ISSUE 3

EDITOR’S NOTE
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Neuroscience and Behavior program at Vassar College. To commemorate this milestone, we share with you a special edition by both Vassar College students and alumni. 

This third issue of Grey Matters Journal VC is an emergent property of the collaborative efforts of generations of Vassar students, each contributing a unique perspective. Our cover article, "A World of Pure Imagination: The Neuroscience of Lucid Dreaming” dives into the emerging science of lucid dreaming — the ability to consciously reshape your dreams. The intersection of neuroscience and law are examined in “Neurolaw: Taking the Stand on Mental Illness,” while the the great potential of organoids in metamorphosing research is explored in “Growing Brains in a Dish: Organoids Present Great Promise in Modeling Neural Tissue.” Alumni provide invaluable commentary on how studying the brain sciences at Vassar College has impacted their life, work, and overall trajectory post-Vassar.

Milestones are meant to be celebrated. As we shine a light on the milestone this issue commemorates, I invite you to reflect on the experiences, people, and moments that have created the emergent property that is you. What you do. Why you do it. What you value. How you harness those values through your craft. For me, this ends with expressing my gratitude to everyone who played a part in creating this special edition. 

Thank you to the Neuroscience and Behavior program for your endless support. Thank you to Dr. Zupan, Chair of our program, for this fantastic opportunity to collaborate, and for extending your time so generously throughout this publication cycle. 

Thank you to my Neuroscience and Behavior mentors, Dr. Bergstrom and Dr. Newman, who have cultivated my passion for scientific communication and taught me how to harness that passion via invaluable lessons in collaboration, leadership, and flexibility. Thank you to the impassioned team members that comprise our Grey Matters community for your dedication towards our shared goal of promoting accessibility in science.

And to you, our readers, our deepest thanks for tuning in. We are delighted to reconnect with you, and we hope you learn something wonderful. 

Cheers,