University of Wisconsin–Madison

Month: July 2016

Background noise may hinder toddlers’ ability to learn words

The environments children are in, including how much and what kinds of stimulation they are exposed to, influence what and how they learn. One important task for children is zeroing in on the information that’s relevant to what they’re learning and ignoring what isn’t. A new study has found that the presence of background noise …

Xinyu Zhao, PhD

Title:  MDM2 inhibition rescues neurogenic and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome Legend: Left: Models for FMRP regulation of the MDM2 and P53 pathway, which impacts adult neurogenesis and cognition. Right upper: Schematic of novel location test for  assessing spatial learning.  Right lower panel Nutlin-3 treatment fully rescued spatial memory deficits in Fmr1 …

A new whey to manage PKU

Food products made from a specific protein found in whey can safely be part of a more palatable diet for individuals diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), according to a new clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin—Madison and Boston Children’s Hospital. “Our findings could also lead to increased insurance coverage for ‘medical foods’ …

Denise Ney, PhD

Title:  Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is a bioactive peptide released from casein in milk during cheesemaking that contains no aromatic amino acids. GMP is isolated for use in medical foods for the management of phenylketonuria (PKU) based on research conducted in Dr. Denise Ney’s laboratory at UW-Madison. GMP is an acidic, highly polar peptide that is hydrophilic …

New CDC funding will expand knowledge about children with autism spectrum disorder

The Waisman Center is one of only six institutions across to country to be awarded a SEED grant by the Centers for Disease Control. SEED is one of the largest studies in the United States to help identify factors that may put children at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Research …

Early environment can change your brain

Seth Pollak, PhD, Waisman Center investigator and professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was recently featured in a story about how childhood poverty can influence brain development and hinder success in school and beyond. You can read the full story in either the Capital Times or at WisconsinWatch.org.

When the words did not come

Luke Holzem sped from door to door, his orange t-shirt transforming him into a bright blur of 6-year-old energy. His grey-green eyes sparkled and he looked expectantly at his mother, Shannon. The question was clear: which of the numbered doors did he have to vanquish to get to his appointment at the Communication Aids & …

Houri Vorperian, PhD

Title: Hyoid bone fusion and bone density across the lifespan: prediction of age and sex Legend: Hyoid bone fusion rank definition (left panel) with images showing the same fusion rank bilaterally. The 3D Hyoid bone models (middle panel) were created using image visualization and analysis software Analyze 11.0 (AnalyzeDirect; Overland Park, KS). The CT scan …