Neuroscience student Arianna Rigon successfully defended her thesis on July 13th. Arianna (center) is co-mentored by Michelle Voss, PhD (left), and Melissa Duff, PhD (right). Congratulations!

The human brain is nimble. It can reorganize itself to learn new things, catalog memories, and even break old habits. So, what if our brains could be taught to suppress cravings, especially the destructive impulse to use drugs?University of Iowa researchers studying the infralimbic cortex—a region of the brain that controls addictive behavior—performed a series of experiments in which rats were...

Dr. Christopher Benson has been named the Clinical Chief of Cardiology for the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Dr. Benson is a Professor of Internal Medicine and of Pharmacology and Chief of Cardiology at the VA Medical Center. He received his MD from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine where he also did his residency. He then completed a four-year cardiovascular fellowship at...

Loss of metabolic enzyme in mouse brains impairs long-term spatial memoryACSS2 enzyme, which is required for long-term spatial memory, relocates to the cell nucleus where gene expression occurs. Image shows mouse neurons from the hippocampus. Neuron nuclei are stained blue and ACSS2 enzyme is red, so overlap is pink-purple. The axons are green. Image credit: University of PennsylvaniaWhen certain...

Sunday’s fire in Bowen Science Building has left Paul Heidger wishing he had cleared out a lot more stuff from his campus office during the five years since he became an emeritus professor.http://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2017/06/13/university-iowa-researchers-adjust-damage-bowen-science-building/392840001/

Peggy Nopoulos, MD, professor of psychiatry and vice chair of research, Department of Psychiatry, has accepted the role of interim chair and department executive officer of the Department of Psychiatry, effective July 1. Nopoulos, who has additional appointments as professor of neurology and pediatrics, joined the UI Carver College of Medicine faculty in 1994. She received her medical degree from...

Widespread news reports claim a bipartisan government spending deal has been reached to keep the government funded through the end of the fiscal year (September 30). The agreement includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase consistent with what we anticipated in our note, “NIH under Trump.”This $2 billion increase builds on the $2 billion increase the...

Cerebellar stimulation restores missing brain wave in rats and corrects timing deficit“A beautiful, lobular structure,” is how Krystal Parker describes the cerebellum—a brain region located at the base of the skull just above the spinal column. The cerebellum is most commonly associated with movement control, but work from Parker’s lab and others is gradually revealing a much more complex role in...

University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld joined UI Health Care leaders, officials from the UI Foundation, and representatives from the Roy J. Carver Trust at a Feb. 3 dedication ceremony celebrating the opening of the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and the $45 million Carver Trust grant that helped make the establishment of the institute possible.“This is a wonderfully important time in the life of...

The UI hosted its annual Girls Go STEM event featuring interactive exploration in the science and medical fields.For Kristie Durham, a weekend trip to the University of Iowa goes along way for her sixth-grade daughter.Like many other parents, Durham attended the Girls Go STEM event with her daughter, who, Durham said, is really interested in science, to show her that there are women who succeed in...