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When most people hear about electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, it typically conjures terrifying images of cruel, outdated and pseudo-medical procedures.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

Bongbong Marcos' POGO Ban Faces Skepticism: Will It Truly Curb Illegal Operations?

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a blanket ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in his recent State of the Nation Address. Despite its popularity, experts worry the ban may push operations further...

Supreme Court Ruling Threatens Innovation, Risks Balkanizing U.S. Economy

The Supreme Courts decision to overturn the four-decade-old Chevron deference doctrine threatens to disrupt U.S. economic stability and innovation. The ruling shifts regulatory power from federal agencies to courts,...

U.S. Economy Grows Faster Than Expected in Q2, Inflation Pressures Easing

The U.S. economy expanded faster than anticipated in the second quarter, with a 2.8% annualized growth rate driven by robust consumer spending and business investment. Inflation pressures eased, supporting expectations for...

China Central Bank Surprises Markets with Second Unscheduled Rate Cut This Week

Chinas central bank surprised markets again this week with an unscheduled rate cut, issuing 200 billion yuan in one-year loans at significantly lower rates to stimulate the economy and address sharp stock market...

Turkey Terminates Saudi Deposit, Reflects Growing Economic Confidence

On July 24, Turkeys central bank announced it terminated a $5 billion deposit transaction with Saudi Arabia, signaling increased confidence in rebuilding foreign exchange reserves independently. The move reflects Turkeys...

Politics

Elon Musk’s Political Stance Risks Alienating Key EV Buyers Amidst Tesla's Mixed Results

Tesla CEO Elon Musks political statements, including support for Trump, risk alienating environmentally conscious EV buyers. During a recent earnings call, Musk discussed the potential impacts of Trumps policies and...

Key MAGA Ally Warns Donald Trump Fans to Stop Contradicting Themselves

As the political landscape shifts with President Joe Bidens decision to exit the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and his supporters find themselves in a...

Donald Trump's Big Regret? Ex-POTUS Eyes Nikki Haley to Replace 'Dud' VP J.D. Vance Amid Campaign Turmoil

As Joe Biden steps down from the 2024 presidential race, making Kamala Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee, Donald Trump faces speculation about a significant shake-up within his own campaign. Reports suggest Trump...

Donald Trump Mocks Kamala Harris with Shocking Nickname: 'I Couldn't Care Less If I Mispronounce It'

Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, labeling her a bum and ridiculing the significance of pronouncing her name correctly during a speech in Florida. Speaking at a Turning Point event in...

Kamala Harris Surges as Working Families Party Nominee, Boosting 2024 Campaign Against Donald Trump

Vice President Kamala Harriss 2024 presidential campaign received a significant boost as the Working Families Party (WFP) officially nominated her, ensuring a strategic ballot line in New York and broad organizational...

Science

SpaceX Falcon 9 Ready to Fly Again Saturday After Resolving Engine Anomaly

SpaceX is set to relaunch its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday (July 26) after a rare flight anomaly earlier this month. The company identified and fixed an engine issue, ensuring the rockets safety and readiness for its next...

SpaceX Reports 50,000 Collision-Avoidance Maneuvers by Starlink Satellites in Six Months

SpaceXs recent report indicates Starlink satellites executed 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers from December 2023 to May 2024, reflecting increasing traffic in orbit and raising concerns about potential...

SpaceX Unveils Design for ISS Deorbit Vehicle Using Dragon Heritage Hardware

NASAs decision to entrust SpaceX with constructing the ISS deorbit vehicle marks a significant milestone in space technology. SpaceX recently revealed a rendering of the car based on its Dragon spacecraft, which features...

SpaceX Completes Heat Shield Upgrade for Starship Ahead of Critical Flight 5 Test

SpaceX has completed a significant heat shield upgrade for Starship ahead of its fifth test flight. The upgrade aims to improve reentry safety following the issues from the fourth flight. A critical static fire test is...

SpaceX's New EVA Spacesuits Pass Testing for Historic Commercial Spacewalk

SpaceX has finalized acceptance testing of its new EVA spacesuits, marking a significant milestone for the Polaris Program. The suits will facilitate the first commercial spacewalk, led by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman,...

Technology

Bitcoin Forms Massive Bullish Pattern; Traders Eye $85K Price Target

As Bitcoin nears its 2021 all-time high, traders identify a massive bullish pattern, targeting $85,000. Traders Eye $85,000 as Bitcoin Develops Bullish Pattern As it continues to hover near its all-time high from...

Shiba Inu Expands Horizons with Integration into The Sandbox Metaverse

Shiba Inus integration with The Sandbox marks a significant step in expanding SHIBs reach within the gaming community, aligning with the #RiseOfTheMemecoin campaign. Gaming as a Growth Opportunity The Sandbox has now...

Bitcoin to Hit $13M! Michael Saylor's Bold Forecast at Bitcoin 2024 Stuns Audience

MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor stunned the Bitcoin 2024 audience with a prediction that Bitcoins price will hit $13 million per coin by 2045. Bold BTC Predictions for 2045 Michael Saylor, a vocal co-founder...

Bitcoin Climbs to $67K: 75% of Short-Term Holders in Profit

Bitcoin has surged to $67,000, placing over 75% of short-term holders in profit and suggesting further bullish momentum. With three-quarters of short-term Bitcoin holders now turning a profit, the cryptocurrency could...

WhatsApp Hits 100 Million Monthly Users in the US, Bridging iPhone and Android Gap

WhatsApp has reached 100 million monthly active users in the United States, marking significant growth in a market dominated by Apples iMessage and traditional texting. This milestone highlights WhatsApps role in bridging...