Penn Grey Matters
“The brain is wider than the sky.”
— Emily Dickinson

Penn Grey Matters

Making Neuroscience Accessible

Penn Grey Matters
“The brain is wider than the sky.”
— Emily Dickinson

Penn Grey Matters

Making Neuroscience Accessible

Student-led•Research-informed•University of Pennsylvania

Featured story · Cognition

The Truth Behind Intelligence

Are We Born With It, Can We Change It – And If So, When Do We Peak?

Explore the neurological and psychological basis of intelligence, when we peak, and whether intelligence can be improved.

By Jeffery Batres and Elgin Tawiah · Aug 31, 2025 · 26 min read

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Why time seems to accelerate with age—from dopamine and attention to memory, neural processing, and circadian rhythms.

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By Augustus Clarke · Oct 27, 2025

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Written in our genes?
Cognition

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Twin studies, genetic syndromes, and epigenetics reveal how genes and environment shape who we are.

By Elias Mekuriaw · Oct 11, 2025

10 min readRead →
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Cognition & Aging

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By Elias Mekuriaw · Aug 11, 2026

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Multilingualism enhances cognitive reserve, executive function, and memory — and may help prevent neurodegenerative disease.

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Grey Matters UPenn Instagram graphic about sleep and brain health

From Instagram · April 24, 2026

Sleep clears more than fatigue.

During sleep, cerebrospinal fluid moves more efficiently through the brain, helping the glymphatic system clear metabolic waste—including proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease.

Research spotlight · Xie et al., Science

View on Instagram

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