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University of Iowa researchers confirm stress link in the brain

In a new study, University of Iowa researchers, led by Jason Radley, PhD, confirmed a neural circuit linking two separate regions in the brain governs how animals, including humans, react to a stressful situation. Through experiments, the researchers showed how rats responded to a threat either passively or actively—and linked each reaction to a specific pathway in the brain.

School of Art and Art History, INI unveil new artwork that reflects brain activity

Few projects exemplify the University of Iowa’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration better than Receptive Field, a new interactive sculpture by School of Art and Art History Associate Professor Daniel Miller. The project was commissioned by the Iowa Neuroscience Institute. Miller’s work integrates robotics, media, and electronics, often exploring systems and ecologies of the natural world. These attributes led INI Associate Director for Education and Outreach and CLAS Associate Dean for Research Joshua Weiner to reach out to Miller for a new artwork.

New autism genes discovered

A new study that used genetic data from nearly 43,000 autistic individuals and their families has identified 60 autism spectrum-associated genes with exome-wide significance, including five new genes not previously implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. University of Iowa scientists led by Jake Michaelson, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry in the UI Carver College of Medicine, contributed to the new study, which was published recently in Nature Genetics.