Alison Preston
@aliprestonphd.bsky.social
Professor of Neuroscience @utaustin.bsky.social investigating how kids, teens & adults learn, remember & make sense of the world.
preston.clm.utexas.edu
preston.clm.utexas.edu
Pinned
Alison Preston
@aliprestonphd.bsky.social
· Dec 16
(1/5)
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
✨ That’s a wrap on 2025!
From research milestones to community connections, we’ve accomplished so much this past year. Here’s a look back at everything we did together...
From research milestones to community connections, we’ve accomplished so much this past year. Here’s a look back at everything we did together...
December 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
✨ That’s a wrap on 2025!
From research milestones to community connections, we’ve accomplished so much this past year. Here’s a look back at everything we did together...
From research milestones to community connections, we’ve accomplished so much this past year. Here’s a look back at everything we did together...
(1/5)
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(1/5)
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🧵Our new preprint shows how the brain develops to transform how kids, teens & adults represent & navigate their world: shifting from local, moment-to-moment memories in childhood to integrated, global cognitive maps in adulthood 🧠
Paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
We love connecting with curious minds at UT Hot Science – Cool Talks, hosted by UT Environmental Science Institute! 🔬
We always have fun sharing the wonders of science with our community & watching their interest spark!
Are you in the Austin area? Check it out: www.esi.utexas.edu/community-en...
We always have fun sharing the wonders of science with our community & watching their interest spark!
Are you in the Austin area? Check it out: www.esi.utexas.edu/community-en...
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
We love connecting with curious minds at UT Hot Science – Cool Talks, hosted by UT Environmental Science Institute! 🔬
We always have fun sharing the wonders of science with our community & watching their interest spark!
Are you in the Austin area? Check it out: www.esi.utexas.edu/community-en...
We always have fun sharing the wonders of science with our community & watching their interest spark!
Are you in the Austin area? Check it out: www.esi.utexas.edu/community-en...
Looking for a nice way to build team connection before the holiday? Our lab drew names (gift exchange style) & shared aloud why we're grateful for that teammate, what makes us proud of them & how they strengthen the team. Such a sweet, grounding moment. Highly recommend 💛🧠
November 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Looking for a nice way to build team connection before the holiday? Our lab drew names (gift exchange style) & shared aloud why we're grateful for that teammate, what makes us proud of them & how they strengthen the team. Such a sweet, grounding moment. Highly recommend 💛🧠
Reposted by Alison Preston
(1/4)
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 21, 2025 at 8:34 PM
(1/4)
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
(1/4)
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 21, 2025 at 8:34 PM
(1/4)
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Encouraging children & teens to manage their schedules independently has positive impacts for their memory!
Our new study reveals that age & independence combine to enhance memory development 🧵
Read here: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Alison Preston
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Science Education and Outreach Awards
These researchers are advancing neuroscience through groundbreaking discoveries, mentorship, & scientific excellence.
Listen to their remarks: vist.ly/4f8cn
#SfN25 #neurosky #neuroskyence
These researchers are advancing neuroscience through groundbreaking discoveries, mentorship, & scientific excellence.
Listen to their remarks: vist.ly/4f8cn
#SfN25 #neurosky #neuroskyence
November 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Science Education and Outreach Awards
These researchers are advancing neuroscience through groundbreaking discoveries, mentorship, & scientific excellence.
Listen to their remarks: vist.ly/4f8cn
#SfN25 #neurosky #neuroskyence
These researchers are advancing neuroscience through groundbreaking discoveries, mentorship, & scientific excellence.
Listen to their remarks: vist.ly/4f8cn
#SfN25 #neurosky #neuroskyence
November 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Alison Preston
The Preston Lab will be at @sfn.org #SfN2025! Come see what we've been working on 🧠
We'll discuss how kids & adults remember when things happen, how memory changes impact reasoning & how we learn different actions have different consequences based on the setting.
Find us Monday & Wednesday 🤘
We'll discuss how kids & adults remember when things happen, how memory changes impact reasoning & how we learn different actions have different consequences based on the setting.
Find us Monday & Wednesday 🤘
November 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Alison Preston
Happy New Preprint Friday!* Thrilled to share new results in collab with Sarah Lichenstein & @yiplab.bsky.social showing our brain's functional connections reflect the environments we grow up in!
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Happy New Preprint Friday!* Thrilled to share new results in collab with Sarah Lichenstein & @yiplab.bsky.social showing our brain's functional connections reflect the environments we grow up in!
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
tinyurl.com/exposomeConnectivity
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #DevPsy #cognition
*can this be a thing??
The Preston Lab will be at @sfn.org #SfN2025! Come see what we've been working on 🧠
We'll discuss how kids & adults remember when things happen, how memory changes impact reasoning & how we learn different actions have different consequences based on the setting.
Find us Monday & Wednesday 🤘
We'll discuss how kids & adults remember when things happen, how memory changes impact reasoning & how we learn different actions have different consequences based on the setting.
Find us Monday & Wednesday 🤘
November 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
(1/4)
🧠 Did you know that kids remember time differently than adults? Our new preprint review w/ @drjeni-mdlab.bsky.social discusses the real implications for juvenile justice & why we need to ask about timing in ways that match kids' developing brains ⚖️
Paper: osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧠 Did you know that kids remember time differently than adults? Our new preprint review w/ @drjeni-mdlab.bsky.social discusses the real implications for juvenile justice & why we need to ask about timing in ways that match kids' developing brains ⚖️
Paper: osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
(1/4)
🧠 Did you know that kids remember time differently than adults? Our new preprint review w/ @drjeni-mdlab.bsky.social discusses the real implications for juvenile justice & why we need to ask about timing in ways that match kids' developing brains ⚖️
Paper: osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧠 Did you know that kids remember time differently than adults? Our new preprint review w/ @drjeni-mdlab.bsky.social discusses the real implications for juvenile justice & why we need to ask about timing in ways that match kids' developing brains ⚖️
Paper: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Alison Preston
It’s grad school application season, and I wanted to give some public advice.
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
November 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
It’s grad school application season, and I wanted to give some public advice.
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
Caveats:
-*-*-*-*
> These are my opinions, based on my experiences, they are not secret tricks or guarantees
> They are general guidelines, not meant to cover a host of idiosyncrasies and special cases
Met a celebrity the other day! Bevo is the ultimate longhorn 🤘🐂
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Met a celebrity the other day! Bevo is the ultimate longhorn 🤘🐂
Big thanks to #ThinkeryATX Children's Museum for hosting us at their STEAM Sunday Halloween celebration! 🎃
We love connecting with families and future scientists while sharing what we do at the Preston Lab 🤘
#SciComm #AustinScience
We love connecting with families and future scientists while sharing what we do at the Preston Lab 🤘
#SciComm #AustinScience
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Big thanks to #ThinkeryATX Children's Museum for hosting us at their STEAM Sunday Halloween celebration! 🎃
We love connecting with families and future scientists while sharing what we do at the Preston Lab 🤘
#SciComm #AustinScience
We love connecting with families and future scientists while sharing what we do at the Preston Lab 🤘
#SciComm #AustinScience
It was great fun working with @alexanderhuth.bsky.social and @mujianing.bsky.social on these theoretical ideas. We are excited for everyone to check out the preprint! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 1, 2025 at 5:49 PM
It was great fun working with @alexanderhuth.bsky.social and @mujianing.bsky.social on these theoretical ideas. We are excited for everyone to check out the preprint! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alison Preston
New paper with @mujianing.bsky.social & @prestonlab.bsky.social! We propose a simple model for human memory of narratives: we uniformly sample incoming information at a constant rate. This explains behavioral data much better than variable-rate sampling triggered by event segmentation or surprisal.
Efficient uniform sampling explains non-uniform memory of narrative stories https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.31.667952v1
August 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New paper with @mujianing.bsky.social & @prestonlab.bsky.social! We propose a simple model for human memory of narratives: we uniformly sample incoming information at a constant rate. This explains behavioral data much better than variable-rate sampling triggered by event segmentation or surprisal.