Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
@lealmemorylab.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at UCLA in the department of Integrative Biology & Physiology. Studies all things memory, emotion, aging, and depression. 🧠
🚨Check out our latest paper from the lab! Great work @morales-calva.bsky.social !
October 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
🚨Check out our latest paper from the lab! Great work @morales-calva.bsky.social !
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
If you are applying to a PhD program, be sure to check out these tips! 👇👇👇
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Applying for a Ph.D.? These 10 tips can help you succeed
Our Letters to Young Scientists columnists offer their advice
www.science.org
October 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
If you are applying to a PhD program, be sure to check out these tips! 👇👇👇
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Make your voice impossible to ignore. If you support the Menopause Care Equity Act let @gavinnewsom.bsky.social know in the link below 👇🏼 #AB432
September 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Make your voice impossible to ignore. If you support the Menopause Care Equity Act let @gavinnewsom.bsky.social know in the link below 👇🏼 #AB432
🚨Attending ISPNE in New Orleans?🚨
Be sure to stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster today 9/3 5:30 - 8 pm.
She will be discussing results from her recently published Hormones & Behavior paper examining emotion regulation and memory in hormonal contraceptive users!
Be sure to stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster today 9/3 5:30 - 8 pm.
She will be discussing results from her recently published Hormones & Behavior paper examining emotion regulation and memory in hormonal contraceptive users!
September 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
🚨Attending ISPNE in New Orleans?🚨
Be sure to stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster today 9/3 5:30 - 8 pm.
She will be discussing results from her recently published Hormones & Behavior paper examining emotion regulation and memory in hormonal contraceptive users!
Be sure to stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster today 9/3 5:30 - 8 pm.
She will be discussing results from her recently published Hormones & Behavior paper examining emotion regulation and memory in hormonal contraceptive users!
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Check out a new preprint from Adi, postdoc working with me and Jeff Zacks. I’m *extremely* excited to finally, officially get this out into the world 🙂
1/ 🚨 Preprint alert!
How does the brain make sense of continuous experience?
We find that continuous experiences can be compressed using a subset of key moments that dominate comprehension and recall.
👉 https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673233
How does the brain make sense of continuous experience?
We find that continuous experiences can be compressed using a subset of key moments that dominate comprehension and recall.
👉 https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673233
September 3, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Check out a new preprint from Adi, postdoc working with me and Jeff Zacks. I’m *extremely* excited to finally, officially get this out into the world 🙂
Check out our latest paper published in Hormones & Behavior!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that hormonal contraceptive users were better able to apply trained emotion regulation strategies, which reduced negative memory!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that hormonal contraceptive users were better able to apply trained emotion regulation strategies, which reduced negative memory!
August 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Check out our latest paper published in Hormones & Behavior!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that hormonal contraceptive users were better able to apply trained emotion regulation strategies, which reduced negative memory!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We found that hormonal contraceptive users were better able to apply trained emotion regulation strategies, which reduced negative memory!
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Our department is seeking applicants for an Assistant Professor position with a focus on affective science. Please apply and/or pass this along to anyone who might be interested! facultypositions.stanford.edu/en-us/job/49...
Stanford | Faculty Positions: Details - Assistant Professor, Psychology
facultypositions.stanford.edu
August 20, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Our department is seeking applicants for an Assistant Professor position with a focus on affective science. Please apply and/or pass this along to anyone who might be interested! facultypositions.stanford.edu/en-us/job/49...
What we discover at UCLA goes far beyond our lab - this work is meant to make an impact on society to change how we treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and PTSD. #ResearchPowersProgress
🧠🎼💙💛
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/mus...
🧠🎼💙💛
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/mus...
August 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
What we discover at UCLA goes far beyond our lab - this work is meant to make an impact on society to change how we treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and PTSD. #ResearchPowersProgress
🧠🎼💙💛
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/mus...
🧠🎼💙💛
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/mus...
Congratulations @morales-calva.bsky.social! 2025 best article in CABN ❤️ If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to check it out. Link below 👇🏻
The Psychonomic Society is pleased to announce that Fernanda Morales-Calva has been honored with the 2025 Best Article Award for CABN. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. Read the paper here: bit.ly/4ooPcuL #psynomCABN @F_Morales_Calva
August 8, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Congratulations @morales-calva.bsky.social! 2025 best article in CABN ❤️ If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to check it out. Link below 👇🏻
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
We’re hiring! Pls share widely:
In conjunction w/ the @bowers-wbhi.bsky.social, my team is recruiting a full-time clinical research coordinator to assist with research efforts at UC Santa Barbara. 1-2 yrs experience in MRI data collection preferred.
Submit apps to: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
In conjunction w/ the @bowers-wbhi.bsky.social, my team is recruiting a full-time clinical research coordinator to assist with research efforts at UC Santa Barbara. 1-2 yrs experience in MRI data collection preferred.
Submit apps to: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
August 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We’re hiring! Pls share widely:
In conjunction w/ the @bowers-wbhi.bsky.social, my team is recruiting a full-time clinical research coordinator to assist with research efforts at UC Santa Barbara. 1-2 yrs experience in MRI data collection preferred.
Submit apps to: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
In conjunction w/ the @bowers-wbhi.bsky.social, my team is recruiting a full-time clinical research coordinator to assist with research efforts at UC Santa Barbara. 1-2 yrs experience in MRI data collection preferred.
Submit apps to: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
Fun chat with @theguardian about the power of music in stirring up our emotions and how that impacts our memories 🎶
Does a song conjure painful memories? Try to rehabilitate it, say scientists
Does a song conjure painful memories? Try to rehabilitate it, say scientists
The urge to avoid music that brings up trauma from the past is powerful, but it may be better to ‘actively engage’
www.theguardian.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Fun chat with @theguardian about the power of music in stirring up our emotions and how that impacts our memories 🎶
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Learn about our work towards earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease. Despite NIH-funding being delayed, terminated, and uncertain, we are fiercely committed to these goals! Link for donations to support our work is at the bottom of the page, or reach out.
giving.massgeneral.org/stories/earl...
giving.massgeneral.org/stories/earl...
Earlier Detection of Alzheimer’s Could Help Reduce Its Most Devastating Effects
Heidi Jacobs, PhD, is a leader in Alzheimer’s disease research whose personal experience with the disease strengthens her passion for finding a cure — something she is well on her way to achieving.
giving.massgeneral.org
July 23, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Learn about our work towards earlier detection of Alzheimer's disease. Despite NIH-funding being delayed, terminated, and uncertain, we are fiercely committed to these goals! Link for donations to support our work is at the bottom of the page, or reach out.
giving.massgeneral.org/stories/earl...
giving.massgeneral.org/stories/earl...
🚨Attending SBN?🚨
Stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster tomorrow Tuesday July 15 4:30-6:30pm (Poster Session 2, #32) examining the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on memory and emotion regulation! #SBN2025
Stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster tomorrow Tuesday July 15 4:30-6:30pm (Poster Session 2, #32) examining the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on memory and emotion regulation! #SBN2025
July 14, 2025 at 10:29 PM
🚨Attending SBN?🚨
Stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster tomorrow Tuesday July 15 4:30-6:30pm (Poster Session 2, #32) examining the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on memory and emotion regulation! #SBN2025
Stop by graduate student Beatriz Brandao’s poster tomorrow Tuesday July 15 4:30-6:30pm (Poster Session 2, #32) examining the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on memory and emotion regulation! #SBN2025
Exciting to see our work featured in Forbes!
Emotional music makes it easier to remember, but whether we remember details depends on how strong that emotion is. 🧪 #scicomm www.forbes.com/sites/evaams...
Memory Is Shaped By The Music We Listen To
Music therapy can be used in memory recall, but which music works best? A new study found that our emotional response to music affects what we remember.
www.forbes.com
July 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Exciting to see our work featured in Forbes!
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Do you ever get tired of cables getting caught as you're putting a research subject into the MRI scanner? Do you wish you had a 3D-printable model of clips that slide into the slot on the side of your Siemens MRI scanner bed? Well look no further! github.com/Kirwanlab/MR...
GitHub - Kirwanlab/MR-compatible-clips: STL files for 3D printing MR-compatible clips for a Siemens scanner
STL files for 3D printing MR-compatible clips for a Siemens scanner - Kirwanlab/MR-compatible-clips
github.com
July 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Do you ever get tired of cables getting caught as you're putting a research subject into the MRI scanner? Do you wish you had a 3D-printable model of clips that slide into the slot on the side of your Siemens MRI scanner bed? Well look no further! github.com/Kirwanlab/MR...
🚨Check out our latest work published in The Journal of Neuroscience! We examined post-encoding music impacts on memory and found gist verses detail tradeoffs in memory that depended on music-induced emotional arousal. 🎼
New in #JNeurosci from Clark and Leal: How strongly music arouses emotions in people influences which aspects of their memories are improved by music. vist.ly/3n7prv5
June 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
🚨Check out our latest work published in The Journal of Neuroscience! We examined post-encoding music impacts on memory and found gist verses detail tradeoffs in memory that depended on music-induced emotional arousal. 🎼
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Electric art by Saiman Chow for today's essay: Everything, everywhere, all at once: Inside the chaos of Alzheimer’s disease. by Michael A. Yassa @thetransmitter.bsky.social: www.thetransmitter.org/alzheimers-d... #sciart
Everything, everywhere, all at once: Inside the chaos of Alzheimer’s disease
To truly understand Alzheimer’s disease, we may need to take a systems approach, in which inflammation, vascular injury, impaired glucose metabolism and other factors interact in complex ways.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 16, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Electric art by Saiman Chow for today's essay: Everything, everywhere, all at once: Inside the chaos of Alzheimer’s disease. by Michael A. Yassa @thetransmitter.bsky.social: www.thetransmitter.org/alzheimers-d... #sciart
🚨Attending APS 2025?🚨
Be sure to stop by @morales-calva.bsky.social poster TODAY from 4-5pm! Fernanda will be presenting her work examining cultural impacts on perception and memory. Details below. #APS25DC
Be sure to stop by @morales-calva.bsky.social poster TODAY from 4-5pm! Fernanda will be presenting her work examining cultural impacts on perception and memory. Details below. #APS25DC
May 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
🚨Attending APS 2025?🚨
Be sure to stop by @morales-calva.bsky.social poster TODAY from 4-5pm! Fernanda will be presenting her work examining cultural impacts on perception and memory. Details below. #APS25DC
Be sure to stop by @morales-calva.bsky.social poster TODAY from 4-5pm! Fernanda will be presenting her work examining cultural impacts on perception and memory. Details below. #APS25DC
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Join us in beautiful Santa Barbara! We're hiring a full-time junior specialist/research technician to play a central role in data collection & analysis of brain imaging studies of pregnancy & menopause.
Learn more & apply at: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
Or help us spread the word 💫
Learn more & apply at: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
Or help us spread the word 💫
May 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Join us in beautiful Santa Barbara! We're hiring a full-time junior specialist/research technician to play a central role in data collection & analysis of brain imaging studies of pregnancy & menopause.
Learn more & apply at: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
Or help us spread the word 💫
Learn more & apply at: recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02974
Or help us spread the word 💫
So incredibly proud of the two graduates from the lab today!! Lorena is the first PhD student to graduate from my lab, and Maddie received her Masters along the way to her PhD! Enjoy and celebrate these moments! 💙
May 11, 2025 at 2:28 AM
So incredibly proud of the two graduates from the lab today!! Lorena is the first PhD student to graduate from my lab, and Maddie received her Masters along the way to her PhD! Enjoy and celebrate these moments! 💙
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
New opportunity for Bay Area undergrads to gain computational neuroscience exposure and training!
I’m teaming up with @neuronush.bsky.social to offer this to students in our communities 💕🧠🧪
Please share with any students who might be interested!
Tiny.cc/ucsfcompneuro
I’m teaming up with @neuronush.bsky.social to offer this to students in our communities 💕🧠🧪
Please share with any students who might be interested!
Tiny.cc/ucsfcompneuro
May 3, 2025 at 2:58 AM
New opportunity for Bay Area undergrads to gain computational neuroscience exposure and training!
I’m teaming up with @neuronush.bsky.social to offer this to students in our communities 💕🧠🧪
Please share with any students who might be interested!
Tiny.cc/ucsfcompneuro
I’m teaming up with @neuronush.bsky.social to offer this to students in our communities 💕🧠🧪
Please share with any students who might be interested!
Tiny.cc/ucsfcompneuro
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
The 2025 @alzassociation.bsky.social Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures report is out today! Once again, I was honored to work on this report with our crack team of researchers and provide the most up to date information on this devastating condition #AlzheimersinAmerica
www.alz.org/alzheimers-d...
www.alz.org/alzheimers-d...
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
Read the 2025 report to understand the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system.
www.alz.org
April 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The 2025 @alzassociation.bsky.social Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures report is out today! Once again, I was honored to work on this report with our crack team of researchers and provide the most up to date information on this devastating condition #AlzheimersinAmerica
www.alz.org/alzheimers-d...
www.alz.org/alzheimers-d...
Reposted by Stephanie Leal (Leal Memory Lab)
Nearly 800 NIH grants have been terminated so far, including some focused on HIV and AIDS, trans health, and COVID-19, after researchers were told their work was no longer an agency priority. https://cbsn.ws/3YkDndI
April 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Nearly 800 NIH grants have been terminated so far, including some focused on HIV and AIDS, trans health, and COVID-19, after researchers were told their work was no longer an agency priority. https://cbsn.ws/3YkDndI
Congratulations to graduate student @morales-calva.bsky.social for winning the 2025 Excellence in Research, Teaching, & Service Award in the Psychological Sciences Department at Rice University! So proud of you!
April 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Congratulations to graduate student @morales-calva.bsky.social for winning the 2025 Excellence in Research, Teaching, & Service Award in the Psychological Sciences Department at Rice University! So proud of you!
Hi all, if anyone knows of any aging or mental health focused postdoc or research scientist positions, please share them with me! Lorena is on the job market and would be a great asset!
Congratulations to the first graduate student in my lab, Dr. Lorena Ferguson, who successfully defended her dissertation today! So proud of you and all your accomplishments 🥹
April 18, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Hi all, if anyone knows of any aging or mental health focused postdoc or research scientist positions, please share them with me! Lorena is on the job market and would be a great asset!