The Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in human decision science, broadly construed.

Marloes J. A. G. Henckens
Aug 12, 2009; 29:10111-10119
BehavioralSystemsCognitive

Jesse J. Langille
Jul 3, 2019; 39:5244-5246
Journal Club

Gijs Joost Brouwer
Nov 4, 2009; 29:13992-14003
BehavioralSystemsCognitive

Uri Hasson
Mar 5, 2008; 28:2539-2550
BehavioralSystemsCognitive

Martijn P. van den Heuvel
Nov 2, 2011; 31:15775-15786
BehavioralSystemsCognitive

Matthew F. Glasser
Aug 10, 2011; 31:11597-11616
BehavioralSystemsCognitive

α-Neurexins are essential and highly expressed presynaptic cell-adhesion molecules that are frequently linked to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite their importance, how the elaborate extracellular sequences of α-neurexins contribute to synapse function is poorly understood. We recently characterized the presynaptic gain-of-function phenotype caused by a missense mutation in an evolutionarily conserved extracellular sequence of neurexin-3α (A687T) that we identified in a patient diagnosed with profound intellectual disability and epilepsy. The striking A687T gain-of-function mutation on neurexin-3α prompted us to systematically test using mutants whether the presynaptic gain-of-function phenotype is a consequence of the addition of side-chain bulk (i.e., A687V) or polar/hydrophilic properties (i.e., A687S). We used multidisciplinary approaches in mixed-sex primary hippocampal cultures to assess the impact of the neurexin-3α^A687 residue on synapse morphology, function and ligand binding. Unexpectedly, neither A687V nor A687S recapitulated the neurexin-3α A687T phenotype. Instead, distinct from A687T, molecular replacement with A687S significantly enhanced postsynaptic properties exclusively at excitatory synapses and selectively increased binding to neuroligin-1 and neuroligin-3 without changing binding to neuroligin-2 or LRRTM2. Importantly, we provide the first experimental evidence supporting the notion that the position A687 of neurexin-3α and the N-terminal sequences of neuroligins may contribute to the stability of α-neurexin–neuroligin-1 trans-synaptic interactions and that these interactions may specifically regulate the postsynaptic strength of excitatory synapses.

Emerging research in nonhuman animals implicates cerebellar projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in appetitive behaviors, but these circuits have not been characterized in humans. Here, we mapped cerebello-VTA white matter connectivity in a cohort of men and women using probabilistic tractography on diffusion imaging data from the Human Connectome Project. We uncovered the topographical organization of these connections by separately tracking from parcels of cerebellar lobule VI, crus I/II, vermis, paravermis, and cerebrocerebellum. Results revealed that connections between the cerebellum and VTA predominantly originate in the right cerebellar hemisphere, interposed nucleus, and paravermal cortex and terminate mostly ipsilaterally. Paravermal crus I sends the most connections to the VTA compared with other lobules. We discovered a mediolateral gradient of connectivity, such that the medial cerebellum has the highest connectivity with the VTA. Individual differences in microstructure were associated with measures of negative affect and social functioning. By splitting the tracts into quarters, we found that the socioaffective effects were driven by the third quarter of the tract, corresponding to the point at which the fibers leave the deep nuclei. Taken together, we produced detailed maps of cerebello-VTA structural connectivity for the first time in humans and established their relevance for trait differences in socioaffective regulation.

Human sleep exhibits multiple, recurrent temporal regularities, ranging from circadian rhythms to sleep stage cycles and neuronal oscillations during nonrapid eye movement sleep. Moreover, recent evidence revealed a functional role of aperiodic activity, which reliably discriminates different sleep stages. Aperiodic activity is commonly defined as the spectral slope of the 1/frequency (1/f) decay function of the electrophysiological power spectrum. However, several lines of inquiry now indicate that the aperiodic component of the power spectrum might be better characterized by a superposition of several decay processes with associated timescales. Here, we determined multiple timescales, which jointly shape aperiodic activity using human intracranial electroencephalography. Across three independent studies (47 participants, 23 female), our results reveal that aperiodic activity reliably dissociated sleep stage-dependent dynamics in a regionally specific manner. A principled approach to parametrize aperiodic activity delineated several, spatially and state-specific timescales. Lastly, we employed pharmacological modulation by means of propofol anesthesia to disentangle state-invariant timescales that may reflect physical properties of the underlying neural population from state-specific timescales that likely constitute functional interactions. Collectively, these results establish the presence of multiple intrinsic timescales that define the electrophysiological power spectrum during distinct brain states.

Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel technique for noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). TUS delivered in a theta (5 Hz) burst pattern (tbTUS) induces plasticity in the human primary motor cortex (M1) for 30–60 min, showing promise for therapeutic development. Metaplasticity refers to activity-dependent changes in neural functions governing synaptic plasticity; depotentiation is the reversal of long-term potentiation (LTP) by a subsequent protocol with no effect alone. Metaplasticity can enhance plasticity induction and clinical efficacy of NIBS protocols. In our study, we compared four NIBS protocol combinations to investigate metaplasticity on tbTUS in humans of either sex. We delivered four interventions: (1) sham continuous theta burst stimulation with 150 pulses (cTBS150) followed by real tbTUS (tbTUS only), (2) real cTBS150 followed by sham tbTUS (cTBS only), (3) real cTBS150 followed by real tbTUS (metaplasticity), and (4) real tbTUS followed by real cTBS150 (depotentiation). We measured motor-evoked potential amplitude, short-interval intracortical inhibition, long-interval intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation (ICF), and short-interval intracortical facilitation before and up to 90 min after plasticity intervention. Plasticity effects lasted at least 60 min longer when tbTUS was primed with cTBS150 compared with tbTUS alone. Plasticity was abolished when cTBS150 was delivered after tbTUS. cTBS150 alone had no significant effect. No changes in M1 intracortical circuits were observed. Plasticity induction by tbTUS can be modified in manners consistent with homeostatic metaplasticity and depotentiation. This substantiates evidence that tbTUS induces LTP-like processes and suggests that metaplasticity can be harnessed in the therapeutic development of TUS.

Estimating the direction of functional connectivity (FC) can help further elucidate complex brain function. However, the estimation of directed FC at the voxel level in fMRI data, and evaluating its performance, has yet to be done. We therefore developed a novel directed seed-based connectivity analysis (SCA) method based on normalized pairwise Granger causality that provides greater detail and accuracy over ROI-based methods. We evaluated its performance against 145 cortical retrograde tracer injections in male and female marmosets that were used as ground truth cellular connectivity on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for each injection, and we achieved area under the ROC curve of 0.95 for undirected and 0.942 for directed SCA in the case of high cell count threshold. This indicates that SCA can reliably estimate the strong cellular connections between voxels in fMRI data. We then used our directed SCA method to analyze the human default mode network (DMN) and found that dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and temporal lobe were separated from other DMN regions, forming part of the language-network that works together with the core DMN regions. We also found that the cerebellum (Crus I-II) was strongly targeted by the posterior parietal cortices and dlPFC, but reciprocal connections were not observed. Thus, the cerebellum may not be a part of, but instead a target of, the DMN and language-network. Summarily, our novel directed SCA method, visualized with a new functional flat mapping technique, opens a new paradigm for whole-brain functional analysis.

Written by the former chief historian of NASA, the book examines the evolution of our cosmic understanding—from early civilizations to the present day

Informal Seminar: Human resources policies - Invitation for all Permanent Representatives

 Friday, 12 October 2018 - 15.00 to 17.30 (Green Room)

Read the series on how FAO increased efficiency, effectiveness and transparency to better support its Members in the transformation of agrifood systems

Yet another reason to fight light pollution

Human beings and chimps share as much as 98 percent of their DNA. If our species are so similar, can chimps be genetically engineered to be more like us?

A series of remarkably well-preserved human remains in a remote cave in Scotland has archaeologists grappling with a staggering question: were these bodies brought here during the Bronze Age to be mummified?

Credit: Ken Catania, PNAS, 2016

Humans don't just impact the interconnected web of life—we depend on it.

Think you know everything about your own body? Test your smarts against this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze uncovers the facts behind five popular myths about the human body.

A new study identified the tiny pollutants in the olfactory bulbs of eight cadavers, suggesting microplastics can travel through the nose to the brain

Scientists have created "a form of information immortality" meant to instruct future species on how to recreate humans. But who, or what, will find it?

An A.I.-assisted study identified 303 previously unknown geoglyphs in the Peruvian desert. The art features surprising figures, like orcas holding knives

In the ’90s, many scientists disputed an epidemiologist’s warning that the fast-paced life extension of the 20th century would plateau. Now, a new study suggests he was right

Some 250 volunteers transported more than 2,000 books

Cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula are time capsules preserving remnants of Maya culture and fossils of extinct megafauna

Kate MacEachern is a Canadian veteran from Ballantynes Cove, N.S., but her service years are far from over. She has spent about two years living in Ukraine, delivering humanitarian aid to communities across the country.

Relies on SolidWorks Simulation Software to Ensure Flight Worthiness, Safety

An underprivileged young man succeeds in building a future as God brings encounters with the right people at the right moments.

Unique video work done by Penn State Greater Allegheny faculty member Rosemary Martinelli, assistant teaching professor of marketing and communications, has garnered gold, silver and bronze awards on the local and international stages.

Penn State Abington rehabilitation and human services faculty Abigail Akande, Stacey Conway and Michael Lavetsky wrote a recently published book, "Experiential Learning and Internship for Undergraduates: A Workbook for Undergraduate Interns in the Human Services Field," to help guide human services students at Abington and other Penn State campuses through the internship and career development and exploration processes. 

Mica Pollack and her colleagues from UCSD share new research about the importance of teachers in blended learning environments that highlights the strengths and limits of online tools.

Jennifer Jewell, teaching professor in the physical therapist assistant program at Penn State Shenango; Pamela Pologruto, teaching professor of physical therapist assistant at Penn State Fayette; Laura Cruz, research professor at Penn State's Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence; and faculty members from Penn State Lehigh Valley presented at the 2024 Lilly Conference in Austin, Texas.

The Penn State Center for Human Evolution and Diversity is currently accepting proposals for grants to support projects occurring during the 2024-25 academic year.

$3 Million Available To Assist With Home Repairs Throughout Delaware Dover, Del., August 7, 2023 – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) today announced a partnership with all three Habitat for Humanity organizations in Delaware to administer a $3 million grant program to help eligible Delaware homeowners who need to make critical home repairs, but have been unable […]

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan asserted that "we are at the cusp of a major change in warfare".

A study published in iScience found that chimpanzees performed better on challenging tasks when observed by humans. The research, conducted by Kyoto University, revealed that the presence of a larger human audience improved performance on difficult tasks, while simpler tasks saw a decline in accuracy. This suggests that the audience effect, often linked to human reputation management, may also exist in non-human primates. The study provides insights into social behaviours that might have evolved before the emergence of human reputation-based societies.

A newly discovered rock shelter in Tajikistan’s Zeravshan Valley shows evidence of repeated human occupation over 130,000 years. The site contains artifacts from Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens, suggesting it may have been a migration hub. Archaeologists believe the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor (IAMC) in Central Asia served as a migration route, enabling possible interactions between these species.

Closing out Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined advocates, State and local partners, and prosecutors Monday to announce the formation of the Delaware Department of Justice’s first dedicated Human Trafficking Unit (HTU). “Human trafficking is among the direst human rights crises of this century,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Awareness has grown by orders of magnitude in recent years, […]

Three illicit massage establishments (IMEs) were shut down in February, the first full month of operation for the DOJ’s first Human Trafficking Unit (HTU), Attorney General Jennings announced Thursday. “These investigations highlight a continuing pattern that we’ve seen time and time again: human trafficking often happens in plain sight,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These were […]

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit has indicted three individuals with running a ring of illicit massage establishments, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today   “Some people assume human trafficking only happens on the other side of the world, but the reality is that it is right in our backyard — and cases […]

At the announcement Thursday morning at Rose Hill Community Center near New Castle (from left): Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County CEO Kevin L. Lewis, Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) Chief Administrator Cynthia Mercer, DSAAPD Director Melissa Smith, state Representative Franklin Cooke, state Senator Darius Brown, DSAAPD Deputy […]

DOVER, DE (Aug. 31, 2022) – The Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing this year’s first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV), in a 78-year-old Sussex County man. West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause serious health problems.    In addition to the first human WNV case, there also have been confirmed cases in a horse in New Castle County, and in […]

The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) has identified this year’s first human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in three men 50 years of age and older, all of whom reside in New Castle County. All three individuals who contracted WNV were hospitalized due to infection from the mosquito-borne illness. At this time, it appears that each WNV victim […]

Wilmington, DE, May 31, 2024 – Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) and Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), in partnership with Governor John Carney’s office, are proud to announce a press conference to highlight their efforts in supporting homeownership and community development across Wilmington and the entire state of Delaware. The press conference, […]

The Delaware Public Health Laboratory has identified this year's first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a New Castle County resident. Additionally, the Office of the State Veterinarian within the Delaware Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first two cases of WNV in Delaware horses this year.

"Human vs. Hamster," a very real reality show, premieres November 21 on Max.

Robotics developers can greatly accelerate their work on AI-enabled robots, including humanoids, using new AI and simulation tools and workflows that NVIDIA revealed this week at the Conference for Robot Learning (CoRL) in Munich, Germany. The lineup includes the general availability of the NVIDIA Isaac Lab robot learning framework; six new humanoid robot learning workflows Read Article