Link to the paper

This paper by Linzie Taylor and Karen S. Rommelfanger discusses how currently, neuroscience is not meeting its full potential–and how this can be improved. They argue that this is due to white Western individualist bias (WWIB), which leads to the ignorance of many factors in neuroscience research that would otherwise promote equality. One such example from the paper, among many given, is EEG scans, and how despite the fact that they have much more noise when used on scalps of people with coarse and curly hair (i.e. in populations of African descent), neuroscience has continued heavily depending on using EEG globally for about 100 years. After illustrating this problem, the authors develop a framework for a more “relational” approach to science–an approach that, if adopted by neuroscientists, will hopefully increase the inclusivity of research as a whole.

This week’s BWN Friday Post brings you the Alba Network, a team and network dedicated to promoting diversity and equity in the brain sciences. They have so many amazing resources and so much information on their website, but we especially wanted to highlight their resources section (particularly their guide for organizing a diverse conference), as well their many working groups! Check out the website, share their resources, and get involved here!

This week’s BWN Friday Post brings you a paper by Perry Zurn, Joseph Stramondo, Joel Reynolds, and Dani Bassett. In it, they discuss the importance of expanding DEI efforts within the field of biological psychiatry to include disability justice, what has been done so far, and concrete recommendations to continue working upon this going forward.

Read the full paper here.