…we found that the parvicellular reticular formation-alpha, a part of the brainstem thought to be involved in chewing, digesting food, heart rate, and breathing was related to individual differences in social communication in autistic children
Year: 2025
When worlds collide: autism & ADHD
– “It seems like there has to be some type of biological aspect to this that we can hope to better understand through this project. Then we can better conceptualize what is co-occurring autism and ADHD and also hopefully have targets to be able to think about whether there are ways we can ameliorate some of those features,” Travers says.
New study reveals motor delays as possible key early indicator for autism diagnosis
A new large-scale, population-based study reveals that motor delays may be a common yet under-recognized symptom in autistic children.
John Svaren, PhD – Slide of the Week
Formation of myelin by Schwann cells is tightly coupled to peripheral nervous system development and is important for neuronal function and long-term maintenance.
Newly funded research to study astrocyte dysfunction in Rett syndrome
The lab of Waisman Center director, Qiang Chang, PhD, professor of medical genetics and neurology, has received $1 million in funding from the Department of Defense to study the dysfunction of astrocytes, a key brain cell that supports neurons, in Rett syndrome.
CDC reports rising autism rates with Wisconsin notably higher than the national average
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among 8-year-old children in the U.S. has increased to 1 in 31 in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020, according to a recently published report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
Statewide success: Managing threatening confrontations training enhances disability support for thousands
It focuses on teaching proactive and positive strategies for supporting individuals with disabilities through a broad range of behaviors and escalation levels.
André Sousa, PhD – Slide of the Week
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for myriad high-cognitive functions and is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders.
Change ahead: Creating a road map to help families navigate the transition to adulthood for individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability
The road to adulthood can be rough terrain. It consists of uncharted territory and many changes.
Tim Markle receives 2025 Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award for tireless advocacy
Tim Markle, MA/CS, outreach manager of the Waisman Center’s Children’s Resource Center – South (CRC) and director of the Youth Health Transition Initiative (YHTI), recently received the 2025 Merle McPherson Family Leadership Award for exemplary contributions to further family/professional collaboration within state Title V programs and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP).