Adolescent Brains Biologically Wired to Engage in Risky Behavior, Study Finds
There are biological motivations behind the stereotypically poor decisions and risky behavior associated with adolescence, new research from a neurobiologist reveals.
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From the College of Natural Sciences
Of Genes and Gin
The day may not be far off when a routine blood test at the doctor's office will be able to detect not only whether you suffer from heart disease or diabetes, but also whether you suffer from an addiction to alcohol.
Scientists Identify New Approaches to Treating PTSD
Drugs known as HDAC inhibitors may prove useful in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study conducted by faculty at The University of Texas at Austin’s Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research.
How 3-D vision works
Neurobiologist Alex Huk describes one way that the brain perceives 3-D motion.
Electric Fish Plug In to Communicate
Just as people plug in to computers, smart phones and electric outlets to communicate, electric fish communicate by quickly plugging special channels into their cells to generate electrical impulses, neurobiologists have discovered.
Bat Love Songs Decoded
It might not sound like crooners singing about love on the radio, but bats sing love songs to each other too, say researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University who are believed to be the first to decode the mysterious sounds made by the winged creatures.
Brain's Center for Perceiving 3-D Motion Is Identified
AUSTIN, Texas — Ducking a punch or a thrown spear calls for the power of the human brain to process 3-D motion, and to perceive an object (whether it's offensive or not) moving in three dimensions is critical to survival. It also leads to a lot of fun at 3-D movies. Neuroscientists have now pinpointed where and how the brain processes 3-D motion u...Neurobiologist Named 2009 Pew Scholar
The Pew Charitable Trusts announced yesterday that Dr. Nicholas J. Priebe was selected as a 2009 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences.
Model for Angelman Syndrome Developed
AUSTIN, Texas—A model for studying the genetics of Angelman syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes mental retardation and other symptoms in one out of 15,000 births, has been developed by biologists at The University of Texas at Austin. Their research demonstrates that when a particular fruit fly gene, dube3a, is altered, the mutant flies s...Tolerance to Inhalants May Be Caused By Changes in Gene Expression
Changes in the expression of genes may be the reason why people who abuse inhalants, such as spray paint or glue, quickly develop a tolerance, biologists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered.
Higher Brain Damage in Alcoholics with Cirrhosis of the Liver
AUSTIN, Texas—An examination of gene expression in the frontal cortex has found that brain function is even more impaired in alcoholics with cirrhosis of the liver, one of the most common and serious medical complications linked to alcoholism. Sustained exposure to alcohol can cause scarring and dysfunction of the liver, referred to as cirrhosis. ...Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research benefits from $38 million federal grant
AUSTIN, Texas—The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has awarded a $38 million grant to the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA), $6.25 million of which will fund projects at the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research at The University of Texas at Austin. INIA, which links labs and scientists from si...Neurobiologist awarded Presidential Early Career Award
AUSTIN, Texas—Dr. Nace Golding, assistant professor of neurobiology, was presented with a Presidential Early Career Award in a ceremony on July 26 at the White House, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to outstanding scientists beginning their independent careers. Golding received the award for his promising research focused on ...Analysis highlights new areas of research into genetic causes of alcoholism
AUSTIN, Texas—The findings of a meta-analysis of microarray data of several mouse models that differ in voluntary alcohol consumption highlight new neurobiological targets for further study and provide researchers with a novel statistical approach for use in future microarray meta-analyses. Insight into the genetic differences in gene expression a...Read It Now
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