tested CBT-I (behavioural strategies for sleep) and bright light therapy (using light to reset sleep cycles). Learn more about what was found in the recent study exploring these interventions by clicking this link: doi.org/10.1200/JCO....

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Krista Greeley, Rachel Lee, Joshua Tulk, Dr. Sheila Garland, and colleagues showed that CBT-I is a safe, non-drug option to help cancer survivors improve sleep. Check out the full publication to see their report on the adverse events experienced during this intervention. doi.org/10.1186/s416...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Check out a new publication by Dr. Sheila Garland and colleague that explored how to improve sleep in adults with coronary heart disease using a social ecological lens. Read the full article: doi.org/10.1016/j.pc...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Check out this new article in The Conversation where Dr. Ashley Balsom and MSc student Olivia Bishop talk about what actually helps to (and what hurts) when supporting someone facing infertility. theconversation.com/infertility-...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

PhD student Tianshuang Han, MSc student Kelsey Downer, Dr. Brent Snook, and colleagues, reviewed 813 forensic psych articles to examine the statistical reporting practices in forensic psychology. They found increased effect size & CI reporting—but NHST still dominates. shorturl.at/hHtch

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Olivia Bishop, Brooke Hiscock, Quinn Morris, Chelsea Lahey, Dr. Jonathan Fawcett, and Dr. Emily Fawcett conducted the first-ever meta-analysis on the prevalence of aggressive obsessions in youth with OCD, finding a lifetime prevalence of 65.1%. See the full paper: shorturl.at/tFvaN

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

A new publication by Krista Greeley, Josh Tulk, and Drs. Emily Fawcett, Joshua Rash, and Shelia Garland highlights that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) doesn’t just improve sleep in survivors, it significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue too. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

📣 Join the Psychology Department Social Media Committee! 📣 Are you passionate about psychology, creativity, and communication? We’re looking for new members to join our Social Media Committee Interested? Send Dr. Balsom (abalsom@mun.ca) and vice-chair Olivia Bishop (ocbishop@mun.ca) an email!

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Reposted by Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Faculty of Science, Memorial University @memorialuscience.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

@munpsych.bsky.social at @memorialu.bsky.social started with its first courses in 1957, taught by local clinicians. 🧠 With new faculty and students joining in areas like Cognition and Neuroscience, and a growing doctoral program in Clinical Psychology, the future is bright! #Memorial100

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Meet your PsyCentral Teaching Assistants (TAs) for Fall 2025! These graduate students can help with coursework, labs, Honours and grad school questions, and more. Come say hi in SN-3071 during their shifts - they’re here to support you!

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

PsyCentral is officially open for the Fall 2025 semester! 📍 Location: SN-3071 🕘 Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays → 9:00AM – 5:00PM Tuesdays, Thursdays → 10:15AM – 5:00PM Attached is the weekly schedule for PsyCentral.

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

The next seminar in the Sex and Gender seminar series September 11th 1 pm in the main auditorium of CSF (CSF-1302). Speaker: Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant, Department of Psychology Title: Building Brains Differently: How sex chromosomes and hormones shape neurodevelopment via the placenta-brain axis

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Department of Psychology - Memorial University of Newfoundland @munpsych.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

We’re thrilled to share that Maliha Dew, honours student of Dr. Kathleen Hourihan, has been awarded the Hebb Award for Best Student Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science (CSBBCS)—held this year in Dundee, Scotland, Congrats!

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