News Archives

How Neuroscience Can Unlock the Future of AI-Powered Literacy

News How Neuroscience Can Unlock the Future of AI-Powered Literacy Michael Platt speaks on a panel at StudyFetch's Enduring Literacy Symposium. Photo: StudyFetch StudyFetch, the AI-powered educational platform serving over 6 million students worldwide, recently hosted the Enduring Literacy Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania. This event gathered some of…Read More

How Can Leaders Adapt to AI?

How Can Leaders Adapt to AI? In an excerpt from his book ‘The Leader’s Brain,’ Wharton neuroscientist Michael Platt talks about three leadership skills that are critical in an increasingly automated world. In this updated and expanded edition of his groundbreaking book The Leader’s Brain, Wharton Neuroscience Initiative director Michael Platt reveals how…Read More

Can We Identify Future Leaders Before They Lead?

Can We Identify Future Leaders Before They Lead? How Wharton Neuroscience, Korn Ferry, and Lazul.ai are uncovering the science behind tomorrow’s leaders Imagine a company that's not hiring just for today but for the future. Discover how Wharton Neuroscience, the Korn Ferry Institute, and Lazul.ai are uncovering the science behind…Read More

Advancing Leadership Through Science and Innovation

Advancing Leadership Through Science and Innovation Uniting Psychology and Neuroscience to Push the Boundaries of Leadership Assessment and Development Image: Courtesy of Korn Ferry Institute In this piece from Korn Ferry, Dr. Michael Platt, Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, explores how neuroscience can unlock new dimensions in leadership assessment…Read More

Ripple Effect Podcast: Visual Marketing: Barbara Kahn and Zab Johnson

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In a podcast episode titled ‘Visual Marketing: A Practical Guide to the Science of Branding and Retailing,’ Barbara Kahn and Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson discuss the merger of marketing and neuroscience, focusing on visual marketing’s increasing significance in today’s digital and omnichannel environment. They highlight key principles such as attention and fluency, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate behavioral and neuroscience data to optimize marketing strategies.…Read More

Does AI Limit Our Creativity

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New research from Wharton highlights that while generative AI like ChatGPT can enhance individual idea quality, it may reduce diversity among group ideas, which is crucial for innovation. Ensuring diversity in ideation processes involves changing prompts and incorporating multiple AI models or starting with human ideas, as suggested by the study’s authors.…Read More

How Small Talk Opens Up Deeper Connections

In an article for MSN, Emily Falk, Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, unpacks how small talk can spark deeper social bonds. Backed by neuroscience research, Falk explains how brief, everyday conversations help establish brain synchrony—laying the groundwork for more meaningful exchanges. Using the “Fast Friends” protocol, a structured Q&A game, Falk and her collaborators found that even strangers could align neurologically through initial icebreakers, leading to more enjoyable and wide-ranging discussions. The piece reframes small talk as a gateway rather than a barrier to connection.…Read More

Adaptation and Resilience in Business: The 2024 Wharton Neuroscience Summit

A presenter in a conference room is addressing an audience. The presentation slide features topics relating to "One Health," including environmental, physical, and social elements, with a focus on brain capital.

Adaptation and Resilience in Business: The 2024 Wharton Neuroscience Summit Michael Platt, Faculty Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, presents at the 2024 Wharton Neuroscience Summit Wharton professor Michael Platt is using neuroscience to make the business case for better work culture. During his keynote speech at the 2024 Wharton…Read More

When Does Waiting Stop Being Worth It?

Human brain in white room with chaotic arrows drawn on wall. The concept of different choices.

In a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Penn psychologist Joseph Kable—Jean-Marie Kneeley President’s Distinguished Professor of Psychology—explores how different regions of the brain help us decide whether to stick with something or walk away. By examining patients with specific prefrontal cortex lesions, Kable and his collaborators uncovered how the brain weighs uncertainty and reward in real time. The findings have implications for decision-making, mental health, and our understanding of persistence—not as simple grit, but as a dynamic, context-driven process.…Read More