Sara Mehrhof
@saramehrhof.bsky.social
Postdoctoral researcher at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge | Interested in computational psychiatry, motivation, and brain-body interactions
Pinned
Sara Mehrhof
@saramehrhof.bsky.social
· Sep 25
An interoceptive model of energy allostasis linking metabolic and mental health
Interactions between metabolic interoception and regulation may drive comorbidity between mental and metabolic ill-health.
www.science.org
Mental and metabolic health are closely linked - but what drives this connection? In our new theory paper, we (w/ @camillanord.bsky.social & @hugofleming.bsky.social g.bsky.social) propose dysregulation of interoceptive energy allostasis as a key mechanism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Thrilled to share our new paper, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, uncovering how estradiol, the most potent estrogen, modulates reinforcement learning and reward prediction errors across biological levels. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#blueprint 1/7
#blueprint 1/7
Estrogen modulates reward prediction errors and reinforcement learning - Nature Neuroscience
Dopamine encoding of reward prediction errors naturally fluctuates over females’ reproductive cycles with estrogenic signaling due to reduced expression of dopamine reuptake proteins.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Thrilled to share our new paper, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, uncovering how estradiol, the most potent estrogen, modulates reinforcement learning and reward prediction errors across biological levels. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#blueprint 1/7
#blueprint 1/7
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
It’s not the thought that counts: Allostasis at the core of brain function
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
#neuroscience
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
#neuroscience
It’s not the thought that counts: Allostasis at the core of brain function
The authors review evidence that the primary function of the brain, supported by distributed
neural systems, is the predictive regulation of physiology (i.e., allostasis). An
example from Alzheimer’s ...
www.cell.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
It’s not the thought that counts: Allostasis at the core of brain function
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
#neuroscience
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
#neuroscience
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
October 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
🚨 New Preprint 🚨
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Some people are at greater risk of experiencing negative mental health outcomes of social media use than others, but why?
🧵
We examined whether individual differences in cognitive processes shape risk and resilience to mental health effects on social media: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Nice things for the
**13th #MindBrainBody Symposium 2026**
happening under the hood 😊
Save the date: 📆 March 9-11, 2026 (Berlin and virtual)
Stay tuned for the call and announcement!
(For info about the last 12 MBBSymposia: mindbrainbody.de)
#interoception #neuroskyence
**13th #MindBrainBody Symposium 2026**
happening under the hood 😊
Save the date: 📆 March 9-11, 2026 (Berlin and virtual)
Stay tuned for the call and announcement!
(For info about the last 12 MBBSymposia: mindbrainbody.de)
#interoception #neuroskyence
October 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Nice things for the
**13th #MindBrainBody Symposium 2026**
happening under the hood 😊
Save the date: 📆 March 9-11, 2026 (Berlin and virtual)
Stay tuned for the call and announcement!
(For info about the last 12 MBBSymposia: mindbrainbody.de)
#interoception #neuroskyence
**13th #MindBrainBody Symposium 2026**
happening under the hood 😊
Save the date: 📆 March 9-11, 2026 (Berlin and virtual)
Stay tuned for the call and announcement!
(For info about the last 12 MBBSymposia: mindbrainbody.de)
#interoception #neuroskyence
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
In some way, it's trivial:
The #brain & the rest of the #body (e.g. the #heart) are coupled.
Yet, we spelled it out
w/ A. Villringer & V. Nikulin for current scientists (below)
w/ @martager.bsky.social @agatapatyczek.bsky.social @el-rei.bsky.social for future scientists bsky.app/profile/mart...
The #brain & the rest of the #body (e.g. the #heart) are coupled.
Yet, we spelled it out
w/ A. Villringer & V. Nikulin for current scientists (below)
w/ @martager.bsky.social @agatapatyczek.bsky.social @el-rei.bsky.social for future scientists bsky.app/profile/mart...
'Brain–body states as a link between cardiovascular and mental health'
by Arno Villringer, Vadim Nikulin & Michael Gaebler @mbe-lab.bsky.social @michaelgaebler.com @mpicbs.bsky.social sky.social
www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
by Arno Villringer, Vadim Nikulin & Michael Gaebler @mbe-lab.bsky.social @michaelgaebler.com @mpicbs.bsky.social sky.social
www.cell.com/trends/neuro...
September 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
In some way, it's trivial:
The #brain & the rest of the #body (e.g. the #heart) are coupled.
Yet, we spelled it out
w/ A. Villringer & V. Nikulin for current scientists (below)
w/ @martager.bsky.social @agatapatyczek.bsky.social @el-rei.bsky.social for future scientists bsky.app/profile/mart...
The #brain & the rest of the #body (e.g. the #heart) are coupled.
Yet, we spelled it out
w/ A. Villringer & V. Nikulin for current scientists (below)
w/ @martager.bsky.social @agatapatyczek.bsky.social @el-rei.bsky.social for future scientists bsky.app/profile/mart...
Mental and metabolic health are closely linked - but what drives this connection? In our new theory paper, we (w/ @camillanord.bsky.social & @hugofleming.bsky.social g.bsky.social) propose dysregulation of interoceptive energy allostasis as a key mechanism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
An interoceptive model of energy allostasis linking metabolic and mental health
Interactions between metabolic interoception and regulation may drive comorbidity between mental and metabolic ill-health.
www.science.org
September 25, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Mental and metabolic health are closely linked - but what drives this connection? In our new theory paper, we (w/ @camillanord.bsky.social & @hugofleming.bsky.social g.bsky.social) propose dysregulation of interoceptive energy allostasis as a key mechanism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Why menstrual cycle irregularities belong in brain research www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Why menstrual cycle irregularities belong in brain research - Nature Medicine
The menstrual cycle requires tight orchestration between the brain and body, and irregularities can be both the cause and the consequence of wide-ranging health issues. Embracing this complexity, inst...
www.nature.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Why menstrual cycle irregularities belong in brain research www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Very happy to share my first preprint from @oxexppsy.bsky.social @oxneuro.bsky.social ! We (me + co-first authors @lilweb.bsky.social @mirunarascu.bsky.social + PI @mkflugge.bsky.social + many others) used transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TUS/tFUS/LIFU) of the human amygdala ... (1/15)
August 20, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Very happy to share my first preprint from @oxexppsy.bsky.social @oxneuro.bsky.social ! We (me + co-first authors @lilweb.bsky.social @mirunarascu.bsky.social + PI @mkflugge.bsky.social + many others) used transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TUS/tFUS/LIFU) of the human amygdala ... (1/15)
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Does altered energy homeostasis contribute to distinct symptom profiles in depression? A polygenic score capturing the genetic liability of the homeostatic system shows promising associations with symptoms.
Great work by @ymilaneschi.bsky.social +team #neuroskyence 🩺
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Great work by @ymilaneschi.bsky.social +team #neuroskyence 🩺
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Energy Homeostasis in Depression Pathophysiology and Heterogeneity
This study examines whether the genetic liability of metabolic, interoceptive, and motivational pathways involved in energy homeostasis regulation is associated with specific symptoms of major depress...
jamanetwork.com
August 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Does altered energy homeostasis contribute to distinct symptom profiles in depression? A polygenic score capturing the genetic liability of the homeostatic system shows promising associations with symptoms.
Great work by @ymilaneschi.bsky.social +team #neuroskyence 🩺
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Great work by @ymilaneschi.bsky.social +team #neuroskyence 🩺
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Thanks for such a fantastic conference!
Congratulations to all the Travel Award Winners at #CPConf2025 - we were very fortunate to have so many fantastic young scientists at our conference!
July 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Thanks for such a fantastic conference!
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Brilliant work by @saramehrhof.bsky.social on shared neurocognitive signatures of psychiatric and metabolic disorder at #cpconf2025
July 15, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Brilliant work by @saramehrhof.bsky.social on shared neurocognitive signatures of psychiatric and metabolic disorder at #cpconf2025
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Excellent thread on dopamine culture. We have some work in the pipleline that is highly relevant to this!
As a neurologist, I see the term "dopamine" everywhere: dopamine fasting, dopamine hits, dopamine culture. It's become a cultural shorthand for pleasure.
But the real story is far more complex and fascinating. Here’s a thread on what we actually know 🧠
But the real story is far more complex and fascinating. Here’s a thread on what we actually know 🧠
July 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Excellent thread on dopamine culture. We have some work in the pipleline that is highly relevant to this!
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
Finally, the amazing Professor Camilla Nord presents on interoception - including some cool lived experience work on body sensations, and work on disgust and gastric rhythms, alongside work on energy conservation. #BAP2025
June 29, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Finally, the amazing Professor Camilla Nord presents on interoception - including some cool lived experience work on body sensations, and work on disgust and gastric rhythms, alongside work on energy conservation. #BAP2025
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
My new paper with Jennifer Cook sets out potential reasons for high rates of Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis in the autistic population: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @mrccbu.bsky.social @thechbh.bsky.social 🧵1/n
High rates of Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis in the autistic population: true co-occurrence or a product of overlapping traits?
Older autistic adult literature is sparse, and little is known about the aging autistic population. However, recent evidence suggests an increased pre…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
My new paper with Jennifer Cook sets out potential reasons for high rates of Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis in the autistic population: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @mrccbu.bsky.social @thechbh.bsky.social 🧵1/n
Reposted by Sara Mehrhof
so, so excited to share our new theory which endeavours to answer why depression and poor metabolic health go hand-in-hand: "An interoceptive model of energy allostasis linking metabolic and mental health" 💪🧠🔋 @saramehrhof.bsky.social
@hugofleming.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@hugofleming.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
April 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
so, so excited to share our new theory which endeavours to answer why depression and poor metabolic health go hand-in-hand: "An interoceptive model of energy allostasis linking metabolic and mental health" 💪🧠🔋 @saramehrhof.bsky.social
@hugofleming.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
@hugofleming.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...