Newsworthy Presentations at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
The Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting will be held October 25-30 in New Orleans. The following studies, which will be presented by Harvard Medical School researchers, might be of interest to you. Please refer to the meeting"¢s press book and abstract guide for specific information about the research and associated embargoes.
For more information about these and other Harvard Medical School researchers who are presenting at the meeting, please contact Bill Schaller, [email protected], 617-432-0441, or Peta Gillyatt, [email protected], 617-432-0443.
Lack of Stimulation Affects Hormonal Regulation and Retards Development in Children Embargoed until Monday, October 27, 10:00 am CST Abstract 698.1; Press Book, Part One, page 36 Children who are deprived of the attention and stimulation that typically occurs in family life are prone to hormone regulation abnormalities and retarded mental and behavioral development.
In a study of Romanian children living in orphanages, Mary Carlson, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry (neuroscience) at Harvard Medical School and Children"¢s Hospital in Boston, and her colleagues found that these children had abnormal levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and that those who had the most abnormal levels of cortisol also had the lowest scores on tests of mental and motor ability. The researchers also found that Romanian children who lived with their family but spent weekdays in poor quality day care centers experienced abnormal cortisol levels during the week, but not on weekends when at home.
Note: The findings will be presented at the press conference on maternal deprivation on Monday, October 27, 10:00 am, Room 54, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. -----------
Study Questions Prevalence Distribution and Gender Bias in ADHD in School-Aged Children Embargoed Until Wednesday, October 29, 8:00 am CST Abstract 748.1; Press Book, Part Two, page 155 Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is popularly perceived to be more prominent in boys, but there is substantial disparity in reported gender ratios.
Carol A. Glod, PhD, Harvard Medical School lecturer of psychiatry at McLean Hospital, and her colleagues studied 698 elementary students to determine the prevalence of inattention and hyperactivity among young males and females. The researchers monitored the students using infrared motion analysis and objective task performance and found only minimal behavioral differences between genders. They also found, however, that teachers rated boys as far more symptomatic of ADHD than girls. Note: The findings will be presented on Wednesday, October 29, 8:00 am, Hall A/B/C, Ernest N. Moral Convention Center. -----------
Researchers Hunt for Genetic Basis of Insomnia Embargoed until Wednesday, October 29, 11:00 am CST Abstract 719.41; Press Book, Part Two, page 773
Priyattam J. Shiromani, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and the Brockton/West Roxbury Veterans Administration Medical Center, and colleagues are trying to determine if there is a genetic basis of sleep and sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Studying mice lacking the c-fos gene, which has been demonstrated to play a role in behavior and is known to respond to various stimuli, including circadian rhythms, stress, and sexual activity, the researchers found that the mice took twice as long to fall asleep as did mice who had the gene. They also found that the mice who lacked the c-fos gene experienced one third less slow wave sleep, the sleep phase that accounts for 70-80 percent of total sleep time. By demonstrating that c-fos is involved in triggering sleep, the researchers suggest that conditions that perturb the c-fos cascade would impact negatively on sleep.
Note: The findings will be presented on Wednesday, October 29, 11:00 am, Hall A/B/C, Er! nest N. Moral Convention Center.
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