Neuroimaging of serotonin transporters in post-stroke pathological crying

Pathological crying (PC) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by an excessive tendency towards crying after brain damage. To elucidate the role of serotonin neurotransmission for PC, a pilot study was performed using single photon emission computed tomography with [123I]β-CIT to estimate central (midbrain/pons and thalamus/hypothalamus) serotonin transporter (SERT) densities in 15 stroke patients who did or did not have PC. SERT binding ratios in midbrain/pons were significantly lower in the PC subgroup

Complexity, transparency and time pressure: practical insights into science communication in times of crisis

A global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic that started in early 2020 poses significant challenges for how research is conducted and communicated. We present four case studies from the perspective of an interdisciplinary research institution that switched to “corona-mode” during the first two months of the crisis, focussing all its capacities on COVID-19-related issues, communicating to the public directly and via media, as well as actively advising the national government. The case studies highlight the challenges posed by the increased time pressure, high demand for transparency, and communication of complexity and uncertainty. The article gives insights into how these challenges were addressed in our research institution and how science communication in general can be managed during a crisis