Amanda Kentner
Just a mid-career behavioral neuroscientist ticking along, as long as the old heart keeps ticking. Developing #brains & #behavior with a side of #enrichment. Canadian in Boston MA | Posts and other reads are my own| #FirstGen http://www.kentnerlab.org
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe Microbiota Shapes Central Nervous System Myelination in Early Life Really excited to see this paper out-A great cross-species collaboration with David Lyons, Edinburgh & Iiris Hovatta Helsinki. Huge kudos to former PhD student Caoimhe Lynch et al advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerPlease repost and share widely - winter break is a perfect time to assemble application materials 😅
- Consider applying for the Robert E. Chason Endowed Chair in Translational Research at the UC Davis MIND Institute! Join a vibrant community of colleagues studying neurodevelopment conditions like autism. UC Davis is an excellent place to work and live. Find more details here: lnkd.in/gZRyViNa
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerToday, we remember the fourteen young women whose lives were stolen at Polytechnique Montréal 36 years ago. Their names are a solemn reminder of the devastating toll of gender-based violence — and the responsibility that comes with our remembrance.
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerIn @elife.bsky.social: Sex differences in BNST signaling and BNST CRF in fear processing doi.org/10.7554/eLif... Official version finally out. Thank you to reviewers, made it better!
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWhat causes the feeling of 'butterflies' in your stomach? www.livescience.com/health/what-...
- Very glad to share our newest paper published in Molecular Psychiatry: Investigating milk-derived extracellular vesicles as mediators of maternal stress and environmental intervention www.nature.com/articles/s41... fun collab w/ @jordanmarrocco.bsky.social. Please enjoy! #OpenAccess #MaternalHealth
- Well, the link was working when I checked, but here it is again: rdcu.be/eQnXw
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerBe sure to check out Nina's poster at the Early Career Poster Session today! She was awarded the Trainee Professional Development Award, generously supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund @bwfund.bsky.social! She's got a 🔥🔥🔥 scientific story that we are sending off for publication soon. #SfN2025
- The lab is presenting at #SfN2025 Come check out the amazing science being conducted by postdoc Nina Baumgartner @nbaumgar.bsky.social and grad student Alexa Jo Tellez! I am also recruiting a postdoc so please spread the word. #neuroskyence
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWe are grieving our friend and brilliant colleague Natalia Duque-Wilckens. A creative scientist, artist, caring mentor, and force for change. Words can’t describe the impact she had on lives at UC Davis, MSU, NC State and beyond. I feel lucky to have known her and wish her time didn’t end so soon
- Aurora in Boston right now
- Ok, Blue Jays, let’s play ball!
- Let’s go Blue Jays, let’s go!
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerHappy to share my lab's first review article! We outline how the lateral habenula is a critical regulator of almost every type of social behavior, from pro- to anti-social behaviors, in both sexes, and across the lifespan. Hopefully this can serve as a useful reference! rdcu.be/eLWPw
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerI am thrilled to share our latest work: we identified a population of central amygdala neurons that promote the earliest and perhaps most important social behavior: pup suckling!... We also developed new tools for pup neuroscience Work by @Jeff Moore now at USC, a collaboration with @Sam Pfaff lab
- A genetically-defined population of amygdalofugal neurons promotes suckling and early postnatal growth biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerExcellent framework to understand the processes favoring health vs disease based on the Energy Resistance Principle. Makes me wonder whether the shape of this inverted-U curve, or linked parameters, are trait-like across individuals. Congrats @martinpicardenergy.bsky.social & @msahsorin.bsky.social
- This morning I felt a little sadness when I remembered that many of the colleagues I wished to share something dear to my heart with, had departed from X. @msahsorin.bsky.social and I would love to know what people think of the Energy Resistance Principle (ERP) authors.elsevier.com/a/1luVK5WXUl...
- I sent this to my undergraduate students earlier today; it's a fun way to show them how AI hallucinates, by having them break the system. Simply ask “is there a seahorse emoji?” futurism.com/chatgpt-hayw... it works, well, until it doesn’t…credit goes to my dad for this one!
- If this prompt doesn’t break down ChatGPT, you can also try “please show me the sea horse emoji”. Always say please and thank you

- Just a small reminder to fellow researchers, PubMed Europe is still functional and seems to be updating materials. Thank you to them! europepmc.org
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerBig news at @npp-journal.bsky.social HQ 👇 We are thrilled to welcome @briannaegeorge.bsky.social as our new NPP Editorial Intern 🎉 We are looking forward to working with Dr. George and are excited to have such a fantastic addition to our team 🤩
- Reposted by Amanda Kentner[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerSo, with Jane Goodall passing, I am reminded of a very fun incident where her institute sent a furious complaint over this cartoon on her behalf, only to have Goodall herself find it hilarious and go on to write the introduction to the collection it appeared in. A fantastic sense of humour.
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerJane Goodall, who died on Wednesday at the age of 91, spent decades teaching about the intelligence of chimpanzees. She left behind powerful lessons about aging — and living well — too. nyti.ms/3IS8XuH
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerMy friend Steven Parton interviewed Adam Zeman about #Aphantasia — something he and I both have. Interestingly, we both seem to have the more pronounced form, where even our dreams lack imagery. youtu.be/TdSwDUONWLg?...
- Reposted by Amanda Kentner🚨 CDC Website Scrubbing Alert We do not have a complete list but can report that CDC plans to delete or otherwise takedown many CDC pages about LGBTQ+ health, health equity, disabilities, hepatitis, HIV and more.
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerMy last grant was an R25 focused on introducing undergraduates to aging research to motivate them to address these gaps, be it in research or clinical careers. It was terminated b/c “DEI is bad.”
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerJust a reminder, the NOSIs for Research Continuity and Retention Supplements (childbirth, healthcare issues), and Re-Entry, Re-integration & Re-training Supplements, are ending Sept 9th. If you were thinking about one of them, apply soon. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerI am SO EXCITED to share this one! The latest paper from the lab is online in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social. We show microglia prune NAc astrocyte processes during abstinence from cocaine-self ad which drives later drug seeking behavior. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe updated version of the database of PhD fellowships produced and maintained by my team can be downloaded by anyone here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-... For each of the 187 fellowships, you will find a short description, deadline, $ amount, link, etc. Good luck!
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerAuroras, moonsets, the Milky Way, and more in recent photographs from ISS crew members in orbit. Take a look at The Atlantic Photo: theatln.tc/LoCl2GNq 📸: Nichole Ayers / Don Pettit / NASA
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThis piece was so fun to write because the whole lab chipped in and team-wrote it over the series of a few lab meetings (+finessing)
- Check out this 🆕 article from Minerva, @cate-cholamine.bsky.social, & colleagues reviewing the pros, cons, and best applications for currently available genome-wide sequencing technologies in neuropsychiatric research www.nature.com/articles/s44...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerJoin us in Congratulating the 2025 ACNP Travel Award Class! 🙌🎉
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWhile everything is burning around us, a rare great day for Flanigan Lab! Thank you to BBRF for funding our NARSAD! Thank you to MUSC COBRE CNDD for funding our Pilot Proposal! Looking forward to doing some awesome science
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerNew preprint! tl;dr — We ran around late at night to record wild rats in NYC and figured out how to quantify their behavior and environment. 🧵 w/ Dima Batenkov, @zamakany.bsky.social, Emily Mackevicius www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerExcited to have this little @npp-journal.bsky.social "hot topics" article out with my dear friend and collaborator @jbeehner.bsky.social. Even more excited for the opportunity to jump into field research and explore some of these ideas. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerMorning thoughts on how the current federal funding crisis is going to make everything worse in more ways than people seem to be openly discussing....So big news broke this week in distance running (this will get back to science, I promise!)
- BREAKING NEWS: Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for Hydrochlorothiazide in a test on March 14th. More details here: citiusmag.com/articles/rut...
- Reposted by Amanda Kentner🄸🄼🄿🄾🅁🅃🄰🄽🅃 Anna Samarra et al in 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 Exclusive breastfeeding in the first month reduces antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in infants by enriching 𝑩𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒎, offsetting the increased ARG load from C-section delivery and/or early antibiotics www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Amanda Kentner🐾 Just out & open access! Exploring Animal Behavior Through Sound, Vol. 2 🎶 From insects to elephants and whales—how animals use & are affected by sound. Thanks to Christiane Erbe & all co-authors (me included)! 👉 link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe 1st manuscript from my lab is online! This study, led by 2nd y PhD student Jared Franges (w/ key contributions from grad and 4! UG students), shows that developmental exposure to PBDEs drives persistent impairment of histamine+serotonin release by mast cells www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/... 1/n
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerExcited to share this new paper from the lab, now out in @cp-immunity.bsky.social! Led by the talented @bendevlin.bsky.social and in collab with @anneschaefer.bsky.social. a brief 🧵
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerNew NIGMS undergraduate training program is forecasted. simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWomen are disproportionately affected by #irondeficiency & #anaemia We undertook a comprehensive review of 🔑 role of iron in women's health across the lifespan ✅ factors affecting iron bioavailability, ID/IDA 🚫 limitations of interventions 🙋🏽♀️need 4 better diagnosis & acceptable treatments 4 women
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe Brain & Body Lab at UCLA is hiring a Staff Research Associate to work on a productive and dedicated team under the NIMH funded Teen Bugs study - investigating brain-gut communication in teens. Send your best and brightest! jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/8072
- Reposted by Amanda Kentner📢 Don't miss our recent review on the "Neurobiology of resilience to early life stress", published in @npp-journal.bsky.social! Alessandro Bortolami, @cate-cholamine.bsky.social, @ericjnestler.bsky.social, and I highlight evidence from rodent studies... 👇 👇 👇 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWe did some science. We found some things. Killer whales get by with a little kelp from their friends. Evidence of tool manufacture and use in resident killer whales - check it out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Our new #OpenAccess Hormones & Behavior paper has dropped, featuring undergrad Jailyn. Maternal immune activation during the lactational period alters offspring behavior, reproductive development, & immune function in mice: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #OpenScience #BrainResearch #NeuroSky
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe SURE-First (R16) and SURE NOFOs have been published. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerAlso be sure to read the instructions a Forms I SF424. These Fs will have the new format/review instructions so there are different components from the previous NOFOs.
- Yas! Parent F32 (PA-25-423) and F30s (PA-25-426, PA-25-425) are also published. simpler.grants.gov
- This will be an amazing meeting! Wish I could go 😭 Everyone who can travel, submit your abstracts, it’s a great conference and wonderful people!
- Hello friends, our 🆕 lab preprint w/ @jordanmarrocco.bsky.social is here; please enjoy! Investigating milk-derived extracellular vesicles as mediators of maternal stress and environmental intervention www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #Neuroscience #Brain #STEM, #OpenScience #Neurosky #BrainResearch
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerHappy to share the current version of our latest story, currently under peer review. Cool collab with @dablab.bsky.social @manickam-lab.bsky.social and others. We are not only understanding endothelial deficits in an #autism model, but now also capable of rescuing them! #16p11.2 #treatment #P2Y2
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerG4 (Kp 8)/SEVERE Geomagnetic Storming is POSSIBLE tomorrow as a large CME is expected to hit Earth on June 1 around midday UT (morning North America). What is going on? Who will see aurora and when? How can you track this anticipated event? Read on! #heliophysics #spacenews #aurora #northernlights
- ‘Death is not a mystery’: what happens to your body when you’re dying? www.theguardian.com/wellness/202...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerExcited to share another piece of the chicken-or-egg puzzle: Investigating the Polygenic Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Schizophrenia in the All of Us Research Program www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerNotice on extension of ESI status for NIH grant applications. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerThe Venniro Lab developed a novel rodent model of mutual social interaction to investigate the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms motivating social peers simultaneously to engage in and maintain social interaction www.nature.com/artic...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerWhat an honor it was to attend the 20th anniversary of Brains & Behavior, see former professors and friends, and give the keynote address.
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerCongratulations to @epfl-brainmind.bsky.social professor @carmensandi10.bsky.social on winning the 2025 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award - www.ecnp.eu/news/press-o...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerA few #bridgefunding opportunities in child health and development 👇👇
- Federal research funding cut? Don’t stop now. Two quick-response grants can help: Spencer Foundation – bridge funding for education researchers: bit.ly/4jvA7oi RWJF – racial & Indigenous health equity research support: bit.ly/44VUJ4D #SRCD #ChildDevelopment
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerNature research paper: Diet outperforms microbial transplant to drive microbiome recovery in mice. go.nature.com/42R2PJ5
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerIf you were planning to submit Neuroscience related T32s to PAR-22-265, PAR-24-126, or PAR-24-108, note those are now expired and you need to submit through PAR-25-168. See this notice: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerI wrote about my friend's father, a Holocaust survivor, and how the stories you run the fastest from end up being the only ones that you were inevitably bound to write in the first place. I'm sorry for the delay. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/m...
- Reposted by Amanda KentnerYou can read Sarah Roby’s beautiful letter here: