Although the configurations of facial muscles that humans perceive vary continuously, we often represent emotions as categories. This suggests that, as in other domains of categorical perception such as speech and color perception, humans become attuned to features of emotion cues that map onto meaningful thresholds for these signals given their environments.
Month: May 2019
Robert Pearce, MD, PhD – Slide of the Week
Previous experiments using genetic and pharmacological manipulations have provided strong evidence that etomidate impairs synaptic plasticity and memory by modulating a5-subunit containing GABAARs (a5-GABAARs). Since a5-GABAARs mediate tonic inhibition (TI) in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, and etomidate enhances TI, etomidate enhancement of TI in pyramidal cells has been proposed as the underlying mechanism (Martin et al., 2009).
Waisman Center launches new fund to advance intellectual and developmental disabilities genomics research
The Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, launched a new fund to support interdisciplinary research in the area of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) genomics.
Sigan Hartley honored with Romnes Faculty Fellowship
Waisman Center investigator Sigan Hartley, PhD, has been honored with a Romnes Faculty Fellowship. Romnes awards recognize exceptional faculty members who have earned tenure within the last six years. The awards are supported by the …
Ben Parrell, PhD – Slide of the Week
We present a new computational model of speech motor control: the Feedback-Aware Control of Tasks in Speech or FACTS model. This model is based on a state feedback control architecture, which is widely accepted in non-speech motor domains. The FACTS model employs a hierarchical observer-based architecture, with a distinct higher-level controller of speech tasks and a lower-level controller of speech articulators.
Daniel Bolt receives Kellett Mid-Career Award
Daniel Bolt, PhD, has been recognized with a Kellet Mid-Career Award. The Kellett Mid-Career award was created to provide needed support and encouragement to faculty at a critical stage of their careers. The award is …
May is ALS awareness month
May is #ALSAwarenessMonth and Waisman investigator Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, uses stem cells to uncover the cause of ALS with the hope of developing treatments and therapies.