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Artificial Intelligence Mirrors Natural Intelligence Can we move beyond human education years to hybrid intelligence? A striking visual metaphor for artificial intelligence and continuous learning, depicting a human brain merging with glowing blue circuitry. For the past three years, the conversation around artificial intelligence has been dominated by a single, anxious question: What will...Read More

The Science of Boardroom Decision-Making How neuroscience can help boards make better decisions Artificial intelligence interface in a modern meeting room, showcasing neural networks and machine learning. Corporate boards are operating in a period defined by persistent uncertainty and volatility. Directors are asked to make consequential decisions under heightened scrutiny yet the information available...Read More

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? 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? 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 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

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 ...Read More

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

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 ...Read More

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 ...Read More

The episode of Freakonomics Radio examines the potential risks and rewards of celebrity endorsements, focusing on the scandal involving Jared Fogle and Subway, and analyzes whether such endorsements significantly impact consumer behavior. Despite Fogle’s arrest for repugnant crimes, Subway sales showed no significant decline, questioning the actual influence of celebrity endorsements on brand success as ...Read More

In a new study published in Science, Michael Platt, Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor and Faculty Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, shows how Hurricane Maria reshaped social behavior among rhesus macaques on Puerto Rico’s Cayo Santiago. Alongside collaborators Professor Lauren Brent, University of Exeter, and Camille Testard, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Pennsylvania, Platt found that in ...Read More

Neuroscientists Michael Platt and Peter Sterling highlight that the declining global fertility rate is attributed to increasing social isolation and anxiety, fundamentally altering economic and social landscapes. They emphasize that traditional government interventions have been ineffective, suggesting deeper societal and lifestyle restructuring to counteract negative mental health trends influenced by digital culture. Read More

Neuroscientist Michael Platt and his team explored heart rate synchrony as a biomarker to improve decision-making dynamics within groups, facilitating better communication and cooperation. Their findings suggest that heart rate synchrony can serve as a reliable indicator of group effectiveness, surpassing traditional survey-based measures in predicting successful outcomes during collaborative tasks. Read More

The article discusses the implications of advancements in AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, on various fields, exploring the interplay between artificial intelligence and neuroscience as well as the ethical considerations and potential societal impacts, such as displacement of jobs, the integration in education, and the biases in data training. Experts Michael Platt and ...Read More

The article discusses the impact of declining fertility rates on the workforce, featuring insights from Wharton professor Michael Platt. It highlights concerns about how demographic changes can affect labor markets and economic structures. Read More

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Penn clinical psychologist Philip Gehrman and colleagues investigated why a sleepless night can sometimes lift symptoms of depression. Brain imaging revealed that increased activity in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex—two regions tied to mood and emotion—was linked to improved mood in ...Read More

The text discusses BDO’s initiatives in digital risk management, tax technology, and AI strategy, highlighting collaborations with industries like healthcare and pharmaceuticals to streamline processes and improve efficiency. It also mentions podcasts by BDO focusing on transforming the tax function using technology and internal resources. Read More

A recent perspective in Science calls for stronger collaboration between neuroscience, psychology, and law to create policies that safeguard children online. As digital environments increasingly shape how young people think and behave, the authors stress the urgency of evidence-based regulation that accounts for children’s unique developmental vulnerabilities. With contributions from experts at Penn, the piece ...Read More

A new study co-led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, including experts from the Communication Neuroscience Lab, reveals that people are more likely to share posts they find personally meaningful or socially relevant. Published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, the research highlights how value-based content—whether related to public health or climate change—is ...Read More

Supported by the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative and the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, the Applied Neuroscience and Business Analytics Fellowship introduces undergraduates to the growing field at the intersection of data science and behavioral research. During the summer program, students work closely with faculty including Gideon Nave, Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz Assistant Professor ...Read More

Co-taught by faculty from the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and the Marketing Department, Visual Marketing (MKTG 239/739) gives Penn students hands-on experience with how visual perception influences consumer behavior. Blending neuroscience, analytics, and brand strategy, the course combines classroom instruction with eye-tracking labs, fieldwork, and real-world projects with industry partners like The Hershey Company. Students explore ...Read More

The Korn Ferry report “Mind to Mind” explores how leaders can enhance team performance through understanding the neurological phenomenon of interpersonal synchrony, which fosters trust, cooperation, and effective decision-making within teams. Research highlights how aligning brain activity between team members can lead to improved collaboration and organizational outcomes. Read More

The Annenberg School’s Communication Neuroscience Lab, led by doctoral candidate Mary E. Andrews, explored how personal narratives in messaging can promote protective actions for vulnerable groups during COVID-19, with a focus on healthcare workers and incarcerated individuals. Meanwhile, the Dakar Greenbelt project in Senegal aims to improve urban sustainability through ecological infrastructure, with contributions from ...Read More

The article explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the field of sports by providing in-depth performance analytics and optimizing team strategies. It highlights the use of AI in enhancing player training through smart data and real-time feedback. Read More

The article discusses how the biological impact of Hurricane Maria on rhesus monkeys in Cayo Santiago may mirror the effects of traumatic stress on humans, suggesting that climate change-related disasters could accelerate aging and affect health in survivors. The research involved analyzing pre- and post-disaster blood samples from the monkeys, revealing changes in immune function ...Read More

A recent study published in Nature suggests that consuming one pint of beer or a glass of wine daily can shrink the overall brain volume, with increased shrinkage associated with higher alcohol consumption. The study analyzed data from over 36,000 individuals and found that moderate drinking could age the brain and that cumulative alcohol intake ...Read More

Wharton Neuroscience Vulnerability, Authenticity, and Trust This series focuses on vulnerability, authenticity, and trust in individual, team, and organizational performance from diverse perspectives, including neuroscience and human behavior. Episode 1 Guests F. Xavier Glasper, Vice President of Mapping at McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Laken Tomlinson, Offensive Guard with the San...Read More

Wharton Dean Geoffrey Garrett announced a $10 million anonymous gift to the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative (WiN), aimed at enhancing faculty research, student learning, and corporate engagement in neuroscience’s application to business. The initiative, led by Michael Platt and Elizabeth Johnson, seeks to integrate neuroscience, psychology, and analytics to transform business methods and education across various ...Read More

A study by Penn neuroscientist Michael Platt and colleagues reveals that eye movement and pupil dilation can predict decision-making, particularly in financial scenarios involving loss aversion. This research could lead to personalized interventions to influence decision-making processes, especially among older individuals, by understanding the biological aspects of decisions based on where a person looks and ...Read More

A comprehensive analysis led by Gideon Nave from the Wharton School challenges previous assumptions linking testosterone to reduced cognitive empathy, a trait impaired in autism, by conducting large-scale studies that found no causal relationship. This research contests the ‘extreme male brain’ hypothesis and encourages further investigation into autism’s origins without simplifying it to testosterone effects. Read More

Researchers at the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Max Planck Institute are investigating the brain activation patterns that influence the speed of learning, comparing how cognitive control might slow down the learning process. Their study, published in Nature Neuroscience and led by Danielle Bassett and Evelyn Tang, explores how geometric patterns of ...Read More

Neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee explores how the brain responds to art, questioning traditional concepts of art’s value and the impact of AI-generated art, in the newly established Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics. His findings highlight the evolutionary basis for perceiving beauty and art while acknowledging the cultural and neurological influences and pondering the implications of AI in ...Read More

The article discusses how business growth is largely determined by influencing the subconscious brand preferences of customers through positive associations, challenging traditional marketing concepts that focus solely on single brand messages. Using the concept of ‘Brand Connectome’, it highlights the need for brands to create strong networks of positive associations to dominate consumer choice and ...Read More

The study, led by Gideon Nave and Philipp Koellinger, examined the relationship between brain volume and cognitive performance, concluding that while a positive relationship exists, brain size accounts for only a small percentage of performance variance. The research utilized data from over 13,600 individuals, controlling for various confounding factors, and highlighted the need for future ...Read More

The Wharton Neuroscience Initiative explores the intersection of neuroscience and business, particularly how the brain influences consumer choices and management strategies. Arthur Lee, a graduate student at Wharton, is at the forefront of this research, studying neural circuits to predict decision-making and collaborating with leading scholars like Michael Platt to integrate neuroscience into business applications. Read More

The article discusses the impact of social network structures on problem-solving and brain activity, noting that individuals who serve as ‘information brokers’ in their networks tend to be better problem solvers and use their social brain networks more effectively. Research suggests that the capacity to connect different social groups enriches social brain networks and influences ...Read More

A study led by Wharton professor Gideon Nave investigates the association between musical preferences and personality traits, offering marketers and data scientists insights into personalizing customer interactions while raising privacy concerns. The research, which used music dimensions and Facebook likes as data sources, underscores the potential for using digital footprints to accurately predict traits like ...Read More

New research by Wharton marketing professor Deborah Small explores why donors often prioritize emotional connections over rational effectiveness when choosing charitable organizations, suggesting a compromise that combines personal relevance with effectiveness information might optimize donation impact. The study highlights the challenges charities face in marketing and transparency, while proposing that reframing cost-effectiveness information could improve ...Read More

The Wharton Neuroscience Initiative aims to integrate neuroscience and business to explore areas where the two fields can inform each other, with a focus on decision-making and creating a common language for interdisciplinary collaboration. Led by Michael Platt and Elizabeth Johnson, the initiative seeks to create research and educational opportunities that engage the academic and ...Read More