Advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Waisman Center researchers Anita Bhattacharyya and Xinyu Zhao are looking to make stem cells glow. That glow will tell them that they have successfully turned on a gene that is usually turned off in individuals with fragile X syndrome. Turning on this gene – called FMR1 – could be an important way to treat this …
Title: ERα Signaling Is Required for TrkB-Mediated Hippocampal Neuroprotection in Female Neonatal Mice after Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Legend: Increases in p-TrkB immuno and protein expressions are sexually differentiated and ERα dependent post-HI. A. Changes in MAP2 and p-TrkBY515 immunoexpression in the CL and IL hippocampi of ERα+/+ and ERα-/- P9 male and female mice were …
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found a switch that redirects helper cells in the peripheral nervous system into “repair” mode, a form that restores damaged axons. Axons are long fibers on neurons that transmit nerve impulses. The peripheral nervous system, the signaling network outside the brain and spinal cord, has some ability to …
Title: Creation of a human reporter stem cell line for detecting fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene reactivation in human neural cells. Legend: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and a major genetic cause of autism. FXS is caused by mutational trinucleotide expansion in the FMR1 gene leading …
In their photographs, Jenni and Kyle Geurkink look like happy, healthy children. Jenni has a captivating smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Kyle is a sturdy toddler who loves brooms, mops and any occasion to laugh. First Christmases, first birthdays, first playtimes with cousins—these are just a few of the images of Jenni and …
Title: Age-dependent differences in brain tissue microstructure assessed with neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging Legend: Healthy brain aging involves substantial changes to the structures that “wire up” the brain, including myelinated axons and dendritic connections. However, these changes and their impact on memory and other thinking skills are often difficult to measure in living …
Title: Presence, Proximity, and Peer Interactions of Adolescents with Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms Legend: Percentage of students with severe disabilities who are present in the general education classroom and in proximity to peers without severe disabilities by percentage of elapsed time in the class period. Citation: Feldman, R.L., Carter, E.W., Brock, M.E., & …
This summer, three students from Lawrence University exchanged the Fox River for Lake Mendota and became temporary Badgers. They were part of a pilot program designed to provide Lawrence undergraduates the opportunity to work with researchers at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison. With support from grants from Lawrence University, Katie Taber, Anna Kim and …
Title: Sensory Subtypes and Associated Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Legend: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale 2nd Edition- adaptive behavior composite score, domains, and maladaptive score by sensory subtype (Mild Subtype, Sensitive-Distressed Subtype, Attenuated-Preoccupied Subtype, and Extreme-Mixed Subtype). Parenting Stress Index 3rd Edition, Short Form- total score, parental distress, difficult child, and parent/child dysfunctional …
Title: Investigating the Microstructural Correlation of White Matter in Autism Spectrum Disorder Legend: Graphical visualization (‘connectogram’) of brain white matter networks of the examined typically developing (TD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) groups. Individual white matter tracts were broadly grouped by region (outside labels), while the individual tract is indicated by the inside of the …
