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In this interview, Dr Lauren Gascoyne discusses OPM-MEG, a cutting-edge, wearable neuroimaging technique that measures the brain’s magnetic fields in more naturalistic settings. She shares how it compares to traditional methods, her role in developing the technology, and reflects on her career path and the importance of careful science communication.

In a previous blog (How Pregnancy Reshapes the Brain: A Groundbreaking Study), we explored one of the first studies to map the brain across an entire pregnancy. That research followed a single participant in extraordinary detail, revealing widespread reductions in grey matter and cortical thickness alongside increases in white matter integrity as pregnancy progressed.  Importantly, that study est…

Manifestation is everywhere right now. Can visualising success really change your life? Or is this just repackaged wishful thinking?

In this blog, Pam Walker reflects on living with multiple sclerosis since adolescence, offering insight into long-term adaptation, resilience, and the often-overlooked gaps in psychological and practical support.

Distress isn’t always a sign of personal weakness - often it reflects the pressures of the world we live in. This piece looks at why systemic change matters.

Discover the real science behind stammering and why understanding it can transform how we support those who stammer.

In October, I came across the Instagram page of Neuro-Psych of Women (@neuropsychofwomen), a student organisation founded in Glasgow that seeks to highlight the inequities women have historically faced in research. As I read through their posts, I felt an immediate sense of recognition; many of the frustrations I had experienced as an undergraduate were being articulated clearly and openly. Even …

Read, write and comment on blog posts from our community... WiNUK blog posts cover a variety of topics, from advice on tackling the unique challenges women face in neuroscience, to inspiring career stories and summaries of new neuroscientific research. Reality covers everything to do with being a neuroscientist, both reflective pieces and advice. Research brings you the latest neuroscience news a…

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The Struggles of Balancing Work and Family Life continues with Gareth Hathway, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham. In this interview, Gareth reflects on his journey from undergraduate studies in Cardiff to postdoctoral research at UCL and his current role in Nottingham, alongside the deeply personal choices he and his wife made about parenting, career progression, and finan…

As women, we often view our hormones as things that hinder us, or that we need to learn to manage. With hormone-driven mood swings, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual pain, and an abundance of women’s health related conditions (that aren’t always taken seriously by medical professionals and society), it can be easy to feel frustrated by our hormones and the, often negative, role we perceive t…

I remember having to beg my parents for a DVD player when I was a child. Tired of tracking down cartoons on TV programming, I wanted my own on-demand entertainment. With my parents being apprehensive at first, we entered a long, arduous negotiation over time limits, school work, and chores. When I finally got the player, I felt like a new world had opened up to me; like no technology would ever t…

We are back with our 'Spotlight On' interview series, shedding light on inspiring women working in the field of neuroscience, and reflecting on their distinct backgrounds and career journeys. The questions posed to these individuals explore the themes of job perks and challenges, developing new skills, inspirations in the neuroscience field, and goals for the future. Stay tuned to see new intervi…

Cinema has long been one of humanity’s shared pastimes, serving as a window into a plethora of different worlds that we can traverse as a mode of escapism. Whether it’s the high emotion and drama of Titanic, or the evergreen, incisive comedy of Mean Girls, movies capture nearly the entire spectrum of human experience and offer a sense of community. Alfred Hitchcock once said that “creation is bas…

Neurodiversity Celebration Week falls in mid-March every year. It creates space to appreciate the wide variety of brains and encourages us to recognise each for their unique strengths. What better way to celebrate than to indulge in some WiNUK blogs investigating and celebrating neurodivergence? The Age of Diagnosis: One Neurodivergent Person’s Perspective Ciara Lee’s review of The Age of Diagnos…

Terminology Note: In this article, sex refers to biological attributes such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive anatomy that may influence physiology, biomechanics, and injury risk. Gender refers to socially constructed roles and lived experiences that shape participation in sport, access to resources, and health reporting. Altho ugh many studies categorise athletes as male or female, both…

Walk into any hospital, and the bias is immediately apparent. Healthcare is designed around the adult body. From architecture and waiting rooms to clinical trials and treatment protocols, adulthood is treated as the default. Children, who make up nearly a quarter of the global population, are expected to adapt to systems built for adults. Childhood is not a smaller version of adulthood, particula…

When I first got my period and felt like I’d ‘levelled up’ in puberty, one of the first things I did was download a period tracking app. Immediately, I was met with the option to list my symptoms, and so I scrolled (yes, scrolled!) through the list, ticking them off like achievements. The novelty soon wore off when I was doubled over, struck by cramps that only being knocked out with painkillers …

WiNUK Day 2026 Fri 24 Apr |Staff House 📅 WiNUK Day 2026 🧠 Theme: Neurodiversity We’re delighted to be welcoming Professor Gina Rippon as our keynote speaker! Open to attendees of all genders and all career stages. Join us for: ✨ Talks 🗣 Panels 🧩 Posters 🤝 Networking Time & Location 24 Apr 2026, 09:30 – 17:00 Staff House, Staff House, Birmingham B15 2GG, UK Tickets In-Person - Student / ECR This t…

The Struggles of Balancing Work and Family Life is a new interview series exploring how academics navigate the complex realities of combining a demanding career with personal and family life. Through honest conversations, we aim to shed light on the challenges, trade-offs, and strategies that shape life in academia - and to create space for more open dialogue about parenthood, wellbeing, and care…