Lauren Atlas
@laurenatlas.bsky.social
Personal account / opinions are my own.
Senior Investigator, Affective Neuroscience & Pain. (She/her)
Senior Investigator, Affective Neuroscience & Pain. (She/her)
Pinned
Lauren Atlas
@laurenatlas.bsky.social
· Jul 31
New in #JNeurosci from Necka et al: External cues and treatments shape expectations about pain in different ways, and their mechanisms distinctly influence how people experience pain. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0050-25.2025
Almost missed that this is out! Former postdoc Liz Necka led this long overdue FMRI study formally comparing two types of pain modulation: Placebo analgesia & predictive cues. TLDR: these are NOT the same! Placebo analgesia reduced cue effects, & brain mechanisms were nearly all dissociable. 1/4
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
I am so excited to share our newest preprint, inspired by @tinalonsdorf.bsky.social, “A multiverse approach to heat-evoked skin conductance analysis: Evaluating the influence of analytic pipeline on associations between skin conductance and pain osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
December 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I am so excited to share our newest preprint, inspired by @tinalonsdorf.bsky.social, “A multiverse approach to heat-evoked skin conductance analysis: Evaluating the influence of analytic pipeline on associations between skin conductance and pain osf.io/preprints/ps...
I am so excited to share our newest preprint, inspired by @tinalonsdorf.bsky.social, “A multiverse approach to heat-evoked skin conductance analysis: Evaluating the influence of analytic pipeline on associations between skin conductance and pain osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
December 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I am so excited to share our newest preprint, inspired by @tinalonsdorf.bsky.social, “A multiverse approach to heat-evoked skin conductance analysis: Evaluating the influence of analytic pipeline on associations between skin conductance and pain osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Overall, these findings suggest that shared neural circuits mediate the effects of learned expectations on perception, linking pain with other areas of affective processing and perception across domains.
April 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Overall, these findings suggest that shared neural circuits mediate the effects of learned expectations on perception, linking pain with other areas of affective processing and perception across domains.
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Pain specificity was evident when we measured variations in stimulus intensity, whether we used univariate or multivariate approaches, but there was minimal evidence of specificity by modality or aversiveness when we examined cue effects on medium trials.
April 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Pain specificity was evident when we measured variations in stimulus intensity, whether we used univariate or multivariate approaches, but there was minimal evidence of specificity by modality or aversiveness when we examined cue effects on medium trials.
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Notably, the left anterior insula mediated domain-general cue effects on subjective intensity and the thalamus mediated cue effects on subjective valence, which two regions were nearly identical to those previously implicated in mediating cue effects on pain (Atlas et al., 2010).
April 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Notably, the left anterior insula mediated domain-general cue effects on subjective intensity and the thalamus mediated cue effects on subjective valence, which two regions were nearly identical to those previously implicated in mediating cue effects on pain (Atlas et al., 2010).
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Results showed learned cues modulated expectations and subjective outcomes similarly across domains. Consistent with this, the orbitofrontal cortex exhibited domain-general anticipatory activation.
April 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Results showed learned cues modulated expectations and subjective outcomes similarly across domains. Consistent with this, the orbitofrontal cortex exhibited domain-general anticipatory activation.
Delighted to share our latest article on brain mechanisms of pain, appetitive & aversive learning, led by @yilizhao.bsky.social & In-seon Lee, out now in @sfnjournals.bsky.social! We show that brain mechanisms of expectancy are domain general, not unique to pain! www.jneurosci.org/content/earl...
December 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Delighted to share our latest article on brain mechanisms of pain, appetitive & aversive learning, led by @yilizhao.bsky.social & In-seon Lee, out now in @sfnjournals.bsky.social! We show that brain mechanisms of expectancy are domain general, not unique to pain! www.jneurosci.org/content/earl...
Dear journals, collaborators, potential trainees, & colleagues: Please be patient with your nih friends. Those of us who are still around are doing everything in our power to focus on science & keep the long view in mind. But life is very much one day at a time, & catch up from shutdown is a beast 🫠
December 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Dear journals, collaborators, potential trainees, & colleagues: Please be patient with your nih friends. Those of us who are still around are doing everything in our power to focus on science & keep the long view in mind. But life is very much one day at a time, & catch up from shutdown is a beast 🫠
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
In case you missed it yesterday - black Friday sale at www.brainedglass.com! Last chance for action potentials or custom brains in time for the holidays.
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
In case you missed it yesterday - black Friday sale at www.brainedglass.com! Last chance for action potentials or custom brains in time for the holidays.
In case you missed it yesterday - black Friday sale at www.brainedglass.com! Last chance for action potentials or custom brains in time for the holidays.
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
In case you missed it yesterday - black Friday sale at www.brainedglass.com! Last chance for action potentials or custom brains in time for the holidays.
Thanksgiving / early Black Friday flash sale on action potentials at www.brainedglass.com! Also last chance to order custom brains in time for holidays. I’m very grateful to all who supported my side gig during the recent govt shutdown: Thx for helping me not lose my mind during a very hard time 💕🧠
November 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Thanksgiving / early Black Friday flash sale on action potentials at www.brainedglass.com! Also last chance to order custom brains in time for holidays. I’m very grateful to all who supported my side gig during the recent govt shutdown: Thx for helping me not lose my mind during a very hard time 💕🧠
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Excited to share that the main work of my PhD has been published!
We found that having control over pain makes expectations more precise, and changes pain perception. This is accompanied by activation changes in the PAG, SMA and ACC.
You can read the full version of the paper here: rdcu.be/eQy6X
We found that having control over pain makes expectations more precise, and changes pain perception. This is accompanied by activation changes in the PAG, SMA and ACC.
You can read the full version of the paper here: rdcu.be/eQy6X
Controllability changes pain perception by increasing the precision of expectations
Nature Communications - Control over pain changes how intense it is perceived. Here, the authors show that this effect results from increased expectation precision with control, which changes...
rdcu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Excited to share that the main work of my PhD has been published!
We found that having control over pain makes expectations more precise, and changes pain perception. This is accompanied by activation changes in the PAG, SMA and ACC.
You can read the full version of the paper here: rdcu.be/eQy6X
We found that having control over pain makes expectations more precise, and changes pain perception. This is accompanied by activation changes in the PAG, SMA and ACC.
You can read the full version of the paper here: rdcu.be/eQy6X
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
But the truth will always out. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Here is the full article from Bloomberg:
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Here is the full article from Bloomberg:
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Oxford University Has Failed Women Over Harassment Concerns, Staff Say
The university has repeatedly been slow to act against male academics accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior, a Bloomberg investigation found.
www.bloomberg.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
But the truth will always out. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Here is the full article from Bloomberg:
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Here is the full article from Bloomberg:
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
One of the giants of social psychology was a serial sexual harasser.
This new report reveals how Miles Hewstone touched, bullied, and sexual harassed numerous women during his 18 years at the University of Oxford. It's amazing how often bullying and sexual harassment go together in academia.
This new report reveals how Miles Hewstone touched, bullied, and sexual harassed numerous women during his 18 years at the University of Oxford. It's amazing how often bullying and sexual harassment go together in academia.
November 19, 2025 at 10:30 PM
One of the giants of social psychology was a serial sexual harasser.
This new report reveals how Miles Hewstone touched, bullied, and sexual harassed numerous women during his 18 years at the University of Oxford. It's amazing how often bullying and sexual harassment go together in academia.
This new report reveals how Miles Hewstone touched, bullied, and sexual harassed numerous women during his 18 years at the University of Oxford. It's amazing how often bullying and sexual harassment go together in academia.
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Is the “standard workflow” holding back fMRI analysis?
Mass-univariate analysis is still the bread-and-butter: intuitive, fast… and chronically overfitted. Add harsh multiple-comparison penalties, and we patch the workflow with statistical band-aids. No wonder the stringency debates never die.
Mass-univariate analysis is still the bread-and-butter: intuitive, fast… and chronically overfitted. Add harsh multiple-comparison penalties, and we patch the workflow with statistical band-aids. No wonder the stringency debates never die.
November 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Is the “standard workflow” holding back fMRI analysis?
Mass-univariate analysis is still the bread-and-butter: intuitive, fast… and chronically overfitted. Add harsh multiple-comparison penalties, and we patch the workflow with statistical band-aids. No wonder the stringency debates never die.
Mass-univariate analysis is still the bread-and-butter: intuitive, fast… and chronically overfitted. Add harsh multiple-comparison penalties, and we patch the workflow with statistical band-aids. No wonder the stringency debates never die.
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Our lab has 2 new papers in the current issue of @painthejournal.bsky.social:
The first study, by Georgia Hadjis, shows that motivational conflict, rather than resource competition, determines priority assignment when pain is concurrent to competing demands.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
The first study, by Georgia Hadjis, shows that motivational conflict, rather than resource competition, determines priority assignment when pain is concurrent to competing demands.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
journals.lww.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Our lab has 2 new papers in the current issue of @painthejournal.bsky.social:
The first study, by Georgia Hadjis, shows that motivational conflict, rather than resource competition, determines priority assignment when pain is concurrent to competing demands.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
The first study, by Georgia Hadjis, shows that motivational conflict, rather than resource competition, determines priority assignment when pain is concurrent to competing demands.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
While the government was shut down, 379 NIH study section meetings (containing 24,380 grant applications) were postponed. NIH is committed to getting these reviewed, but please be patient and understanding with staff, as this is a complex and heavy lift.
November 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
While the government was shut down, 379 NIH study section meetings (containing 24,380 grant applications) were postponed. NIH is committed to getting these reviewed, but please be patient and understanding with staff, as this is a complex and heavy lift.
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Looks like we may finally be going back to work tomorrow (but still no SFN 😢), so this is your last chance to order a custom brain, an action potential, or the USE YOUR BRAIN - FUND SCIENCE / SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH stickers available at my website. Www.brainedglass.com
BrainedGlass
Neuroscientist trying hard not to quit her day job.
Www.brainedglass.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Looks like we may finally be going back to work tomorrow (but still no SFN 😢), so this is your last chance to order a custom brain, an action potential, or the USE YOUR BRAIN - FUND SCIENCE / SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH stickers available at my website. Www.brainedglass.com
Looks like we may finally be going back to work tomorrow (but still no SFN 😢), so this is your last chance to order a custom brain, an action potential, or the USE YOUR BRAIN - FUND SCIENCE / SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH stickers available at my website. Www.brainedglass.com
BrainedGlass
Neuroscientist trying hard not to quit her day job.
Www.brainedglass.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Looks like we may finally be going back to work tomorrow (but still no SFN 😢), so this is your last chance to order a custom brain, an action potential, or the USE YOUR BRAIN - FUND SCIENCE / SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH stickers available at my website. Www.brainedglass.com
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
I realize that these timelines are absurd and wanting to take on one of these important positions under the present circumstances is problematic, but NIH needs qualified applicants to apply.
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
a man wearing a red shirt with the letter w on it says " who are we if we don 't even try "
ALT: a man wearing a red shirt with the letter w on it says " who are we if we don 't even try "
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I realize that these timelines are absurd and wanting to take on one of these important positions under the present circumstances is problematic, but NIH needs qualified applicants to apply.
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Fogarty International Center (FIC), and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Applications for NIMH are due by Friday. The remaining 5 (NIGMS, NICHD, NICDR, NHGRI, and NLM are due by 11/21
2/3
Applications for NIMH are due by Friday. The remaining 5 (NIGMS, NICHD, NICDR, NHGRI, and NLM are due by 11/21
2/3
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Fogarty International Center (FIC), and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Applications for NIMH are due by Friday. The remaining 5 (NIGMS, NICHD, NICDR, NHGRI, and NLM are due by 11/21
2/3
Applications for NIMH are due by Friday. The remaining 5 (NIGMS, NICHD, NICDR, NHGRI, and NLM are due by 11/21
2/3
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
hr.nih.gov
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
Reposted by Lauren Atlas
Limited slots for custom brains now available at www.brainedglass.com/product/cust...
November 11, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Limited slots for custom brains now available at www.brainedglass.com/product/cust...