Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain.
Research
Great (Taste) Expectations: Study Shows Brain Anticipates Taste, Shifts Gears
As the prism of our senses, the human brain has ways of refracting sensory input in defiance of reality.
Study: Abused children stay highly attuned to anger
Even the subtlest hints of anger or hostility in their environment sets physically abused children on prolonged “alert,” even if a conflict has nothing to do with them.
Key neural system at risk from fetal alcohol exposure
In a study of adult monkeys who were exposed to moderate amounts of alcohol in utero, scientists have found that prenatal exposure to alcohol has pronounced effects on the development and function later in life.
Huntington’s cure in flies lays groundwork for new treatment approaches
Boosting levels of two critical proteins that normally shut down during Huntington’s disease, researchers at UW-Madison and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have cured fruit flies of the genetic, neurodegenerative condition.
Study spells out new evidence for roots of dyslexia
Addressing a persistent debate in the field of dyslexia research, scientists have disproved the popular theory that deficits in certain visual processes cause the spelling and reading woes commonly suffered by people with dyslexia.
Study depicts peril, hope for children of jailed mothers
For a young child whose mother is imprisoned, life’s prospects are predictably grim.
Study finds two brain systems regulate how people call for help
The willingness to call out in distress to get help from others appears to be regulated by two brain systems with very different responsibilities, according to a study by researchers at UW-Madison.
Study: Eye contact triggers threat signals in autistic children’s brains
Brain tests at UW-Madison suggest that autistic children shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat.
UW breakthrough could combat neurological diseases
A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have found a way to revive dying brain cells in lab mice, spurring hopes of combating major human neurological diseases.