About the blog

This blog is all about neuroscience.

It is a space where I share and discuss new discoveries in the field— not as definitive explanations, but through my own understanding and interpretation.
It’s also where I reflect on the thoughts and questions that arise when I think about the fascinating organ that is the brain.

I’ll write about the books I read on neuroscience, with the hope that the excitement I felt will inspire others to read them too. I’ll also explore the lives and paths of the neuroscientists behind major discoveries, highlighting how their work has shaped the way we understand the brain today.

In the future, I would like to also have a space for conversations and interviews with neuroscientists and writers — sharing their voices, stories, and insights.

Curious about the name?

As is well known, the hippocampus is a part of our brain responsible for memory and, consequently, for learning and the elaboration of knowledge. However, it is also the scientific name of the seahorse, which lent its name to this brain structure due to their similar shape. Less commonly known is that the seahorse was also a figure in Greek mythology—something between a water dragon and a sea monster (in fact, hippos means “horse” and kampos means “sea monster” or “sea animal”). Even behind a name there is a story to tell…and since the purpose of this blog is to tell stories about this fascinating organ, it felt like the perfect name.

About me

Hello !!
I’m Aurelia Poerio and I have always been passionate about neuroscience. After studying Biology at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s level, I completed a PhD in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, followed by a few years of postdoctoral research in the same field.

Italian by origin, I went to Nancy, in France, for my Erasmus+ program during the second year of my Master’s degree where I worked on the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. I ended up staying in France for my PhD—and I’m still here today with the exception of one amazing year spent in the United States working at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in North Carolina. There, I worked on the controlled release of neurotrophic factors to improve the innervation and integration of 3D printed skeletal muscle constructs.

Every chance I had to go abroad, I took it since it allowed me to learn new languages, discover new cultures and customs, and meet wonderful people.
Looking back, I would do it again and again.

What else?

I love music, especially jazz, and I play the saxophone as well as some piano and guitar. I also love reading, particularly non-fiction scientific books, and I have a deep appreciation for all kinds of art, language and food culture.

Find my scientific papers on Google Scholar