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Sandra Poulson

@sandrapoulson.bsky.social
74 followers 122 following 90 posts

F32 Postdoc at Penn Corder Lab studying ACC->subcortical endogenous state-setting, chronic pain, nocebo hyperalgesia, cholecystokinin, cognitive-emotional-motivational pain behavior and emotional contagion. PhD University of Toronto Martin Pain Lab.

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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Thank you so much to the NINDS for believing in my trajectory through this F32 award. Here's to the next phase of hard work learning exciting things about LV projecting ACC neurons in pain.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
We demonstrate the role of ACC -> PAG circuitry in both a model of conditioned pain expectation and in a model of social nocebo hyperalgesia, often called #EmotionalContagion. Importantly, this is a #ReverseTranslation of how we know the CCK neuropeptide works in human nocebo responding.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Online today! Check out our recent article on preclinical models of #NoceboHyperalgesia lnkd.in/eeU_QgyV In collab with the Martin and Mogil labs. Enjoy the read!!
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
And thank you to Jeff for coming to EVERY SINGLE POSTER at CPS 2022 so that we could recognize that it was probably the same circuit and test it out. I am so blessed to get to work with you both.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Thank you to Loren for letting me roll that idea into gold. It takes a patient mentor to see an unpolished idea and recognize the potential and not every mentor out there is that patient.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I am in tears today, so so so happy. Watch for our paper on mouse models of nocebo hyperalgesia, soon-to-be in press in #NatComms #Accepted! "Cholecystokinin input from the anterior cingulate cortex to the lateral periaqueductal gray mediates nocebo pain behavior in mice"
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
I had the BEST time at #CanadianPain26 this year. Thank you SO much to everyone who came to my posters featuring our work with @jerzyszablowski.bsky.social and the Martin & Mogil collab paper. I hope to see you all again at future Canadian Pain meetings!
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Thank you SO much to @canadianpain.bsky.social for the generous Trainee Travel Award to attend #CanadianPain26 this year. So proud of being part of this community and so happy to share my research with you all this year!
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
😭🫶 When you find old pictures on your PhD advisor's lab website that you didn't know anyone kept! Got to visit Loren and Damien last week when I went through Toronto on my way to Quebec City and it was SO good to catch up.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Good vibes today, good vibes 🤞
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Merci #CanandianPain26 for the amazing Trainee Travel Award. So happy to be here to share our research.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
And we want to say massive thanks to funders CIHR, NSERC, UofT Center for the Study of Pain, NWO, Loren and @jeffreymogil.bsky.social for being amazing mentors, @damboorman.bsky.social and labmates who helped with data and figures, and everyone who let me throw around ideas and sculpt this project.🙏
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Together our data indicates that the CCK ACC->lPAG pathway is both necessary and sufficient for nocebo-like hyperalgesia in mice. This work demonstrates a circuit underlying how different contexts shape nociceptive processing, offering a basis for future studies of negative expectations of pain.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We used circuit dissection tools to turn the ACC->lPAG projections off and found this also disrupts nocebo hyperalgesia. Additionally, we show that mechanical sensitivity increases after activating the fiber ends at the lPAG, and proglumide blocks this activation.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Retrograde tracing revealed many cortical inputs to the lPAG that expresses CCK, but the region with the most cells per area was the ACC.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We found a higher number of transcriptionally active neurons that also expressed CCKBR in the lPAG of mice that experienced nocebo hyperalgesia. So next we performed retrograde tracing from the lPAG to see where the CCK was coming from
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We next tested whether microinfusion of CCK antagonist into the dmPAG or lPAG influenced nocebo response. We chose the dm and lateral due to connectivity to the descending RVM-spinal cord circuitry. We found only antagonist/agonist application to the lateral PAG influenced nocebo/reflex withdrawal
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Because of the role of the PAG in placebo hyperalgesia, we tested whether there were increased transcriptionally active cells in the PAG after a nocebo experience. We found increased cfos in the intermediate region of the PAG, similar to nocebo in human 7T fMRI www.jneurosci.org/content/41/4...
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We tested whether CCK plays a role in pain behaviors due to contextual and social influences. Our labs found that CCK antagonists block the expectation of pain. In the social model, we show that pain observer mice show mechanical & heat sensitivity but also increased licking in 2nd formalin phase
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Check out the preprint here if you haven't yet www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
While placebo analgesia involves the expectation of pain relief and decreased pain experiences, nocebo hyperalgesia involves the expectation of increased pain and increased painful experiences. Nocebo hyperalgesia has been shown to involve the neuropeptide CCK.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Hey #CanadianPain26, come see cool work on #NoceboHyperalgesia at the poster sessions on Friday Poster 48 #MartinLab #MogilLab
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Reposted by Sandra Poulson
Massi(e)h Moayedi — مسیح مویدی @massih.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Want to learn about what some of are thinking about chronic #pain? Gillian Best interviewed pain researchers, including Melanie Noel, @richellemychasiuk.bsky.social, @simonbeggslab.bsky.social, @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social, @jeffreymogil.bsky.social, @daspainbrain.bsky.social, me, & many more.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/s...
nytimes.com
Pace of N.I.H. Funding Slows Further in Trump’s Second Year
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Reposted by Sandra Poulson
Society for Neuroscience @sfn.org · 23/04/2026
The future of neuroscience research depends on Congressional support and every voice counts. Join SfN and fellow #NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to increase FY27 neuroscience research funding. Take action! 🔗 vist.ly/4zjf2 #neurosky #neuroskyence #medsky #academicchatter
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
My very good friend is training to be a physician in Canada. I will let her know ;) She is a good human and a smart cookie and she wants to make a difference. I'm sending good vibes that you find good physicians. And do check out www.paincanada.ca/resources in case it helps.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
It's also an opportunity to learn tips for various research methods, or to get inspiration between clinical and animal researchers. Or hear about cool research papers. Or spill the tea on research life. It's all that.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
You could wonder why they're doing a special event for the phds and postdocs. The reality is we're the ones doing the manual labor collecting the data for the research they present at the conference, so it's a little event w/in the conference to kind of celebrate that. We're paid much less.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Trainee in this case means PhD students and postdocs. But we're all learners trying to make sense, do research and help develop therapies. The history hasn't been great but we're trying to turn that around 🫶
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.paincanada.ca/resources
paincanada.ca
Resources | Pain Canada
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.instagram.com/actiononpain/
instagram.com
Action on Pain (@actiononpain) • Instagram
138 Followers - 104 Posts - "Episode 25 has been released! 🎙️We’re excited to announce that Episode 25 of the Action on Pain podcast was released t…"
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.canadianpainsociety.ca/pwle
canadianpainsociety.ca
People with Lived Experience | The Canadian Pain Society
The Canadian Pain Society's 50-year history in advancing pain research and connecting professionals to improve access to quality care and pain management services.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
We share lots of good information on current pain therapies, research on how these therapies are performing, and animal models looking at the biology of pain (which is what I study). It's a worthwhile experience if you get the chance to attend and you'd meet lots of good people.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Hope to see you there one day 🫶 Canadian Pain Society is a conference where researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience get together to discuss the current state of pain research, what is working, what isn't working.
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Reposted by Sandra Poulson
Ishmail Abdus-Saboor @ishmailsaboor.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
"Many labs are dwindling by attrition. Students or postdoctoral researchers leave, and their positions aren’t filled. Many research universities are admitting fewer PhD students, narrowing the very beginning of the pipeline of new scientists." www.washingtonpost.com/science/2026...
washingtonpost.com
Where U.S. science has been hit hardest after Trump’s first year
The Trump administration has slashed the number of grants from the National Institutes of Health, with far fewer focused on women, cancer and mental health.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Canadian Pain just announced the Trainee Social location and opened up tickets. Go through the same process as registration and you can select just the trainee social ticket for free. See you there! #CanadianPain26
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Reposted by Sandra Poulson
The Canadian Pain Society | La Société canadienne de la douleur @canadianpain.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
🎨 The Canadian Pain Society Art Awards 📅 Submit by February 15th, 2026 ➡️ canadianpainsociety.ca/artawards 🍁 🎨 Le concours d'art de la Société canadienne de la douleur 📅 Envoyez votre oeuvre jusqu'au 15 février 2026 ➡️ canadianpainsociety.ca/fr/artawards
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Interesting, mice are returned to a shock box and facial expressions analyzed. An alternative take though is that this is nocebo face. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Convolutional neural networks detected changes in facial expressions of mice that had conditioned fear stress
Animal models are essential for studying aversive states such as fear and pain. Facial expressions may provide non-invasive readouts of aversive state…
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Such a fantastic experience at #USASP_2026 this year. Thank you so much to everyone who dropped by our poster on RMAs and for all of your feedback. Looking forward to showing this work and nocebo hyperalgesia (2 posters) at #CanadianPain at the end of April so please swing by if you're going. 🇺🇸🇨🇦
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
#USASP_2026 Come see some cool research using novel tools to measure neuronal activity by the Szablowski Lab at Rice @jerzyszablowski.bsky.social
media.tenor.com
a man in a suit and tie is smiling and says you 're gonna love it
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is smiling and says you 're gonna love it
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
I'm excited y'all! #USASP_2026
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Heading to Philly for USASP? Hang out at my poster on RMA technology Wed 2:15-3:30 D36! We show a novel technology for studying nociceptive population activity. And if you haven't already, check out my preprint on mouse models of Nocebo Hyperalgesia! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #USASP_2026
biorxiv.org
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Excited to see everyone at #USASP_2026! See you at the Early Career Forum, looking forward to cool science, and see you at the Wednesday social. #USASP_2026
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Reposted by Sandra Poulson
US Association for the Study of Pain @usasp.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Upcoming Symposium at the USASP annual conference called, "Scholars research panel: Rita Allen Foundation Award in Pain and USASP-MAYDAY Fellows" Tuesday March 24th, 2026 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM EST
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
He's famous for the detail but it's wild to see in person. Also fell in love with works by Max Ernst, Andé Masson, and Yves Tanguy. Jack and I were blown away. Highly recommend you go.
Storm by Yves Tanguy 1926
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
There's this little section of his painting Soft Construction with Boiled Beans where there's a landscape of a canyon with gorgeous clouds that seem to go back forever. Obviously you can't see from my clip here but it was amazing.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Went to see Dream World at the @philamuseum.bsky.social last night. What an incredible exhibit. We're all familiar with Dalí right, but I had no idea his paintings were so crazy detailed.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Phone is full of lab photos, anywhere from surgery to weird equipment parts, and photos of the cat #GuiltyAsCharged
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Did any of y'all ever read the Alvin Schwartz Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books? I was a mega fan. Wicked drawings.
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Sandra Poulson @sandrapoulson.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Meet Jimmy aka JimJam, my best fur friend 🐈‍⬛ He likes playing fetch with feather toys and climbing as high as he can access including straight up the side of my bookshelf 💪🧗 #Philadelphicats #Philadelphia
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