Selected peer-reviewed publications

Common shrew under Dehnel phenomenon

Dehnel's Phenomenon in Mammals (2026)

Dehnel's phenomenon is fascinating, but poorly understood. In this review we investigate the status and future directions of research!

Illustration by Javier Lázaro

Brain diffusion properties shrews

Programmed seasonal brain shrinkage in the common shrew via water loss without cell death (2025)

In vivo MRI has revealed that common shrews shrink their brains for winter survival by safely and reversibly losing water from their brain cells!

Captivity effects on brain size and cognition

Captivity alters behaviour but not seasonal brain size change in semi-naturally housed shrews (2025)

Captive shrews still shrink their brains seasonally... but their behavior tells a different story!

Dehnel’s phenomenon cognition

From summer growth to winter decline: brain size, captive effect & cognitive outcomes in common shrew during Dehnel’s phenomenon (2024)

In my dissertation, I explore how seasonal brain plasticity affects learning and physiology in the common shrew!

Shrew Brain Atlas

Histological and MRI brain atlas of the common shrew, Sorex araneus, with brain region-specific gene expression profiles (2023)

The common shrew is one of the few mammals that shrinks and regrows its brain... and now it has its own detailed brain atlas!

Parrot self-control study

Intra‑ and interspecific variation in self‑control capacities of parrots in a delay of gratification task (2022)

This study compared self‑control across four parrot species using a delay of gratification task.

Science Communication

Chickpea falling

The Science behind Clumsiness

How a snowy trip to the ER made me wonder about brains.

Chickpea and beaver building

A Beaver Post

The mandatory beaver post that my brain was asking about

Chickpea on the moon

It was always going to be the chickpea

It's about moon chickpeas.