Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Thu, Dec 26, 2024 10:04 PM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Sydney E. Smith

Ph.D. Candidate in Computational Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
As a Neuroscience PhD candidate at UC San Diego, I specialize in neural signal analysis. Our brains produce many different kinds of signals--chemical, magnetic, electrical--and the ways that neuroscientists use these signals is essential to how we research the brain. I'm specifically interested in the brain's electrical signals, or "brain waves" that we can measure using tools like the electroencephalogram (EEG). When these electrical signals are measured in research experiments, neuroscientists use complex mathematical methods to extract information from their brain waves. This is where my research comes in: how does the math we use influence how we think about the brain? What happens when we're using that math incorrectly or misinterpreting it?

These are the questions I face every day in my research. So far, I've been able to answer some pretty big questions about brain waves and how they change in patients receiving treatment for severe depression. By challenging our assumptions about brain waves, I hope to help settle long-standing mysteries about the brain and uncover new, exciting discoveries that help us better understand how the brain works in healthy cognition and disease.

Currently, I'm a PhD candidate in the Neurosciences Graduate Program, supervised by Dr. Bradley Voytek in the Neural and Data Analytics Lab at the University of California, San Diego. I have a B.S. in Biopsychology from UC Santa Barbara and also volunteer as a writer for Stories of Women in Neuroscience, a blog and podcast that features women neuroscientists, their research, and journeys in academia.

How electroconvulsive therapy heals the brain − new insights into ECT, a stigmatized yet highly effective treatment for depression

Dec 07, 2023 08:01 am UTC| Health

When most people hear about electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, it typically conjures terrifying images of cruel, outdated and pseudo-medical procedures. Formerly known as electroshock therapy, this perception of ECT as...

Economy

Apple’s 2nm Chips Skip iPhone 17 as TSMC Prepares 2026 Launch for iPhone 18

Apple has decided to wait until 2026 to incorporate TSMCs 2nm chips into the iPhone 18. The move bypasses the iPhone 17, as TSMC works on scaling its production to meet industry demands and cut costs. Apple Expected to...

Alibaba Partners with E-Mart in $4 Billion Deal to Strengthen South Korean Online Retail Leadership

In a $4 billion agreement, Alibaba Group and E-Mart are merging their South Korean e-commerce platforms, forming a joint venture to take full ownership of Gmarket. The deal positions the companies to compete with top...

Xiaomi Expands EV Charging Access Across China With NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto Networks

Xiaomi has joined the EV charging networks of NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto, giving its customers access to over 29,000 stations across China. The move marks a strategic step in bolstering Xiaomis EV business amid growing...

BYD Contractor Rejects 'Slavery-like Conditions' Accusations in Brazil as Labor Controversy Deepens

Jinjiang Group, a contractor for BYD, has denied accusations of mistreatment at a Brazilian EV factory, calling them baseless and pointing to cultural misunderstandings as tensions grow over worker rights. Jinjiang Denies...

Japan Airlines Faces Cyberattack Disruption with Over 60 Delayed Flights and Canceled Domestic Routes

Japan Airlines experienced significant disruptions on Thursday as a cyberattack led to over 60 flight delays, including 11 international routes, and two domestic cancellations. The airline quickly resolved the network...

Politics

Biden’s ‘Shock Deportation’ Plan for Elon Musk Sparks Outrage as Trump’s Hands Are Tied by Law

As speculation swirls about President Joe Bidens potential decision to deport Elon Musk, the tech billionaires fate has become a fiery topic of debate. A viral claim has surfaced, suggesting that if Musk is deported before...

MAGA Allies Turn on Tech Bros Over Immigration Policy in Fiery Social Media Feud

The political alliance between MAGA conservatives and the tech elite appears to be unraveling, as fiery social media exchanges reveal growing tensions over immigration policy. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz and conservative...

Trump and Republicans 'Planning $100 Billion Transfer' to Rich Bitcoin Owners Sparks Outrage

A new controversy surrounding President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party has emerged, with allegations of a planned $100 billion transfer of taxpayer dollars to wealthy Bitcoin holders. Critics are calling it an...

Congress Has the Power to Block Trump from Taking Office’ Opinion Sparks Outrage Across Political Spectrum

In a fiery opinion piece published by The Hill, the provocative headline, Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now, has ignited a political storm across the country. The article,...

How will Donald Trump manage the transition between administrations?

As Donald Trump prepares to take office as the 47th President of the United States, the transition between administrations is under intense scrutiny. Trumps team has promised a seamless handover, but the highly polarized...

Science

Public Health Experts Warn of ‘Quad-Demic’ as Flu, COVID, RSV, and Norovirus Threaten Winter Surge

Public health experts are raising alarms over a potential quad-demic this winter, with flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus all expected to surge simultaneously. This unprecedented convergence of...

Philippines' 'Missile Acquisition' Plan Provokes China's 'Arms Race' Warning

The Philippines has announced plans to acquire the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system to bolster its maritime defense capabilities. This decision has elicited strong reactions from China, which warns that such a move...

Christmas Eve Asteroid' to Skim Past Earth at 14,743 mph Tonight, NASA Warns

NASA has announced that an asteroid, comparable in size to a 10-story building, will make a close approach to Earth on Christmas Eve. The space rock, designated 2003 SD220, is expected to pass by our planet at a speed of...

Emergency Declared as Bird Flu 'Spreads' to California Dairy Cows

California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared a state of emergency in response to the rapidly escalating bird flu outbreak. The declaration comes after avian influenza was detected in dairy cows, a rare and...

Missing Radioactive Material in New Jersey Sparks Panic — Are Drones ‘Hunting for It’?

A small amount of radioactive material went missing in New Jersey earlier this month, raising concerns over public safety and potential security risks. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) confirmed on December 2,...

Technology

Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Rumors Explode as Countdown Ending January 8 Fuels New Leaks

Nintendo Switch 2 speculation reaches new heights with a countdown set for January 8 and leaked dock images circulating online. Fans are eager but cautious as the buzz around the anticipated reveal grows. Weibo Leaker...

Sam Altman Says Superintelligence Will Ignite a 10X Boom in AI Breakthroughs Transforming the Future of Innovation

Sam Altman envisions a world where superintelligence propels AI innovation 10x faster than expected, transforming global progress and redefining humanitys future. Early Arrival of AGI Sparks Debate The most noteworthy is...

South Korea Eyes $13.9 Billion KSMC Project to Outpace TSMC and Reinvent Semiconductor Innovation

South Korea is developing KSMC with a $13.9 billion investment to challenge TSMC and foster innovation across its semiconductor ecosystem. KSMC Proposal Aims to Strengthen South Koreas Semiconductor Sector Korea...

Microsoft Steps Back from OpenAI Dependency in 365 Copilot with New AI Models Integration Strategy

Microsoft is reshaping its AI strategy for 365 Copilot by integrating in-house and third-party models, easing its reliance on OpenAI due to cost and speed concerns for enterprise users, according to sources. Microsoft...

BYD Factory in Brazil Faces Investigation as Chinese Workers Found in 'Slavery-like Conditions'

Brazilian officials discovered 163 Chinese workers in slavery-like conditions at a BYD factory construction site in Bahia. Workers faced withheld passports, long hours, and unsafe environments, sparking an ongoing...