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Ken Paller

@paller.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.2K following 113 posts

Cognitive neuroscientist at Northwestern U investigating memory, sleep, consciousness, other stuff kenpaller.com

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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Erika Yamazaki's paper in iScience also covered here with many intriguing observations from Christopher Bergland: When Milliseconds Matter, Exhaling Quickens Response Time  | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
psychologytoday.com
When Milliseconds Matter, Exhaling Quickens Response Time
How quickly people react fluctuates across the respiratory cycle, with exhalation sharpening visual reaction times by 41 milliseconds, a new study shows.
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Heleen Slagter @haslagter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Reposting, in case you missed it! 8-) Reskeet appreciated!
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Things you learn in an elevator: In Switzerland, it is illegal to own a single guinea pig because these animals need social interaction.
An elevator screen with a black frame displays trivia in French about guinea pig ownership. The blue screen shows a clock in the top-left corner set to 13:52 and a date of 03/10/2026. Next to this is French text that reads "En Suisse, il est illégal de posséder un seul cochon d'Inde car ces animaux ont besoin d'interaction sociale." (which translates to: "In Switzerland, it is illegal to own a single guinea pig because these animals need social interaction."). Below the time is a large blue panel with white text, "RC," which means "Rez-de-Chaussée" or ground floor, with a downward-pointing arrow and a small circle with a line through it. An illustration below the French text depicts three reddish-brown, white, and black guinea pigs grouped together over a bowl against an orange background, with a dark branch with leaves on the right.
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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The fiscal year is over. The dying Social, Behavioral, and Economic division of NSF ended up awarding 90 total grants this year, as opposed to ~700-800 in recent past years. Source: grantwitness.org/nsf/analyses...
The graph shows the cumulative number of awards made by month across this fiscal year, as compared to the last 6 fiscal years. The line for this year is total flat until June, but then finally gets up to 91 by October. In prior years the increase starts building earlier and ends on average in the 700-800 range (with variability, last year was only between 400-500).
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Did you know that your speed — in a simple task of quickly pressing a button every time you see a yellow square — is faster when you are exhaling or pausing then when you are inhaling? Dr. Erika Yamazaki figured this out, did all the work, and published on it this week www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
cell.com
Response speed is modulated by respiratory phase
Behavioral neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
For my friends in Toronto, this is going to be fun, and a bargain with General Admission at CA$10 www.eventbrite.ca/e/pavlovs-do...
eventbrite.ca
Pavlov's Dogz
The Pilot Presents Pavlov's Dogz
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Announcing two tenure-track faculty openings in the Psych Dept at Northwestern University: Cognitive/Affective Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology psychology.northwestern.edu/people/facul...
psychology.northwestern.edu
Job Opportunities: Department of Psychology - Northwestern University
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papers-neurodegen.bsky.social @papers-neurodegen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Are infraslow oscillations the missing link between sleep and Alzheimer's? #NeuroDegeneration 🧪🧠 alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.co…
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
"Engineering Healthier Dreams" with Karen Konkoly @karenkonkoly.bsky.social and Daniel Morris, a 1-page article in AASM Montage (a quarterly publication just for members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine) — here's a higher-quality version
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
"Engineering Healthier Dreams" with Karen Konkoly @karenkonkoly.bsky.social and Daniel Morris, a 1-page article just published in AASM Montage (a quarterly publication just for members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine)
Screenshot of the article in AASM Montage
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
“Contrary to emotional regulation theories of dreaming, these observations suggest that sleep and dreaming are associated with amplified emotional reactivity, at least in the short-term.”
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Respiratory connections to brain oscillations are so interesting
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Traces @traces.info · 02/06/2026
There seems to be evidence, at least from lucid dreams, that the experience is in real time because communication is possible with dreamers (I find this mindblowing). Some report that they hear the signals as coming from objects in the dream (a radio, say). www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep
Dreams take us to a different reality, a hallucinatory world that feels as real as any waking experience. These often-bizarre episodes are emblematic …
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Erin J. Wamsley 🧠📈😴 @wamsleylab.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Our department at Furman University is hiring, in social or social cognitive -- In many ways, Furman is a uniquely excellent place to work for someone who values both teaching and research, looking to do both in a liberal arts environment. Happy to candidly answer questions (DM me).
furman.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com
Tenure-Track Position in Social or Social Cognitive Psychology
Welcome to Furman University's Career Site! IMPORTANT: Load all documents in the My Experience area under Resume/CV. This may include your resume/C.V., cover letter, unofficial transcript, teaching ph...
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Eliza Bliss-Moreau @eblissmoreau.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
My dept/area is hiring! We're open to animal species/model and research area. UCD is an amazing place to do nonhuman animal work - major 🐒 center, a band new rodent vivarium in the Psych building, and capacity to house all sorts of other animals! recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07812
recruit.ucdavis.edu
Assistant Professor of Psychology - Biological Bases of Behavior
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Nikki Greenwood just published a nice overview of a bunch of dream research in @timemagazine.bsky.social, featuring the work of Dr. Konkoly @karenkonkoly.bsky.social — but can someone please explain the images to me? time.com/article/2026...
time.com
The New Science of Dreaming
Researchers have figured out how to induce lucid dreaming—and are using it to help answer to ancient questions about our minds.
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Jennifer Tackett @jnfrltackett.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I'm thrilled to announce that we are recruiting a new faculty colleague in our Northwestern University Clinical Science program this fall! Please share widely with your colleagues, students, and mentees! psychology.northwestern.edu/people/facul...
psychology.northwestern.edu
Job Opportunities: Department of Psychology - Northwestern University
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A nice opportunity for people to talk about sleep apnea in a supportive and informative group setting - August 9th
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bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Non-invasive tracking of ripple-like activity during human sleep using MEG www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I agree but think memory reactivation can be unconscious and conscious, with different qualities. Hippocampal replay could be basically the same across species (maybe more complex conceptual memories in us). Do you think hippocampal replay can sometimes trigger conscious retrieval?
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Nice points about replay - but what about sleep-based replay? Andrew Budson and I made the case that sleep replay can be unconscious (as triggered by TMR sounds). And, both types (conscious and unconscious / also wake and sleep) contribute to consolidation. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Memory, Sleep, Dreams, and Consciousness: A Perspective Based on the Memory Theory of Consciousness
Insights into the mysteries of dreaming and waking conscious experience can be gained by considering fundamental concepts in memory research. To support this assertion, we first provide an overview...
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Project Sleep @projectsleep.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
☕️ Join us THIS Sunday, July 12 at 3 p.m. ET for Coffee with Emma! This FREE monthly Zoom call is a relaxed space to hear from others living with #sleepapnea, share what’s on your mind, and feel a little less alone. Register today: projectsleep.salsalabs.org/coffeewi…
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Rodrigo Braga @rodbraga.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
We are hiring an Associate or Full Professor to lead the neuroimaging research program at Northwestern's Center for Translational Imaging in the Department of Radiology careers.northwestern.edu/psc/hrnu_er/...
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Tomorrow will be another day - for this 2-day workshop - and I'll present 10 minutes on applications of Targeted Memory Reactivation in the Intervention Session.
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Today's Keynote Talk beginning soon at this fun 2-day online workshop on Sleep and Cognition events.cancer.gov/nci/sleep-co...
urldefense.com
Sleep and Cognition: Current State of Research and Future Directions (Overview) | Events Registration
OverviewThe workshop on Sleep and Cognition: Current State of Research and Future Directions is a virtual event taking place June 25 - 26, 2026.A Trans-NIH Workshop hosted by the National Cancer Insti...
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Giulio Bernardi @giuliobernardi.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
New paper from our group: using simultaneous EEG-fMRI, we investigated the neural mechanisms underlying individual NREM sleep slow waves. Our findings suggest that slow waves are not a homogeneous phenomenon and may reflect distinct physiological processes. www.nature.com/articles/s42...
nature.com
Thalamic involvement defines distinct slow-wave subtypes in NREM sleep - Communications Biology
Using simultaneous EEG-fMRI, we identify two types of NREM slow waves with distinct thalamic profiles. Large, synchronized waves involve early thalamic activation and arousal markers, whereas smaller ...
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armb.be @academiemedecine.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Retrouvez la conférence de Delphine Oudiette du @institutducerveau.bsky.social à la tribune de l'Académie " Au-delà de la dichotomie veille-sommeil : vers une nouvelle vision des états de conscience" #Medsky 🧪 👩‍🔬#neuroskyence youtu.be/9rQXSclXS0E
youtu.be
D Oudiette Au-delà de la dichotomie veille-sommeil: vers une nouvelle vision des états de conscience
YouTube video by Académie de Médecine (ARMB)
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Thomas Andrillon @thomasandrillon.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
No they don't! Humans report being conscious half of the time when awoken from NREM sleep. The NREM/REM, conscious/unconscious dichotomy has been thoroughly debunked. It's time we stop oversimplifying the relationship between sleep and consciousness!
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Congrats to James!
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Link gives free access to my Op-Ed for 30 days
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
My title wasn’t used :/( It was supposed to be: Why unlimited coffee isn’t enough! urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com
Ken Paller: Sufferers often have no idea that sleep apnea is behind their poor sleep
Sleep apnea affects approximately 1 out of 8 people worldwide, and people often remain in the dark about what’s going on.
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Erika Yamazaki and I wrote about something we don’t even have (probably) — sleep apnea theconversation.com/sleep-apnea-...
theconversation.com
Sleep apnea compromises far more than a good night’s rest – 2 neuroscientists outline the risks and the need for better diagnosis
This condition’s prevalence is rising worldwide, and it is very treatable, but disparities in access to care remain.
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Right on target: theconversation.com/photographic...
theconversation.com
Photographic memory is a myth – here’s what research really says about remembering
Hollywood loves a character who has the perfect total recall of a photographic memory. But this idea is a fantasy. It’s not how memory works – for good reason.
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Thanks for this great article @shaylalove.bsky.social putting a bunch of memory-sleep-dreaming research and related history together in a fun way
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
archive.ph/6wKhx
archive.ph
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Sleep Learning Gets Real — and I helped with the background for this article. www.newyorker.com/culture/anna...
newyorker.com
It’s Possible to Learn in Our Sleep. Should We?
Learning while sleeping had long been relegated to the realm of quackery, but new studies suggest that we may be able to problem-solve and practice skills in our dreams.
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International Conference On Memory 26-30 July 2027 in Glasgow @icom-memory.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
🧠 ICOM is back! The International Conference on Memory (ICOM7) returns 26–30 July 2027 in Glasgow, bringing together researchers from neuroscience, psychology, and beyond. 🔗 Learn more and sign-up for the newsletter here: icom-memory.org #ICOM7 #MemoryResearch #Neuroscience #Psychology
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Randolph Helfrich @randolph-helfrich.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Two postdoc opportunities @yale.edu in human neurophysiology. One position in my lab @wutsaiyale.bsky.social focusing on human cognitive neurophysiology. Details at helfrich-lab.com/news/ Plus a possible collab with anesthesiology 👇 #NeuroTwitter #NeuroJobs #neuroskyence #EEG Please share.
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Project Sleep @projectsleep.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
‼️ An estimated 80 million Americans are living with sleep apnea, yet 80% are undiagnosed. Our #SleepApneaLetsFaceIt campaign is working to change that by breaking stereotypes, reducing delays in diagnosis, and helping more people feel seen and supported. ➡️ Get involved: ow.ly/QQmm50YJ2Ut
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
We have a lot to say about dreaming too: pallerlab.psych.northwestern.edu/pubs.html www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Mind-Altering Power of Lucid Dreaming
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
I’d like to form a dream team to study contemplative dreaming (lucid dreaming and dream control for transformative insight) - who’s in?
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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
As a recipient of federal grants from #NIH (for now! 😭) that funds research in my lab, I'd like to sincerely thank American taxpayers on #TaxDay for investing in scientific research that lays the foundation for medical and technological innovation in this country and keeps us ALL safe and healthy
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Here’s some research just like what we do in my lab at Northwestern, almost theonion.com/poor-sleep-l...
theonion.com
Poor Sleep Linked To Gong
CHICAGO—Concluding that the costs of keeping such a device in the bedroom far exceeded the benefits, a study released Monday by the University of Chicago’s sleep lab found a strong link between poor s...
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Shawn Prest @shawnprest.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I'm excited to share our preprint: "Selfing without a self: The missing dimension of identification in computational accounts of selfhood" The puzzle: How can meditators claim persistent selfless experience without dysfunction when computational accounts claim it's maladaptive? 🧵 t.ly/vDv4n
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Here's an alternative view based on functional neuroimaging in Korsakoff's syndrome direct.mit.edu/jocn/article...
direct.mit.edu
Functional Neuroimaging of Cortical Dysfunction in Alcoholic Korsakoff's Syndrome
Abstract. Many neuropsychological investigations of human memory have focused on the amnesic deficits of alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome. Structural neuroimaging suggests that the syndrome results from...
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Ani Jordan @anikka-jordan.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
My first paper with @jkragel.bsky.social and Joel Voss came out yesterday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences! It’s real! :D www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
Spatial and semantic memory reorganize a hippocampal long-axis gradient | PNAS
The hippocampus supports episodic memory by binding spatial and semantic information, yet how this information is simultaneously organized along it...
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What Is It Like to Be a Philosopher? @whatisitliketobeaphilosopher.com · 10/04/2026
Patricia Churchland's advice to @felipedebrigard.bsky.social www.whatisitliketobeaphilosopher.com#/felipe-de-b...
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Saturday was a good day for a fun chat about dreams and stuff with Katherine Bell on her podcast "the Dream Journal" (on ksqd.org/the-dream-jo...) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ4H...
youtube.com
Inside the Sleeping Mind: Memory, Dream Yoga, & the Neuroscience of Sleep with Ken Paller, PhD
YouTube video by Experiential Dreamwork
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Ken Paller @paller.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Check out this wonderful and amazing set of brief lectures from David Linden, perspectives from biological science on a bunch of fascinating topics
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Paige Amormino @amormino.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Saving SBE starts before the bill is written. SBE needs a distinct FY27 appropriation. If your sch. is on the list, get a group of colleagues to meet w your House/Sen. offices. Esp. for Republican seats, direct constituent comms matter. Timeline/templates/updates: www.paigeamormino.com/pages/9337
paigeamormino.com
Paige Amormino - Saving SBE starts before the bill is written.
Right now, NSF SBE does not have its own separate line of funding in the FY2027 budget structure. This matters because if SBE is not specifically protected ...
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